Dana Woods Park
Rate this placeNearby: Long View Park Thunderbird Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Dana Woods Park is a 24-acre park located in the city of Dana Point, California.
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Summary
The park offers a variety of amenities for visitors including picnic areas, a playground, hiking trails, and a scenic viewpoint. It is a popular spot for families, hikers, and nature lovers.
One of the main attractions of Dana Woods Park is the scenic viewpoint overlooking the San Juan Creek and Doheny State Beach. The view is especially picturesque during the sunset hours. Additionally, the park offers a number of hiking trails that wind through the wooded areas of the park and provide visitors with a chance to see some of the local flora and fauna.
Interesting facts about the park include its location on the site of a former gunnery range used by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife including rabbits, birds, and lizards.
The best time to visit Dana Woods Park is during the spring and fall months when temperatures are mild and the park is less crowded. However, visitors can enjoy the park year-round as it is open daily from dawn to dusk.
Overall, Dana Woods Park is a great destination for those looking to explore the natural beauty of southern California. With its scenic views, hiking trails, and family-friendly amenities, it is no wonder why this park is a popular spot for visitors and locals alike.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
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Thunderbird Park
Dana Crest Park
Stonehill Selva Park
Community Gardens Park