Access To Popular Dana Point Nature Destination Scaled Back, City Says

DANA POINT, CA — A popular hiking destination for residents across Orange County is scaling back hours of operation, after city officials announced that a trail within the Dana Point Preserve would see limited public access starting June 25.

As of June 25, the Headlands Trail will be open four days a week, with closures impacting Monday, Wednesday and Friday, according to the City of Dana Point.

The limited access is a result of an agreement between the California Coastal Commission and the Center for Natural Lands Management, who oversees the preserve.

"The City of Dana Point is disappointed by this recent development," the city said in a statement. "The Headlands is one of the last undeveloped coastal bluffs in Southern California. It's a special place, not just for the incredible ocean views and whale watching, but because it's home to the Pacific Pocket Mouse, one of the rarest mammals in the world."

According to the city, the Dana Point Headlands is one of only three places on earth where the mouse lives in the wild.

"The City of Dana Point remains committed to maximizing public access to this beautiful coastal trail," Mayor John Gabbard told Patch. "[We] will continue to work to prove that protecting the Pacific Pocket Mouse and keeping the trail open to the public are not mutually exclusive."

For more information about the development, visit the City of Dana Point's website.