Poche Beach is a public beach located at the border of San Clemente and Dana Point's Capistrano Beach community in Orange County, California. Access to the sand is via a pedestrian underpass beneath the train tracks at the intersection of Camino Capistrano and El Camino Real, marked by a "Coastal Access" sign. Parking is limited to metered street parking along Camino Capistrano, and some nearby private lots require community stickers, making parking a noted challenge. The carry distance from the street to the water is short, but the beach is narrow. At high tide, the water reaches the back of the beach, significantly reducing the available sand and making it difficult to walk along the shore without getting wet, a factor that affects the ease of launching and landing paddlecraft. The wave character is primarily a beach break that can be inconsistent and weak under head-high conditions, breaking both left and right. On larger southwest swells, an outer reef breaks beyond the creek mouth, producing more powerful, rolling waves. The beach is known for urban runoff pollution, and the creek that flows onto the beach has been associated with high bacteria levels, prompting advisories from county health officials. There are no public facilities, restrooms, or showers at this location. Dogs are not permitted on the beach. The overall vibe is local and less crowded than other nearby beaches, with a relaxed, old-school atmosphere. The water is part of the open Pacific Ocean, and paddlers can travel north along the coast past the homes of Capistrano Beach or south along the narrow beachfront in San Clemente. The area is exposed to prevailing winds and swell from the southwest.