A significant crack has opened in the coastal bluff below The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point, California, directly above the heavily used Salt Creek Point trail, as incoming storms raise concerns about a possible collapse.
Local videographer Craig Whetter of Breaking Even TV filmed the fracture in mid-November, showing a clear split in the bluff overlooking Salt Creek Beach.
“There is a new crack in town, ladies and gentlemen, and it lives right above that Salt Creek Point trail,” Whetter said in the video. “It’s right above a very, very popular walkway that people use all day… it’s putting a lot of people in danger.”
The trail sits below the resort and provides access to well-known surf breaks called the Point, Middles and Gravels, drawing hundreds of beachgoers, walkers and surfers each day.
Approaching atmospheric rivers bring the risk that rainwater will seep into the fissure, saturating the soil and adding weight to the bluff, while strong surf could erode the sand supporting its base. Officials have not released a geological assessment confirming the depth of the crack or whether the resort above faces any immediate structural risk.
The National Weather Service had forecast rain and gusty winds moving into Orange County starting Friday, with additional coastal impacts possible. Forecasters also warned of King Tides from Nov. 22 through Nov. 27, which could bring unusually high water levels and further erode the base of vulnerable bluffs along the coast.
Part of a Wider Pattern Along Orange County’s Coast
The new fracture follows another major erosion emergency in the county. In October, a roughly 360-foot-long, 2-foot-wide fissure opened beneath Pacific Coast Highway near El Morro at Crystal Cove State Park. That damage forced southbound lane closures and led to a $4 million emergency stabilization effort, with crews installing large sandbags and tarps to protect historic beach cottages below.
Residents and visitors along this stretch of coastline are being left to weigh the risks themselves, as no official closure or evacuation of the trail beneath the Ritz-Carlton bluff has been reported.
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