Surfing Guide

A comprehensive guide to the best surf breaks written by San Clemente surfers.

 T Street

• Experience Level: Beginner to pro

• Ideal Board: Boogieboard to shortboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the City of San Clemente Lifeguard Department.

The break at T Street is divided into three main spots: the Reef, Cropley's, and Beach House. If one park on Trafalgar Street and looks straight out from the overpass you will see the main reef. On a stronger swell, waves will break on the outside reef, roll slowly towards shore, then pick up speed on the inside. Meanwhile, Cropley's is a winter break that works on just the right northwest swells. It’s named after the owner of a hamburger stand that no longer exists. Finally, there’s Beach House, which likes medium-size swells and produces some wedgy lefts and rights that can be less crowded. The beach at T Street is blackballed during the summer months. Metered parking is available on the street above with free parking available in the surrounding neighborhoods.

 San Onofre The Point

• Experience Level: Beginner to advanced

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

A favorite spot for area longboarders, The Point is a cool scene of retro stylists, local legends, and stoked-out regulars. A dependable lineup with long rights and shorter, but faster lefts, it breaks anywhere from ankle high to well overhead. You’ll have to do a bit of a rock dance on the low tide, but by and large, The Point breaks through most tides. Like everywhere at San Onofre, it picks up swells year-round, making it an ideal go-to spot when you just have to get in the water. Unless you have a CA State Park pass, it’ll cost you a day rate fee (currently $15). There are bathrooms, showers, and changing areas. Dogs are not allowed off-leash.

San Onofire Old Man’s 

• Experience Level: Beginner to advanced

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

Perhaps the best longboard wave on mainland USA, Old Man’s offers gentle inside waves for beginners and super long rights and lefts on the outer reef for experts. You can park right next to the beach and enjoy an afternoon of sun and surf, but sometimes need to battle the lines to get in as access is restricted by number of cars allowed entry. Unless you have a CA State Park pass, it’ll cost you a day rate fee (currently $15). There are bathrooms, showers, and changing areas. Dogs are not allowed off-leash.

San Onofre Reactors

• Experience Level: Advanced

• Ideal Board: Longboard, foil or stand-up paddle

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

Situated right in front of the shuttered San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, Reactors, sometimes called Nukes, is a deep-water break that can be really fun, but is also kind of spooky. It needs a significant swell to come alive and takes a long paddle to reach the lineup, which cuts down on the crowd significantly. Another factor that keeps it uncrowded are the area’s Great White sharks. It’s not uncommon for stand-up paddlers to get buzzed by the apex predators out here. One of the hardest spots in San Clemente to access, experience is important out here. Unless you have a CA State Park pass, it’ll cost you a day rate fee (currently $15). There are bathrooms, showers and changing areas in the nearby San Onofre parking lot. Dogs are not allowed off-leash.

Trail 1

• Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

Dependably fun, Trail 1 is a great spot for those who want to get in the water and enjoy a beautiful day at the beach. Located south the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, park on the bluff above and make the 15-minute walk down to the beach. Scattered lefts and rights keep the crowds light and the vibes right. As the wave can be pretty soft, a longboard or funboard is a good idea out here. Pack a lunch, bring plenty of water, and make a day out of it all. Unless you have a CA State Park pass, it’ll cost you a day rate fee (currently $15). There are bathrooms, showers and changing areas at the top of the bluff. Dogs are not allowed off-leash.

Trail 6

• Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

Remote and often uncrowded, Trail 6 is the last official surf spot in San Clemente. Butting up against Camp Pendleton, Trail 6 is an ideal spot to get away from it all when everywhere else is packed. Offering scattered lefts and rights that break up and down an expansive beach, the lineups shift around depending on sand flow, swell direction and tide. Like most of the spots in the Trails area, it prefers a lower tide. It’s a bit of a hike down there, pack accordingly, including bringing plenty of water and sun protection. Unless you have a CA State Park pass, it’ll cost you a day rate fee (currently $15). There are bathrooms, showers and changing areas at the top of the bluff. Dogs are not allowed off-leash.

Lausen’s/Riviera

• Experience Level: Beginner to pro

• Ideal Board: Shortboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

A favorite local haunt when it’s on, “Rivi” as it’s often referred to by locals, offers a fun beachbreak with left and right peaks. Breaking over sand, it’s one of the few pure beachbreaks in San Clemente. Preferring a mid-tide and combination of south and west swells, it will start to close out when the swell is too big and too south. A strong south will also bring the current, making holding one’s position in the lineup challenging. Located in a quiet, residential neighborhood, free parking is available on the street. It fills up quickly during the summer months, and if you’re coming in from out of town, be mindful of the area’s residents.  

Calafia State Park

• Experience Level: Intermediate to advanced

• Ideal Board: Shortboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

The beachbreak at Calafia State Park can be a bit hit and miss, but it does have some hollow, punchy moments. Breaking primarily on low tides, sand flow is an issue here and the sandbars must be in place for there to be waves as the swell comes out of relatively deep water. During the summer months, there are designated zones for surfing and swimming. Park in the State Park for $15 a day and walk down to the beach. There is also an hourly parking lot with showers and restrooms closer to the beach.

Poche

• Experience Level: Beginner to intermediate

• Ideal Board: Longboard or funboard

• Lifeguard: No

When it’s small, which is most of the time, Poche is a fun beach break with left and right peaks up and down the beach. As it gets bigger on south and west swells, the lineup moves out the back and the waves break over a reef before reforming on the inside. The beach is made up of small gravel with occasional patches of sand. As you move further north in front of the private homes on Beach Road the beach gets a little sandier, but erosion is a huge problem here, so tread lightly. Metered parking is available across Coast Highway.

Salt Creek

• Experience Level: Beginner to pro

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by OC Lifeguards.

At the most southern end of the beach is the Point. A competitive lineup with a small takeoff zone, it spreads out as the swell increases. Middles is usually where the rest of the pack ends up catching waves. Peaks crumble year-round from the outside and suck dry on the inside. During summer after 10 a.m., Middles is black balled and Point is the only spot left open to surfers. Head north to the section in front of the golf course called Gravels. On west swells, Gravels can get remarkably good. Paid parking lots at the top of the hill. 

Strands

• Experience Level: Advanced

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: No

Located to the south of Salt Creek, Strand is a long, sandy beach that butts up against the Dana Point headland. Primarily a closeout that’s good for bodyboarding or bodysurfing, it’s great place to spend a day at the beach. It can have surfable moments when tide, swell direction and wind align. Two things to be aware of, stingrays and parking. Shuffle your feet in and out of the water to avoid stepping on a ray and suffering an agonizing sting. There is a small parking lot nearby, but it fills up quickly during the peak summer months. Plan accordingly.  

Doheny

• Experience Level: Beginner to advanced

• Ideal Board: Longboard

• Lifeguard: Protected by the California State lifeguards.

Doheny is an ideal beginner’s wave, but is also frequented by some of the area’s most talented longboarder pros. An expansive surf zone with a number of takeoff zones, it is primarily a summertime, south swell spot with waves breaking softly over a bed of cobblestones and sand. A few hundred yards north, by the San Juan Creek, there's a sandbar and reef that break better on stronger swells during west swells. Doheny is located in a California State Park and there is a parking fee. Bathrooms, showers, a small restaurant and sprawling lawns make it a wonderful place to spend a summer day with the family.