SAN CLEMENTE SURF LOCATIONS

San Clemente is a city that boarders some of the best wave riding in Southern California.  Some famous surf spots are:  The San Clemente Pier, T-Street Beach,   Lost Winds, The Riviera District, Trestles, and San Onofre. 

The San Clemente Pier divides the beach into south and north sections.  The south end is where families enjoy swimming, bodysurfing and sunbathing, while the north end is where surfers rule the waves and the beach. The pier is a typical beach break with fast short rides that break clean and hollow on a medium-high tide.  During higher tides, the waves are mushy and better for longboarding.

Fishing is also a big sport .  At the end of the 1,200 foot wooden pier is where you can get bait and tackle.  Don't forget to end the day at the famous Fisherman's Restaurant that is located at the end of the pier.

T-Street Beach is a good place for beginner surfers to learn and a perfect spot for bodysurfing and bodyboarding.  It is one of the most charming and most popular beaches in San Clemente.  T-Street has fun peaks that break right and left.  Surfing is best on a south swell.  From June 15^th to September 15^th, surfers have to dawn patrol or go out for evening sessions because from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. surfing is blackballed.

Lost Winds take I-5 freeway to El Camino Real exit, go west onto West Avenida Valencia, then left again onto Ola Vista and right onto Avenida de los Lobos Marinos and right onto Lausen.  Beach hours are 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.  The beach access is so well hidden that it is generally sparsely populated.  It is a typical beach break that pitches barrels during a south swell.  It is a fast, short ride, but features less crowded waves than other San Clemente beaches.

The Riviera district is one of the locals favorite beaches.  It is a wide beach strand with good surfing waves and is regarded a scared privileged spot.  Riviera breaks good, but mostly the break is sectiony and changes shape with swell direction.  These sections create numerous breaks, which thin out the crowds and offer hollow barrels and racy shoulders.

Calafia is located I-5 freeway south, exit Calafia.  This beach adjoins the San Clemente State Park.  Calafia has two main surf breaks, the first, located directly in front of the beach access which is a haven for bodyboarders.  The second break, located under the campgrounds, is fast, heavy and mostly peaky.  A strong south swell brings waves that are 6 " to 1' thick, pitching lip that will either glory you in the tube or bury you.

San Clemente Park provides the ultimate in surfing adventures due to its phenomenal wave break.  This is surfer's paradise.  On the bluffs above the beach are one hundred and sixty scenic campsites.  At the State Park a reef is located directly in front of the beach access which creates and A framed" peak that breaks right and produces clean hollow barrels.  It is capable of holding its shape up to 12 feet, but anything bigger than that, forget it!  After 12 feet, thick walls of water crash forcefully into a shallow sand bar.  Any attempt to take off might drill you into the bottom.

Trestles beach off the I-5 freeway south to Christianitos Road exit.  It is a world renowned spot for outstanding shaped waves.  Although the surf is enticing, the mile long beach access deters many people, thereby allowing the more serious surfers to enjoy the less crowed waves.  It is a broad stretch of shoreline with a magnetic pull of perfect waves. 

San Onofre is south of Trestles Beach and gets very crowded on summer weekends.  Arrive before 8:00 a.m. to avoid a long wait to surf.  It is by the way technically considered San Diego County, however is more easily accessed via Orange County.  The main surf breaks from north to south known as "The Point", old timers surf  these reliable rights.  "Old Man's" is the ideal surf break for longboarding.  Waves break about a quarter of a mile offshore and reform middle and inside peaks.   "Dog Patch", is generally uncrowded peak with easy, slow rolling, mushy waves that are great for beginning surfers.  "Nukes" is located in front of the Nuculor Power Plant and breaks long and left over two pipes.  "Sirens" is a fickle break located just south of the power plant.  It features fast and hollow peaks in windless small swell days.

The information on this page comes from a wonderful book called "Sun, Sand & Surf" written by: Gia Danson & Julianna Danson