Surfing at  Sunset Beach, California 

 

Sunset Beach, CA--Surfside offers  Inconsistent breaks.  The jetty referred to as "The Bowl." The wave rebounds off the jetty making it very fast and  steep. It breaks to the right only. The Hole  is fast, long and to the right. The lefts have a nice bowl on the inside. Very crowded. 


How to Get There Surfside is just off Anderson St. and Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach. Look for the Harbor House Cafe and go straight back to the beach from there. The jetty will be on your right. 
 

OTHER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COASTAL FAVORITES: 

 

Cliffs  Long rolling, soft, easy waves. Good for beginner to intermediate. Access to the beach is difficult, and it's a steep walk down the cliffs. Parking is metered. How to Get There Between Warner Ave. and Golden West St. on Pacific Coast Highway.  Huntington Beach Pier  Consistent breaks on any swell. North side has a nice right all the way from outside to a fast inside section. Southside has a nice left, fast inside section. Both sides get very crowded. The pier is located at Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. The south side of the pier is where most championships have been held. 

 

Newport Beach River Jetty  The Surf  Very shallow break and fast. This is an advanced  spot to surf.  How to Get There  Follow Pacific Coast Highway south of Brookhurst  St. to just over the Santa Ana River Bridge. Make a right at Orange Ave. 

 

Blackies  The Surf  Peaky, fun waves right or left, but it gets very  crowded.   How to Get There  Blackies is the term used for the Newport Beach  Pier area -- follow the signs south on Newport  Blvd. from Pacific Coast Highway. It is the first  pier on the right. 
The Wedge  Mostly summer swells. Bodysurfers or body boarders rule the spot. However, starting to see more  people surf. It usually only breaks over 8 ft.  right on the beach. How to Get There  The Wedge is at the end of the Balboa Peninsula -  follow Balboa Blvd. south from Pacific Coast  Highway until you reach a split in the road.  Follow the road right and find parking at the end  of the street. 

 

Laguna Beach  Very local spot. Good long lefts and racy to inside section. Stays glassy through most of the  day. How to Get There Brooks St. is just south of Broadway on Pacific  Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. It's about half a  mile south of Broadway and requires a walk down  some steps. 

 

Salt Creek Highly overrated. Breaks on almost all swells. Fast wave with steep drop. Very crowded. Don't forget to feed the parking meters! How to Get There Salt Creek is the name for San Juan Creek -- Take Pacific Coast Highway to Doheny State Beach in Dana Point and park at the beach. 

 

Trestles Multiple breaks at Trestles keep almost anyone happy. Lowers is a crowded spot, which makes catching waves difficult. It could take you all day to get a wave in. Uppers and cottons would  not be as tough. Access to the beach is a long walk down a trail. How to Get There  Trestles is located off San Onofre State Beach Park there and walk north along the railroad  tracks to the trestles.

 

Huntington Beach > Sunset Beach > Seal Beach