Intermediate: San Clemente Pier (Epic, 1.2 m, cross-shore around 10:00), Lower Trestles (Epic, 1.3 m, onshore around 10:00), T Street (Fair, 0.9 m, offshore around 08:00)
T Street · reef break, intermediate, best on SW/SSW/W/WNW swell with NE/ENE/E wind, mid to high tide. About 800 m south of San Clemente Pier, a sand-covered reef in front of the T-Street pedestrian bridge throws up a left that bowls on the inside and longer right walls…
San Clemente Pier · beach break, beginner, best on SW/SSW/S/W swell with NE/ENE/E wind, low to mid tide. Sandbars on both sides of San Clemente Pier take south and west swell, and on small days the north side gives soft rights and lefts that suit longboards. From Memorial…
Lower Trestles · reef break, intermediate, best on S/SSW/SW swell with NE/NNE/E wind, mid tide. Cobblestone point at the mouth of San Mateo Creek, reached only by a 20-30 minute walk from Cristianitos Road under the rail bridge. A 1-2.5 m south to southwest…
Doheny State Beach · reef break, beginner, best on S/SSW/SW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, low to mid tide. Summer south swells wrap around the Dana Point headland and roll in as slow, long rights over cobble and sand at the harbour end of the park. Waist-high days at low to…
When to surf in San Clemente
Best months for intermediate surfers: June to September. For beginners: June to October. The water goes from about 16 °C in January (4/3 mm fullsuit) to 23 °C in August (Springsuit 2 mm or vest). Best-known spots: Lower Trestles. 2 of the 4 spots suit beginners, such as San Clemente Pier, Doheny State Beach.