Beginners: Capitola Jetty (Good, 1.0 m, onshore around 11:00), Cowell's (Good, 0.7 m, onshore around 10:00)
Forecast updated 20 Oct, 01:03 UTC.
The spots
Cowell's · beach break, beginner, best on W/SW/S swell with N/NNE/NE wind, low to mid tide. Cowell's sits in the cove between Steamer Lane and the Santa Cruz Wharf, where swell wraps around Lighthouse Point and slows into a long, gentle right over sand. Waves…
Steamer Lane · point break, advanced, best on W/WNW/SW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, mid tide. Four sections break off Lighthouse Point: The Point, Middle Peak, The Slot next to the cliff and Indicators farther out, all rights. W and NW winter swells wrap in and…
Mitchell's Cove · reef break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, low to mid tide. Mitchell's Cove is a small pocket on West Cliff Drive about 1.4 km west of the lighthouse, where a right peels over flat rock and sand into the cove. It wakes up on W…
Pleasure Point · point break, intermediate, best on S/SW/W swell with N/NW/NE wind, low to mid tide. A run of reef rights along East Cliff Drive: Sewer Peak, First Peak, Second Peak and then the Insides toward 38th Avenue. It faces south, so it lights up on S and SW…
Natural Bridges · reef break, intermediate, best on W/WNW/NW swell with N/NNE/NE wind, mid tide. Natural Bridges is the west end of the West Side Santa Cruz breaks, a south-facing cove beside the last standing sea arch. Winter W and NW swells bend into the cove and…
Capitola Jetty · beach break, beginner, best on S/SSW/SW swell with N/NNE/NW wind, mid tide. Capitola's waves break off the rock jetty at the east end of the village beach and over sand toward the Soquel Creek mouth. The beach faces south, so it needs a S or SW…
When to surf in Santa Cruz
Best months for intermediate surfers: November to February. For beginners: November to March. The water goes from about 13 °C in March (5/4 mm hooded) to 17 °C in September (4/3 mm fullsuit). Best-known spots: Pleasure Point, Cowell's, Steamer Lane. 2 of the 6 spots suit beginners, such as Cowell's, Capitola Jetty.
Days per month at the best third of the 6 spots for each level, from three years of wave and wind model data.
Questions
What are the best surf spots in Santa Cruz?
The best-known are Pleasure Point, Cowell's, Steamer Lane, Capitola Jetty. In all, 6 spots lie within 6 km: 2 beach breaks, 2 reef breaks, 2 point breaks.
Where can beginners surf in Santa Cruz?
Cowell's, Capitola Jetty: sandy, more forgiving spots. Surf them on small days, ideally with a lesson or near the lifeguards.
When is the best time to surf in Santa Cruz?
For intermediate surfers November to February. For beginners November to March.
What wetsuit do I need to surf in Santa Cruz?
The sea goes from about 13 °C in March (5/4 mm hooded) to 17 °C in September (4/3 mm fullsuit).