San Onofre State Beach

San Onofre State Beach is a living legend in the California surfscape, a place where soft, mushy longboard waves have shaped the state's easygoing beach culture for decades. This iconic stretch hosted some of the earliest surf contests and events, and it still rings with that family-friendly, mellow vibe that makes it a haven for all ages. Old Man's stands as the premier cobblestone reef peak at San Onofre, churning out consistent, forgiving rides that glisten with classic SoCal charm. Just north, The Point offers a predominantly righthander, with occasional lefts that add a dash of variety to the lineup.

Best Surf Season (November - March)

Winter is when San Onofre State Beach lives up to its reputation. The North Pacific storm track is fully engaged from November through March, and a steady procession of extratropical cyclones sends long-period groundswell toward the Southern California coast. Most of that energy arrives from the W, WSW, SW and SSW, a direction band that aligns beautifully with the beach's southwest exposure. Average swell heights bob in the 3-3.6ft (0.9-1.1m) range, while wave periods hover around 12-13 seconds - a far cry from weak, short-period windswell. Just as importantly, the winter land/sea temperature contrast inland sets up frequent offshore winds from the N through ENE, giving this period the highest ideal wind percentages of the year (29-53%). This is the time to chase dawn sessions and offshore days; whether it is a clean 3ft lined-up day or a solid 6-8ft (1.8-2.4m) winter swell, San Onofre has shape.