I will give you the quick rundown on the Surf Spots from Ponto all the way down to Seaside Reef.
Ponto:
Location: Located just north of La Costa Ave. and the 101 at the north end of Leucadia. Park along the side of the road and paddle out north of the north jetty.
The Wave: When it's working it is a fast and hollow wave on the low tide. Best during a big SW swell, but gets mushier at high tide. Best in early mornings and evenings because it blows out very easily during the day.
Atmosphere: It can get pretty crowded at Ponto when the waves are good. Lots of local rippers and even a few pro's can be spotted. Be prepared to compete for waves and beware of the shoulder hoppers who will drop in on you if they think you aren't going to make a section. Best for beginners to walk a little further up the beach to the north and surf up there.
Grandview:
Location: Take Neptune as far north as you can until you hit the dead end that backs up to Seabluff. Park in the parking lot there and walk down the stairs to the beach.
The Wave: Fun wave that can be ridden on small or big days. Easy drops and lots of opportunity for turns. The inside gets shallow over the sand and can get pretty fast and hollow. Good for tricks due to the way it breaks over shifty sand areas.
Atmosphere: Get there early to avoid the crowds. Or, some afternoons if the wind is staying calm you can get it really fun with not many people out at all. If you get there and it looks packed, walk a little north and surf the fun beach breaks outside Seabluff. Most people are pretty friendly, but don't be a total kook out there or you may get booted out.
Beacons:
Location: Take Leucadia Blvd. west until you hit the ocean. There will be a parking lot right there and a trail down to the beach.
The Wave: There are 3 main parts to Beacons, the south reef, the middle beach break section, and north reef. South Reef is a fun wave, especially for those on longer boards. It is primarily a left but the right can get really fun as well. Mellow crowd, but beware of longboarders snaking you from time to time. The beach break in the middle of the beach can get a little punchier than south reef, and there are some good corners to be had, especially on the sets that swing a little wide from south reef. Beware of little kids and families playing in the shallow water on the inside. North reef is a very fun right, with a softer but clean left as well. Better for shortboarders, but beware of the high tide because it will swamp it out and be really slow and soft.
Atmosphere: I have only seen one surfer yell at another surfer in 10 years of surfing here... Lots of beginners but also some locals that are really good. Everyone knows its just Beacons and there is no reason to get mad at one another.
Stone Steps:
Location: Off of Neptune one mile north of Moonlight Beach. Walkway to beach is off of Neptune and South El Portal. Park at dead end and walk down the stairs to the sand.
The Wave: Stone Steps is a beach break that is usually closed out and not that great, but can definitely have its days if you check it often. Better during the summer when there is more sand on the beach, but you will have more swimmers in your way as well. Worth checking if you want to surf with less of a crowd and enjoy pulling into closeouts.
Atmosphere: There is not a really core group of locals that surf here, but it can get crowded with swimmers, bodyboarders, and surfers during the summer. If you walk up or down the beach a ways you can find some emptier peaks.
D Street:
Location: Directly to the south of Moonlight Beach. Park at the Moonlight parking lot or on D St itself.
The Wave: Fast and hollow beach break that can offer some nice barrels. Some closeouts, but if you get the right corner it is really good. Opportunity to walk down the beach and find less crowded peaks is you want to settle for some less consistent waves.
Atmosphere: During the summer you can expect a packed lineup during the days with groms and local rippers all over the place. D St. is a popular beach to hang out at for local high school kids and tourists alike. There are swimmers, body boarders and surfers everywhere. Best bet will be early mornings and in the fall, winter, and spring when the crowds are thinned out.
Swamis:
Location: Take Highway 101 south in Encinitas until you hit the Swamis Parking lot right after the Self Realization Fellowship. If the parking lot is full (which it commonly is) park along the road and walk down.
The Wave: If you are able to get one to yourself you can expect a long right, or a shorter left from the main peak. Holds up to any size and will keep its shape nicely; great for longboarding when it's small but also really rippable on a shorter board when it gets a little bigger. Best bet will be on low to medium tide because it can swamp out when it gets higher. Overall, definitely one of the best waves in San Diego as far as the actual wave is concerned... the crowd is a whole 'nother thing.
Atmosphere: If you are lonely and want to be around people at all times, well then Swamis is for you. From the folks on the top of the bluff doing yoga and having lunch, to the hoards of surfers, unless it's completely flat this place is usually pretty busy! Mellow vibes in the water as long as you aren't being a goof, and if you are patient enough you will definitely get some really fun waves, although you may get dropped in on a few times as well. Overall, worth checking out for the experience if nothing else.
Pipes:
Location: Just south of Swamis, park along the PCH for free or you can park in the San Elijo State Beach parking lot for a fee.
The Wave(s): There are some really fun waves at Pipes. There are multiple breaks up and down the beach, some that are a little better for longboarders and some that cater more to shortboarders. The kelp beds and the high cliffs right above the beach help keep Pipes glassier and cleaner than many other spots in Encinitas, and therefore it is a good spot to check if the winds come up. The waves can be really soft and mush some days, but also can transform into a pretty rippable wave on the right tide and swell.
Atmosphere: The locals here are really friendly and low key. There are many tourists who surf here and therefore can get pretty crowded on weekends. There are many different peaks however, and you can usually find some waves to yourself or with just a few other people around (although you may be sacrificing some wave quality). Walk up to Bull Taco in the San Elijo State Campground afterwards and get some tacos, they are great!
Cardiff Reef:
Location: Located just south of where the 101 and Chesterfield intersect. Park along the PCH or in the State Parking lot just south of the bridge. You can't miss the wave, it is directly out in front of the bridge on PCH.
The Wave: The reef at Cardiff Reef is a long, right point that breaks over flat, grassy reef. It is not uncommon to get really long rides here, although they are often soft and mushy during the summer months. Once the tide drops and a big winter swell fills in though, the waves can really pick up and become much faster and steeper. About 50 yards to the north of the south reef is Suckouts. This wave only works on a lower tide, and offers up a steep drop followed by a barreling right that eventually runs into the close-out left section of south reef, and a steep and long left that goes all the way to the sand. Suckouts only breaks in a little area, so if you don't know where to be when the sets are coming it will be very hard to get a wave with the locals being all over it. It can offer up some amazing rides, however, and during the summer is really fun to longboard on small days as well.
Atmosphere: There are many locals out at Cardiff, but for the most part they are all really friendly and share the waves. You will see fathers with their young kids out there, old grandmas and grandpas, and everything in-between (including lots of stand-up-paddlers.) Just be friendly and try not to get in the way and you will be fine out here. It's a wonderful place to surf!
Seaside Reef:
Location: If you take the 101 south from Cardiff past the restaurants on the beach, you will see a huge parking lot on the right with bathrooms and a lifeguard tower. You have to pay to park in the parking lot, but it makes life a lot easier. If you are coming from Solana Beach you will see it just as you are heading north out of town.
The Wave: Predominantly a left that can suck out on the takeoff, then flattens out on the shoulder before reforming on the inside for an end section. The right off the peak is much softer, but if you stick with it you can make it to a nice inside section. With a big swell on low tide you can get some heavy waves out here, but on those summer days where there isn't much swell and the tide is coming up make sure to check it because the shorebreak can be a really fun option.
Atmosphere: Tons of locals, and lots of rippers. Seaside has been said to be SD's Trestles. You may have to hassle for waves amongst all the groms and the local pros, but overall everyone is pretty chill. Just be respectful and you'll get some waves.
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