The Ultimate Guide to Surfing in Encinitas

San Diego

We’d put San Diego up there with the must-visit surf cities of the world. It’s got warm weather all year (although the water’s not so balmy!) and breaks for every level of rider. Yes, there’s a touch of localism at the most popular spots. But you don’t even have to hit them to feel the quality of this one. You can surf Ocean Beach, La Jolla and Blacks to see some of the very best surfing this side of Hawaii.

We’ve got a complete guide to surfing in San Diego with all the top spots in that epic SoCal city…

Blacks Beach

Blacks Beach is pretty darn legendary on the south Cali surf circuit. It’s one of the best quality beach breaks in that hallowed surf territory that lies between San Diego and LA. The waves are big and beefy. They get their power from the underwater canyons that skirt the La Jolla head.

Three separate spots often tend to work at the same time, from South Peak (a left that’s rippable and fast, like Raglan in NZ) to Middle Peak, where the A-frames are pure Cali gold. There’s a crowd but they’re not as spiky as elsewhere on the San Diego coast. Rips and currents will be the biggest enemy, Watch out because getting caught out here isn’t pretty.

Del Mar

Del Mar is just a touch to the south of Encinitas, closer to the outer suburbs of San Diego. For that reason, it can get more crowded. But there are lots of peaks here, most of which tend to work best on SW-W swell directions. The southernmost part of the stretch is a low-lying rock shelf that will give fun and cruisy rides on medium swells.

Most of the surfing in Del Mar goes on down Main Beach. It’s SoCal sand-bottomed that’s 100% at the mercy of the banks, but usually turns on the good come fall. North Del Mar is considered a separate spot that works off the nearby river mouth. It’s rippy, challenging, and goes best on strong NW swell systems in winter.

Solana Beach

A long stretch of beachfront that runs under the dusty SoCal bluffs, Solana has a handful of decent spots that are rarely uber crowded. The best of them are on the north side of the district. That’s the home of the Tabletop reef, which usually picks up the SW swells to give mellow logger waves. Parking at Seaside.

Cardiff Reef

A left and right exist at the Cardiff Reef to the south of Encinitas. Both are nice waves but the star attraction is the logger right – we’d say it’s one of the best longboard waves on this section of shoreline between San Diego and LA. Chilled crowd too.

Swamis

Swamis (also called Swami’s) is the best spot for surfing in Encinitas. At least that’s true if you’re looking for a harder break. This one peaks on the reefs that ring the headland to the south of town, close to the famous Encinitas New Age center. They need strong NW swells to go, but when it happens it’s a stunning wave, with rippable sections on a fat shoulder that mimics something out of NZ.

Moonlight

Moonlight State Beach is the most accessible and welcoming break in Encinitas. It’s long and has countless peaks, all of which tend to be best on W-NW swells at chest height. They rides won’t make you a WSL pro, but they’re solid stuff, with glassy conditions prevailing on any easterly offshores or south easterly crossshores. Moonlight, which is also known as D-Street, is the go-to place for the local school surf teams. It’s also perfect for beginners and intermediates after something chilled. Bigger days will see it too heavy to ride, so take your fun when it’s there.

Beacons

Beacons is a cruisy wave on the north end of Moonlight State Beach. It’s another corker of a longboard peak with the occasional day when the lip flattens and the face opens to give a nice rippable wall that’s fun in the extreme.

Grandview

Grandview is the reliable go-to wave on the Encinitas shore. It pokes out a little more into the Pacific so extends the swell window into an almost-180 degree pocket of SW to NW. Winter is bigger but fall is best, when the waves fatten out and invite shortboarders to rip the turns. Smaller days are crumbly, but there’s usually an ankle burner or a fun beginner wave to keep you going.

Encinitas follows the same seasonal pattern as the rest of southern California. That means hot summers, as water temperatures peak at 70 F.

You will need to keep an eye on that, because upwelling conditions can cause the ocean water to drop to <50 without warning, and you’ll need to swap wetsuit choice accordingly. Wave wise, the SW swells are in full force.

You’ll get your money’s worth on the beaches of Del Mar and from wrap-arounds near the La Jolla heads. Don’t expect any XXL stuff. Winter is the Beach Boys sorta’ surf season in SoCal – cruisy, forgiving but uber fun.

Peak time in southern Cali. There’s no better season to be in the waves. Seriously, it’s awesome. You get a mix of SW and NW swells, with the occasional big hitter creeping down from the Arctic.

A 3/2 wetty usually covers things and there are WAY less people around to clog up key breaks like Swami’s and Moonlight State Beach. The best thing about fall surfing in Encinitas has to be the offshore credential.

That comes from the winds that blow down from the Santa Ana Mountains, adding a laminate quality to the sets that’s nowhere else on Earth!

Hardcore surfers on the hunt for the beefy slabs of Blacks Beach and the fast barrels of Swami’s won’t be disappointed with winter surfing in Encinitas.

This time of year is fed by the strong NW swell channels. They’re powered by major storm surges in the Arctic Circle, so have the joules to really get things cooking on the SoCal shore. Onshore winds are the issue, and the cold waters, which can warrant a 4/3, boots and a hood.

Peak time in southern Cali. There’s no better season to be in the waves. Seriously, it’s awesome. You get a mix of SW and NW swells, with the occasional big hitter creeping down from the Arctic.

A 3/2 wetty usually covers things and there are WAY less people around to clog up key breaks like Swami’s and Moonlight State Beach. The best thing about fall surfing in Encinitas has to be the offshore credential.

That comes from the winds that blow down from the Santa Ana Mountains, adding a laminate quality to the sets that’s nowhere else on Earth!