Middles Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
S, SW; also W, WNW
Wind
E, NE.
Surf Height
Shoulder high to double overhead.
Tide
Medium-low to medium-high.
Middles Surf Guide
Often harboring the overflow crowd from Lowers, Middles generally looks way better than it actually is. Every Trestles regular has probably thought, "Whoa, that right looks just like Lowers, but no one is on it." Only to be utterly disappointed by the gutless, slow dribblers that push through. However, once the seasonal change hits SoCal and the W/NW swells start making it around Point Conception, Middles sees its window of glory. Drop by Trestles during winter and you'll generally see a small pulse at Uppers while you're wonder where Lowers is, before being utterly surprised by grinding righthanders standing-up through the normally slow peak known as Middles.
Ability Level
Beginner - Intermediate
All welcome!
Local Vibe
Doable
Mostly cordial.
Crowd Factor
Moderate
Not as bad as Lowers, but can get packed.
Spot Rating
Fun
Compared to nearby Lowers, Uppers, etc, Middles is very average. But anywhere else on the coast it'd be considered a very fine wave.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Not horrifying.
Water Quality
Fair
1-8, it can get messy when it rains
Hazards
Car rip-offs, beach backpack rip-offs, getting caught by a speeding train on the trestle, rattlesnakes in the lineup after a rain.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish, Bodyboard
Access
San Onofre State Park; or walk, run, crawl, roll, bike, skate, back flip down the trail after parking off the Cristianitos exit.
Bottom
Sand, rivermouth rock.
Best Season
Year-round. Summer best.
Do you have local knowledge about Middles?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]