San Elijo State Beach Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
W, NW, SW.
Wind
E, NE or calm.
Surf Height
Waist high to head high+.
Tide
Low.
San Elijo State Beach Surf Guide
Connecting the dots between Cardiff Reef and Swami's is a stretch of erratic reef and sand known as the San Elijo, or Cardiff Campgrounds. There are a handful of named waves, including Traps and Tippers, all of which are not as good as Cardiff or Swami's, but offer shifty, fickle, surfable options for those who don't want to deal with the crowds.
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced - Pro
Competent to high class.
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Mellow but competitive.
Crowd Factor
Moderate
Weekends and holidays are usually packed, but weekdays are not bad.
Spot Rating
Fun
7
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Mellow, unless really big.
Water Quality
Fair
Generally clean, except after a big rain.
Hazards
Disappointment that it's not as good as it looked from the cliff. Parts of the reef can be quite shallow at low tide.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish
Access
Parking right there. Multiple stairways down.
Bottom
Reef and sand.
Best Season
Fall-Winter.
Do you have local knowledge about San Elijo State Beach?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]