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.
Local Vibe
Mellow but competitive.
Crowd Factor
Weekends and holidays are usually packed, but weekdays are not bad.
Spot Rating
7
Shoulder Burn
Mellow, unless really big.
Water Quality
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.
Access
Parking right there. Multiple stairways down.
Bottom
Reef and sand.
Best Season
Fall-Winter.
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