Tunitas Creek Surf Guide

Surf spot guide

Ideal Surf Conditions

Swell Direction

W, NW, SW

Wind

E

Surf Height

Waist high-2X overhead

Tide

Beachbreak, so it varies.

Tunitas Creek Surf Guide

South of Martin's Beach are eight miles of empty, unseen and inaccessible coast until Highway 1 dips down and crosses the bridge at Tunitas Creek. Glancing to your right, you'll see a long stretch of beach with what looks to be a promising right point on the north end.

Tunitas Creek is the first in a number of faux surf spots you'll find heading south from Half Moon Bay toward Santa Cruz. What looks to be a perfect right point on the north end of the beach, isn't. Tunitas Creek is mostly beachbreaks. Much of the time, these beachbreaks are too big, too windy or something else is wrong with them. Occasionally, though, you'll catch a glimpse of a perfect A-frame in the middle of the beach. Then you have to figure out how to get down there, and make sure to watch out for sharks because they're definitely out there.

Ability Level

Intermediate - Advanced

BegIntAdv

Intermediate-Advanced

Local Vibe

Welcoming

WelcomingIntimidating

None.

Crowd Factor

Mellow

MellowHeavy

Bring your own. You will want to have some people around to increase the menu.

Spot Rating

Fun

PoorPerfect

Fun.

Shoulder Burn

Medium

LightExhausting

Moderate.

Water Quality

Clean

CleanDirty

Mostly clean.

Hazards

Loneliness, sharks, long walks in for nothing.

Bring Your

Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish, Bodyboard

Access

Like most of the spots along this stretch of coastline, you'll park in a dirt lot along Highway One, peer down the cliff and decide where the best spot to rappel is.

Bottom

Sand and rock

Best Season

September-May

Do you have local knowledge about Tunitas Creek?

If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]