Surf: General: A working person's wave nestled amongst more high-profile breaks like Swamis and Cardiff Reef, Beacon’s can offer something for everyone. Popular with beginners when it’s small and gutless, the wave breaks further out on a rock reef as the swell gets bigger to offer up quality lefts and rights. Score it on a good W swell with stiff offshores and you’ll understand just how dynamic this spot is. Picking up swell pretty much year-round, Beacons can be good in the middle of summer when a solid S is running and the water’s warm enough for trunks. Conversely, it loves a good W swell with E winds in the morning and water temperatures in the mid 50s. Beacons also has a way of sucking in local windswell, so when there’s not enough long-period swell for Swamis and Cardiff, Beacons is a viable option. Tides: Low going high is ideal. Size: Chest-high to slightly overhead is magic at Beacons. Wind: SE, E, NE Swell: W, NW Bottom: Flat rock reef with patches of sand and sea grass. As far as reefs go, this is one of the more mellow setups you’ll find in this wave-rich part of North San Diego County. Paddling: Most days the paddle is relatively easy, requiring a few duck-dives but nothing serious. Big winter W swells are a different story. Spot Rating: A dependable, workingman’s wave that’s well-utilized by the community. It’s not an aggro zone, but you should know what you’re doing before you paddle out. Access: Park in the main lot off of Neptune Ave. or anywhere along the street. Walk the path down to the beach. The San Elijo State Beach is also nearby — a great option for all those #vanlife surfers. Crowds: Crowd Factor: It’s pretty much never empty, yet not nearly as crowded as Swamis a few clicks up Highway 1. Because of its abundant options, Beacons is a high-traffic surf spot with a steady stream of newbies and old salts. Local Vibe: The gentrification of the Cardiff zone has defused the heady North County vibes of yesteryear, but there are still a lot of lifelong surfer families that enjoy the spot. Environment: Suffers from the same urban runoff problem as a lot of breaks between Carlsbad and Del Mar. With numerous outflow sources, winter rains can create some nasty problems. Hazards: Reef injuries, various rocks. Season: Autumn is best, when early-season W swells coincide with E wind Santa Ana conditions. Beacons picks up swells from a lot of different angles, through, and can be fun in summer and winter, too.