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Piedras Blancas

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Ideal surf conditions at Piedras Blancas

Swell window
SSW, SW, W, WNW
Swell size
4ft - 8ft
Swell breaks over
Sand, Rock
Wave types
Beach, Reef
Wave directions
Right, Left
Wind window
NE, ENE, E, ESE
Best tides at
Low, Low to Mid, Mid
Skill Level
Intermediate, Expert
Seasons
Summer, Autumn, Winter
Board types
Shortboard, Gun

Piedras Blancas surf guide

Surf: General: Pico Creek at the north end of downtown San Simeon. It will be either a thick, right-hand reefbreak wave during clean conditions or a peaky, rocky beachbreak on smaller days. The reef sits in front of the creek's mouth and is clogged with seaweed and boils, yet manages to produce a rather decent right which peaks on the outside, backs off, then reforms and bowls into the inside section.

Popular with surfers of all types, Pico Creek is a fairly reliable spot if the swell is bigger than chest-high. If it isn't, walk south of the short staircase. There you'll find a wide beachbreak punctuated with several boulders and patches of shallow reef. Unsurfable on anything bigger than a few feet overhead, the beachbreak proves valuable during the summertime. Tides: Low for the reef, medium for the beach break Size: Chest high-overhead Wind: NE, E Swell: SW, W, NW Bottom: Sand, rock and reef Paddling: Depends on size but generally a lot of paddling, especially when overhead. Spot Rating: Fun. Access: Take Highway 1 into San Simeon Acres, where all the hotels are, and turn west onto Pico Avenue. Park in the tiny cul-de-sac at its end and take the staircase down to the sand. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Medium. 10-15 surfers is about the maximum occupancy for Pico. Local Vibe: Definitely there. Be polite. A more subtle form of localism comes from the resident elephant seals and invisible white sharks. Environment: Depends, could be dirty after a rain. Hazards: Sharks. Nearby San Simeon has a big elephant seal rookery. Season: June-February

Written by Joris de Ruiter

Joris is a dad, husband, surfer, software developer, yogi and swimmer. He combines his passion for surfing and technology to help others catch more and better waves.

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