Surfnerd Short Icon

Pipes/Campgrounds

Hourly Forecast
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
GFS Atmos (run: 20250706 00)
GFS Wave (run: 20250706 06)
⏱️s.
⚡️kJ
🔮
🌒
Sunday 7
Monday 1
Tuesday 2
Wednesday 3
Thursday 4
Friday 5
Join Surfnerd+
Unlock wave energy for all spots
Check 12-days ahead with Surfnerd+
🌟 Learn more on how to read a surf forecast

Primary Swell

Check 12-days ahead with Surfnerd+

Primary Swell Energy

kJ
Join Surfnerd+ to check wave energy for all spots
Join Surfnerd+

Wind

Check 12-days ahead with Surfnerd+

Tide

Check 12-days ahead with Surfnerd+

Secondary Swell

Join Surfnerd+ to check secondary swells for all spots
Join Surfnerd+

Tertiary Swell

Join Surfnerd+ to check tertiary swells for all spots
Join Surfnerd+
Join Surfnerd for free to check this forecast
Join Surfnerd to check forecasts, set your homespot, save and create spots and log your surf sessions.
Sign up with Google

Do you already have an account? Login instead.

Ideal surf conditions at Pipes/Campgrounds

Swell window
S, SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW
Best swell direction
W
Swell size
1ft - 8ft
Swell breaks over
Rock Ledge, Sand
Wave types
Reef
Wave directions
Left, Right
Wind window
E
Offshore wind
E
Works at
Low, Mid, High
(Better on rising)

Pipes/Campgrounds surf guide

Pipes/Campgrounds is located along the San Elijo State Beach campground, offering a few flat reefs that cater to different surf levels. It's a popular spot, so you can expect to share the waves with many fellow surfers. Accessing the beach can be a bit tricky, with parking along the inland side of 101 or in the year-round pay lot at the campground.

The surf here can be mixed. Within the area, you’ll find some square barrels alongside sectiony mushburgers. It's not the most consistent spot, but during smaller, peaky swells, you can have some fun, punchy rides. The optimal swell direction is from the west, while south and northwest swells can also work. This place can handle swell sizes down to 1 ft (approximately 0.3 meters) and breaks over both rock ledges and soft sand. Depending on your skill, you can catch waves that break both left and right. For the best experience, aim for low to mid tide.

Keep in mind that low tides here can create many boils and suck-up sections, which might require some patience and skill to navigate. If you’re keen on hitting the waves, try to hit it when the wind is coming from the east, as it tends to improve the surfing conditions. Just be prepared for the crowds and keep an eye on the conditions before jumping in.

Surf reports and surf forecasts nearby Pipes/Campgrounds