Surf: One of the better spots in Carlsbad, a sand/cobblestone reef peak best during summer swells up to a foot or two overhead. Very crowded. Any tide. Decent beachbreak to the north and south as well. Environment: Camping available nearby. Down the beach by the power plant is Warm Water Jetty, a decent right sandbar when it works. Surf: General: Most of San Diego lies dormant throughout the long summer months, as S swells march straight past and along to the beaches farther north. Carlsbad is situated right on the cutoff point for S swell retrieval. The beaches throughout Carlsbad are mostly unimpressive beachbreaks, with the exception of a few quality spots. If it weren't for man-made jetties and rivermouths, Carlsbad would be nothing but a six-mile expanse of closed-out garbage.

Tamarack State Park is located at the foot of Tamarack Avenue, which is nothing more than a parking lot right on the beach. Peaks form just to the north of the small river, which provides enough water movement to create some decent sandbars. Conditions vary greatly here with tide and swell, but it's best with a medium tide and a S swell less than six-feet. While Tamarack doesn't often see perfectly lined-up waves, it does offer plenty of fun, shifting peaks that seem to have some kind of lip to destroy. With a larger swell, a righthander begins to break off the south side of the river. The takeoff zone is between the two jetties, and the right wraps into the beach around the southern jetty. A lower tide is best on this side. Tides: low to medium Size: waist high to a bit overhead Wind: E, NE Swell: WNW, W, SW, SSW; most South swells will miss Bottom: Sand and rock Paddling: Pretty average most days. Spot Rating: Average beachbreak. Access: Take Tamarack Avenue to the beach. There's a parking lot in front of the break. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Mellow to a few hassles. Local Vibe: Very little. Environment: Not great after a rain. Hazards: Some car rip-offs in the parking lot. Season: January-December