Surf: An often stellar cobblestone peak, Lowers provides occasional hollow, zippering lefts, but is more known for its long, fast, bowling rights. Best with SW swells up to double-overhead. Can be good at any tide. Environment: Pull up on the freeway exit overlooking the break as the sun rises, and there will already be 50 bodies in the line-up. Always super crowded. Park at or near the Carl’s Jr. restaurant on El Camino and walk/bike in via the paved foot/bike path found at the Cristianitos Road freeway exit/overpass. Follow the path until it goes under the railway trestle and onto the beach, and you’re there. Surf: General: The apex of everything surf in Southern California - peak action, A-framing rights and lefts and even a peek-a-boo view from the freeway. Lowers IS Ground Zero for high-octane surfing. Offering forgivably rippable walls going either way, Lower Trestles only closes out on the rarest of swells.

If there's a sniff of south swell in the water, Lowers will welcome it with open arms. But if there's a puff of south wind, Lowers will shut down quicker than 5:00pm on Wall Street.

Don't expect to score Lowers uncrowded either (even on full moon nights). Watch any set roll through and you'll see two (or more) surfers taking off in either direction, which often makes things frustrating for even the biggest name pro surfers. But if you manage to wrangle one to yourself, hold on because you're in for one of the best rides Southern California can offer. Tides: Medium-low to medium-high Size: shoulder high to double overhead Wind: E, NE Swell: S, SW Bottom: Sand, rivermouth rock Paddling: If the paddle back after a long right doesn't get your shoulders burning, jockeying for the next good set wave will. Considerably less work for the left. Spot Rating: The bar for rippable cobblestone peaks worldwide. Access: San Onofre State Park; or walk, run, crawl, roll, bike, e-bike, skate, back flip down the trail after parking off the Cristianitos exit. Crowds: Crowd Factor: Lowers is a zoo, sometimes crowded even at night. Elsewhere is moderate, but can also be a zoo. Local Vibe: Hungry, aggressive, competitive, but mostly cordial. Environment: Typically ok but brutal after a big rain. Hazards: Car rip-offs, beach backpack rip-offs, getting caught by a speeding train on the trestle, rattlesnakes in the lineup after a rain. Season: Best March-October, but it works year-round.