Surf Forecast  Trestles - Uppers

Trestles - Uppers surfspot characteristics

More about Trestles - Uppers surfspot

One of the world’s most famous waves, seen in countless magazines and videos. Two breaks here: Uppers is a cobblestone mini-point featuring quality rights, often hollow and fast. Lower tides best with W swells up to double-overhead. Generally less crowded than Lowers to the south.

General: While the surf media limelight tends to focus itself a quarter-mile south, Upper Trestles steadily grinds out quality cobblestone righthanders that are often equally as impressive as Lowers. And if the river is flowing, Uppers can even offer a short, punchy left into the mouth. But the focus is always on the rights, especially since Uppers draws in a bit more west and northwest energy than its sister to the south.</br></br>North of the rivermouth is the outer takeoff zone, which peaks up the biggest but usually sections off once the wave reaches the corner of the cobblestone point. From the corner, which offers the most bowly, rippable waves, rights run through the quasi-cove created by sediment buildup from the San Mateo Creek. And if you pick off the right wave, it's not impossible to go the entire distance -- burning your legs through upwards of 150 yards. It should be noted that the sections are directly affected by sand and cobblestone placement. Big swells and the extreme rains that cause the rivermouth to burst are the main movers and shakers of Uppers' wave quality. Tides: Medium-low to medium-high Size: shoulder high to double overhead Wind: E, NE Swell: S, SW; also W, WNW 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. Spot Rating: Rippable cobblestone point... what's not to love?

Average to above average

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.

San Onofre State Park; or walk, run, crawl, roll, bike, e-bike, skate, back flip down the trail after parking off the Cristianitos exit.

Best March-October, but it works year-round and gets good on solid W or WNW swells.

Crowd Factor: Uppers is a zoo, but every now and then... Local Vibe: Hungry, aggressive, competitive, but mostly cordial.

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.

Typically ok but brutal after a big rain.

Car rip-offs, beach backpack rip-offs, getting caught by a speeding train on the trestle, rattlesnakes in the lineup after a rain.