Surf spot

Salt Creek- Middles

Forecast conditions and map view for Salt Creek- Middles in USA, California, Orange County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Orange County
Coordinates: 33.4754, -117.7237

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.6
Wave direction	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	W	W	W	S	S	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	11.9	11.7	11.4	11.3	11.2	10.9	10.9	10.9	10.3	4.7	4.9	5	8.8	9.1	5.5	5.6	6	5.8	5.8	5.6	5.7	6.2	6.2	6.5	6.6	6.8	6.8	6.2	12.4	13.6	13.4	13.3	14.4	14.3	13.9	13.8	13.8	12.3	13.5	13	12.9	12.8	11.9	11.8	11.6	11.5	11.3	11.3	10.9	11	11.8	11.7	11.6	11.5	10.3	10.4
Wave energy (kJ)	164	150	136	124	109	110	104	97	88	20	25	26	46	44	29	40	54	58	47	36	30	27	24	20	20	20	25	25	71	85	97	96	131	128	139	147	155	156	159	166	164	169	164	161	162	161	157	154	139	125	115	104	103	89	93	89
Wind speed (km/h)	7.6	4.8	7.3	14.5	14.6	10.4	6	5.9	6	7.2	5.2	12.4	14.3	11.1	5.9	8	7.4	9.2	5.6	19.1	19.5	15.5	10.6	11	9.6	6.6	5.6	12.3	14.5	12.1	5.4	4.3	3.4	1.6	1.4	10.9	14.3	10.5	4.8	2.9	3.1	1.8	2.9	10.2	15.5	15	7	1.8	3.3	2.7	3.1	11.2	14.7	14.1	5.3	3.4
Wind direction	SSECross-on	SEGlassy	SCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSECross-on	SCross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross	SECross	SCross-on	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SECross	SECross	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SCross-on	SSEGlassy	SSEGlassy	ENEGlassy	WGlassy	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWGlassy	WSWGlassy	SWGlassy	NWGlassy	WGlassy	WCross-on	WSWCross-on	WCross-on	WSWOnshore	WGlassy	WNWGlassy	WNWGlassy	NWGlassy	WSWCross-on	WCross-on	WCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWGlassy

Salt Creek – Middles is a well-known surf break in Orange County, California, located at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. “Middles” refers to the central peak of the beachbreak/reef setup, and it’s one of the most popular waves in the area when conditions line up.

Wave / Surf Character

Type: Mostly a powerful beachbreak/reef-affected peak
Shape: Produces short-to-medium rides with a fairly punchy takeoff
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers
Style: Fast, energetic wave that can offer solid walls and sections for turns when the sand and swell are right

Conditions

Best swell: Works best with a consistent southwest swell, but can handle other directions depending on sand and tide
Best wind: Usually likes light offshore or calm wind, often from the east/northeast in the morning
Best tide: Can be tide-sensitive; many surfers prefer mid tide for a more manageable shape
Wave quality: Can range from fun and user-friendly to powerful and demanding on bigger days

Crowd / Atmosphere

Salt Creek is a highly surfed and competitive spot, especially on good swell days and weekends.
Expect a busy lineup and a strong local presence.
Because of the popularity and quality, it can get crowded quickly.

Hazards / Considerations

Shallow sections and exposed bottom features can make it sharp and unforgiving at lower tide.
Strong rips and powerful shorebreak on bigger swell can be an issue.
Like many Orange County breaks, conditions can change quickly with tide and sand movement.

Overall

Salt Creek – Middles is a classic Southern California surf spot known for producing fun, punchy waves with a bit more power than many nearby beaches. When it’s working, it’s a favorite for surfers looking for a quality session close to Dana Point.