Surf spot

Upper Trestles

Forecast conditions and map view for Upper Trestles in USA, California, Orange County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Orange County
Coordinates: 33.3856, -117.5944

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	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.6	0.7	0.9	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.7	0.8	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	SSW	S	S	SSW	SSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	WSW	W	W	W	W	W	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	S	SSW	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)	11.8	11.7	11.4	11.3	11.8	10.3	11.2	10.8	7.7	4.7	4.9	5	7.3	8.3	6.1	4.8	5.7	5.8	5.7	5.5	5.6	5.3	4.6	7.1	7.2	8.7	9	9.1	14.7	14.9	14.8	14.7	14.4	14.1	13.9	13.8	13.7	12.3	13.1	12.2	12.7	12.2	11.8	11.8	11.7	11.6	11.4	11.3	10.9	11.9	11.8	11.7	11.6	11.4	10.6	10.9
Wave energy (kJ)	171	157	144	132	106	93	102	96	52	22	29	28	44	38	30	20	56	64	53	46	38	34	13	18	18	26	37	38	99	102	118	117	130	134	139	147	154	166	168	172	166	171	169	168	165	162	160	157	137	123	114	111	103	87	97	81
Wind speed (km/h)	10.5	8.4	9.8	15.5	15.9	10.2	2.6	3.3	5.7	8.6	8.9	14.8	14.4	11.3	4.3	8.2	9.9	11.9	11.2	22.2	18.5	14.8	8.7	11.8	10	5.9	7.4	13.9	14.2	12.2	4.6	3.3	3.3	2.4	1.9	10.5	14.8	11.3	3.8	3.5	2.6	2.2	2.5	12.4	18.7	17.8	6.6	5.2	5.3	5.3	4.1	14	18.7	17.2	6.2	3.6
Wind direction	SECross-on	ESECross-on	SECross-on	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWCross-on	SSWGlassy	SSEGlassy	SECross-on	SSECross-on	SECross-on	SOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SGlassy	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	SSEOnshore	SOnshore	SOnshore	SSEOnshore	SECross-on	SECross-on	SECross-on	ESECross-on	SSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWGlassy	SEGlassy	SEGlassy	ENEGlassy	WSWGlassy	SWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWCross-on	WNWGlassy	WNWGlassy	SWGlassy	NGlassy	WGlassy	WCross	WCross	WCross	WNWCross-off	NWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	NWGlassy	WSWCross	WCross	WCross	WCross	WGlassy

Upper Trestles (Uppers) is a world-famous surf spot in San Onofre State Beach, San Diego County, California—just south of Orange County, near the San Clemente area. It’s often grouped with the broader Trestles surf zone and is known for its high-quality, reliable waves and performance-oriented surf.

Quick description

Wave type: Fast, peeling sand-bottom point/reef-style wave
Best for: Experienced surfers and high-performance shortboarding
Break characteristics: Produces long, clean, predictable lines when conditions are right
Direction: Works best on south and southwest swells
Wind: Light offshore northeast winds help it shine
Crowds: Very popular and often crowded

What it’s like

Upper Trestles is known for being a bit softer and more forgiving than Lower Trestles, but it can still get very good and powerful. The wave tends to offer open faces, making it ideal for maneuvers, turns, and flow. On bigger swells it can hold more size and speed, while smaller days can still be fun if the sandbars are lining up.

Conditions and vibe

Wave quality: Excellent when the sand is right and swell direction lines up
Skill level: Intermediate to advanced, though conditions vary
Hazards: Strong crowds, occasional currents, and the walk-in access
Access: Usually requires a trail walk from the parking area at San Onofre

Best time to surf

Upper Trestles is typically best during: - Fall and winter for consistent swell and favorable winds - Summer south swells for fun, clean waves