orange county Surf Spots & Beaches

Doheny State Beach

Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, California

Doheny State Beach was donated by oil tycoon, Edward L. Doheny, and became California's first state beach in 1931. It's a great mellow surf spot, and looking at the waves there today it's hard to believe it used to be known as Killer Dana, which was once a big, heavy right before the harbor began construction in 1966.

Huntington Beach Pier

Huntington Beach Pier in Huntington Beach, California.

It wouldn't be a surf poster series without "Surf City's" Huntington Beach Pier. It's a consistent wave that can get really great with the right conditions. The old Ruby's diner atop the concrete pier footing makes for an iconic backdrop to the U.S. Open of Surfing every year.

Lowers

Lower Trestles in San Diego County, California.

Lower Trestles is one of the best, most crowded waves in the state for good reason. Like many breaks around San Onofre, the drive nor the hike to the beach is enough to keep people away. Hard to beat the quality of the waves and the environment.

Rockpile

Rockpile in Laguna Beach, California.

Laguna Beach's rocky coves and hidden beaches make for a great place to explore and relax. The vibe and risk of surfing at Rockpile varies depending on the tide, but tends to remain on the higher side. The large rocky reef jutting out of the water as the wave breaks and barrels around it does make for a pretty cool visual though.

Salt Creek

Salt Creek in Dana Point, California

Salt Creek is a beautiful beach that features a variety of fun setups for surfing depending on where on the beach you paddle out. From lefts and rights, pointbreaks and shorebreaking barrels, Salt Creek is certainly not lacking in choice of wave. And it's a definite step up in quality and size from it's neighbor Doheny to the south. Or, if the surf is no good, lounging on the sand or the big bluffside park is not a bad option either.

San Onofre