California Surf Guide: San Francisco & San Mateo Surf

From learner coves to world-class consequence

Surfing the San Francisco and San Mateo coast means open-ocean power, fog, and current, from protected learner coves like Linda Mar to the punishing beach break at Ocean Beach and the elite big-wave reef at Mavericks. A 4/3 wetsuit is standard, with hood and booties in winter, and conditions shift fast — match the spot to your ability honestly.

Bolinas - Patch

Bolinas, Marin County. Bolinas - Patch is a sheltered reef/beach mix - softer, slower walls favor longboards and developing surfers. The window is SW-W, 1-4 ft with NE-E wind at Mid to high (Year-round; best spring-summer for smaller surf); it suits beginner-to-intermediate surfers.

• Ideal swell: SW-W, 1-4 ft

• Best wind: NE-E

• Best tide: Mid to high

• Best season: Year-round; best spring-summer for smaller surf

• Skill level: Beginner to intermediate

Address: Bolinas Beach, Wharf Rd, Bolinas, CA 94924

Access: Limited town parking; do not block driveways. Carry gear from town.

Parking: Small free lot at the end of Brighton Avenue, right by the sand, fills before 10am on weekends and sunny days. Street parking in town is tight with resident restrictions and overnight prohibitions — read every sign, never block driveways, and carpool if you can.

Local tip: Keep the town low-impact: arrive early, pack out trash and do not crowd the more advanced peaks.

Stinson Beach

Marin County. Stinson Beach is a beach break - sandbars offer forgiving shoulders on small days and closeouts when larger. The window is W-SW, 2-5 ft with NE-E wind at Mid (Spring-fall); it suits beginners on small, clean days (intermediate surfers otherwise).

• Ideal swell: W-SW, 2-5 ft

• Best wind: NE-E

• Best tide: Mid

• Best season: Spring-fall

• Skill level: Beginner on small days; intermediate otherwise

Address: 43 Arenal Ave, Stinson Beach, CA 94970

Access: Large public lot, but summer traffic and closures can be severe.

Parking: Free NPS lots (gate opens around 9am) plus street parking in town, all free. On sunny weekends the lots fill by mid-morning and Highway 1 traffic backs up — arrive before 10am; on overflow days consider the Dipsea trailhead area on the north end as a fallback.

Local tip: Stay in lifeguarded zones when available and watch for rips near creek mouths and ends of beach.

Fort Point

San Francisco, under the Golden Gate Bridge. Fort Point is a left point/reef - a wrapping wall runs beside rocks; tight takeoff and current favor experts. The window is W-NW, 4-10 ft with E-SE wind at Mid to high (Nov-Mar); it suits advanced surfers only.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 4-10 ft

• Best wind: E-SE

• Best tide: Mid to high

• Best season: Nov-Mar

• Skill level: Advanced only

Address: 201 Marine Dr, San Francisco, CA 94129

Access: Limited parking near the historic site; access hours and tides can restrict entry.

Parking: Free on-site lot at the end of Marine Drive, but only a few dozen spots — first come, first served, and it fills on nice weekends. Surfers often slot into Marine Drive and Lincoln Boulevard pullouts in the Presidio as backup; the fort is open 10am–5pm, Thursday through Monday.

Local tip: Strong tidal flow, rocks and restricted space make this a local-knowledge wave, not a tourist novelty.

Ocean Beach

San Francisco. Ocean Beach is an open beach break - powerful shifting sandbars create hollow peaks and a punishing paddle. The window is W-NW, 3-10 ft with E-NE wind at Mid; varies by bar (Sep-Mar); it suits advanced surfers when it is overhead.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 3-10 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid; varies by bar

• Best season: Sep-Mar

• Skill level: Advanced when overhead

Address: Great Highway, San Francisco, CA 94121

Access: Street and beach-lot parking; break-ins are common, so leave nothing visible.

Parking: Free street parking along the Great Highway and adjacent lots — the north lot off Great Hwy between Lincoln and Fulton, and the south lot at Sloat. Note the upper Great Highway is now the car-free Sunset Dunes park between Lincoln and Sloat, so access via Lower Great Highway; popular lots still fill on good weekend mornings, so arrive early.

Local tip: Find a defined channel, set a turnaround point, and do not chase a peak farther than you can paddle back.

Linda Mar

Pacifica. Linda Mar is a crescent-shaped beach break - protected corners are softer; central sandbars can be punchier. The window is W-SW, 2-6 ft with E-NE wind at Mid to high (Year-round, best fall-winter); it suits beginner-to-intermediate surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-SW, 2-6 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid to high

• Best season: Year-round, best fall-winter

• Skill level: Beginner to intermediate

Address: 5100 Coast Hwy, Pacifica, CA 94044

Access: Paid public lot by Pacifica State Beach; busy before work and on weekends.

Parking: Paid city lots (north and south lots off Highway 1, pay-by-plate kiosks, enforced 8am–8pm). The south lot by the Taco Bell fills first; the north lot is the easier overflow and is still close to the main surf entry. Free parking is scarce in the neighborhood — buy your time before heading out.

Local tip: A reliable learner option on small days. Avoid sitting directly in front of the creek after rain.

Rockaway Beach

Pacifica. Rockaway Beach is a beach break - short, punchy peaks break over sand between rocky headlands. The window is W-SW, 2-6 ft with E-NE wind at Mid (Fall-winter); it suits intermediate surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-SW, 2-6 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid

• Best season: Fall-winter

• Skill level: Intermediate

Address: 100 Rockaway Beach Ave, Pacifica, CA 94044

Access: Small lots and street parking near hotels and shops.

Parking: Free lots — the main Rockaway Beach lot off Old Country Road near the Lighthouse Hotel, plus the public overflow lot on Dondee Way. Both are small and popular with beachgoers, so arrive early on weekends; metered and free street parking along Rockaway Beach Avenue fills the gaps.

Local tip: Rocks narrow the usable zone; know the exit before a rising tide covers the corners.

Montara State Beach

Montara. Montara State Beach is an open beach break - steep sand and exposure create strong shorebreak and fast, shifting peaks. The window is W-NW, 2-6 ft with E wind at Mid (Fall-spring); it suits intermediate-plus surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 2-6 ft

• Best wind: E

• Best tide: Mid

• Best season: Fall-spring

• Skill level: Intermediate+

Address: 8150 Cabrillo Hwy, Montara, CA 94037

Access: Highway 1 pullouts and state-beach lots; crossing traffic can be hazardous.

Parking: Free state-beach lots: the paved main north lot (with restrooms) fills first, plus a second dirt north lot and a small south-end lot. Highway 1 shoulder parking is a last resort and hazardous — arrive before 10am on sunny weekends; Gray Whale Cove to the north and Fitzgerald Marine Reserve to the south are backups.

Local tip: Do not paddle out just because it looks smaller from the bluff; the beach amplifies power and current.

Mavericks

Pillar Point, Half Moon Bay. Mavericks is a deep-water reef break - a submarine canyon focuses massive, ledging peaks for elite big-wave teams. The window is W-NW, 15-40+ ft with E-NE, light wind at Mid to high (Nov-Mar); it suits elite big-wave riders only.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 15-40+ ft

• Best wind: E-NE, light

• Best tide: Mid to high

• Best season: Nov-Mar

• Skill level: Elite big-wave only

Address: Pillar Point Bluff, off Airport St, Moss Beach, CA 94038

Access: Spectator access is distant; harbor parking rules apply. Water access requires specialized planning.

Parking: Free bluff-trail parking lot off Airport Street (San Mateo County park); also a day-use lot at the end of West Point Avenue in Princeton. Spots are limited and fill on big-swell days; park only in designated legal spots — on event days the area may be closed to spectators entirely. Bring binoculars.

Local tip: Not a recreational stop. Proper inflation vest, rescue craft, team, training and local coordination are minimums.

Princeton Jetty

Pillar Point Harbor, Half Moon Bay. Princeton Jetty is a jetty-protected beach break - softer reform waves on the protected side; stronger peaks toward open water. The window is W-NW, 2-5 ft with E-NE wind at Mid to high (Fall-spring); it suits beginner-to-intermediate surfers on small days.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 2-5 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid to high

• Best season: Fall-spring

• Skill level: Beginner to intermediate on small days

Address: 1 Johnson Pier, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Access: Harbor-area parking; respect boat ramps, businesses and signed zones.

Parking: Free harbor lots around Pillar Point Harbor — aim for the public lots off Johnson Pier and Capistrano Road. It gets very crowded on weekends and during crab season, so arrive early; keep clear of boat ramps, working docks, and any signed no-parking zones, and stay off private business spaces.

Local tip: Useful fallback when open beaches are too windy, but harbor currents and water quality still require checking.

Half Moon Bay State Beach

Half Moon Bay. Half Moon Bay State Beach is a beach break - multiple sandbars produce peaks of varying power along a long shoreline. The window is W-NW, 2-6 ft with E-NE wind at Mid (Fall-spring); it suits intermediate surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 2-6 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid

• Best season: Fall-spring

• Skill level: Intermediate

Address: 95 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Access: State-beach lots at several access points; day-use fees may apply.

Parking: Paid state-beach lots at Francis Beach (the main one, off Kelly Avenue) plus Venice, Dunes, and Roosevelt beaches along the four-mile strip. Lots fill fast on sunny weekends — arrive early or park free a few blocks inland in the surrounding neighborhoods and walk in via the Coastal Trail.

Local tip: Walk before paddling; a ten-minute scan often finds a better bar and fewer people.

San Gregorio State Beach

San Mateo County. San Gregorio State Beach is a river-mouth beach break - shifting sand and cobble create powerful, inconsistent peaks. The window is W-NW, 3-7 ft with E-NE wind at Low to mid (Fall-spring); it suits advanced surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 3-7 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Low to mid

• Best season: Fall-spring

• Skill level: Advanced

Address: Highway 1 at Highway 84, San Gregorio, CA 94074

Access: State-park lot off Highway 1; steep trails and changing creek conditions.

Parking: Paid self-registration lot right off Highway 1 (the beach is 10.5 miles south of downtown Half Moon Bay). It rarely fills, even on weekends — an easy stop. The day-use permit is honored at the other San Mateo state beaches for the day, so keep the receipt.

Local tip: Remote feel, strong rips and cold water: surf with a partner and avoid storm runoff.

Pescadero State Beach

San Mateo County. Pescadero State Beach is an open beach/reef mix - punchy sand peaks and rock-influenced corners vary with tide. The window is W-NW, 2-6 ft with E-NE wind at Mid (Fall-spring); it suits intermediate-plus surfers.

• Ideal swell: W-NW, 2-6 ft

• Best wind: E-NE

• Best tide: Mid

• Best season: Fall-spring

• Skill level: Intermediate+

Address: Highway 1, Pescadero, CA 94060

Access: Highway 1 state-park pullouts; use marked crossings and trails.

Parking: Free roadside lots and pullouts along Highway 1 near Pescadero Creek Road (15 miles south of Half Moon Bay). Rarely fills — one of the least-crowded San Mateo coast beaches. Walk along the sidewalk shoulder to the beach entry, and use only marked crossings and trails; Highway 1 traffic moves fast.

Local tip: Rocks appear and disappear with tide. Inspect from the bluff and choose a clean entry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can beginners surf near San Francisco?

Linda Mar in Pacifica is the classic learner beach, and Bolinas Patch and Stinson Beach suit beginner-to-intermediate surfers. Stick to small, clean days and consider a lesson — most of this coast is not beginner terrain.

Is Ocean Beach San Francisco good for beginners?

No. Ocean Beach is a powerful open-ocean beach break with shifting sandbars, hollow peaks, and a punishing paddle that is advanced when overhead. Beginners should head to Linda Mar or Bolinas instead.

When can you surf Mavericks?

Mavericks breaks on big W-NW swells from November through March, and it is elite big-wave riders only. A submarine canyon focuses massive, ledging peaks — this is a spectator wave for everyone else.

What wetsuit do I need around San Francisco?

A 4/3 wetsuit is the year-round standard. Add a hood and booties in winter, when open-ocean power, fog, and current are at their most demanding.

Planning a California surf trip? Tour Malibu's legendary breaks with a local guide — or rent a surfboard and explore the coast on your own.

Cover image: Astronaut photo: NASA (ISS-53), San Francisco Bay Area, public domain.