Surfing
Surfing
Sanctuaries: Trestles, the Cradle of Rad
Over the freeway and through the woods is a surfer’s paradise that’s drawn generations of followers to cross its fabled train tracks.
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Sunset are best viewed from the lineup
© Ryan Miller/Red Bull Content Pool
Perhaps you’ve past this sanctuary speeding south toward San Diego? Perhaps next time, look out for Cristianitos Road off exit 72 …
What you came for
Certainly, it’s the surf. Lower Trestles is not only the most rippable righthand point (with a killer left) in potentially all of California; it’s also the most consistent wave in the state during the summer months. A complete swell magnet, the A-Frame peak is punchy, forgiving, lengthy and sectional all at the same time. Of course the buck doesn’t just stop at Lowers. “Trestles,” named after the train track trestles running by the breaks in San Onofre State Park has a half-dozen other waves like Uppers, Cottons, Middles and Church.
Carissa Moore enjoys the walk in the state park
© Ryan Miller/Red Bull Content Pool
High-performance shortboarding not your cup of tea? Right around the point toward the nuclear power plant is a longboarding refuge known as San-O with breaks like The Point, Old Man’s and Trails. North of all that, San Clemente town has a number of beach break peaks all the way to the pier (and a mile yonder).
Not a surfer? Totally fine. San Onofre State Park has some superb bird watching for the birders and tons of excellent beachside car camping for recreationalists. Bring a volleyball, cooler and a corn-hole set if ya can. Heading inland, San Clemente Skatepark is Ryan Sheckler’s home park and according to him, is one of his top five favorites. Then, of course there’s a bike/running path behind Trestles, an offshore seal island you could kayak to north of Cotton’s, and single-track trails for mountain biking just a couple miles inland from Lowers.
Pro skater Ryan Sheckler grew up in San Clemente
© Chris Shonting/Red Bull Content Pool
Psst … psst …
As far surf goes, one common criticism for Trestles is that it’s often known for its glory during the spring/summer/fall south swell window months. Pro tip: Uppers and various beachies between State Park and the San Clemente Pier cop winter swell (West-northwest angle) and can get quite fun.
With a thumping shallow sandbar, Calafia State Park (around the point North of Cotton’s) can actually serve up some barrels. Tides too high for everwhere? Roll on up to Salt Creek 15 minutes up the 5 where the beaches like a fatter tide.
Also make sure you bring a toasty jacket for those dawn patrol trail walks to Trestles; even in the summer, it can be pretty nippy.
South Africa's Jordy Smith moved to San Clemente
© Trevor Moran/Red Bull Content Pool
Hearsay
“The wave is so perfect and rippable, while at the same time soft, so there’s a certain way to ride and time the wave. Especially with carves. It’s such a good canvas though — any maneuver or combo you want to do, you can do it out at Lowers. That’s the raddest part about it.”
As I’ve gotten older and more into hanging out at the beach, Trestles has definitely become, well… a sanctuary for me where I get to walk through nature, go through the reeds, over the railroad tracks and hang out on the beach for a couple hours, then surf a really fun wave. I don’t know what we’d do in San Clemente without the place, let alone Southern California.
Kolohe Andino lays into a perfect right at Lowers
© Trevor Moran/Red Bull Content Pool
Don’t miss
Like that first drive through the pineapple fields before catching site of the North Shore, or that treacherous paddle out through the Cave at Uluwatu, walking, biking or skateboarding down “The Trail” into Trestles is a California surfer’s rite of passage. Sure, you’re still in earshot of cars wooshing by on the freeway, but there’s something about that walk through the unspoiled San Onofre State Park. The way the reeds dance in the light offshore winds, the wild rabbits hopping over your path, the whistle of the passing train as you cross the tracks and catch site of Lower’s immaculate A-frame. Breathtaking.
Julian Wilson enjoys the evening glass-off
© Ryan Miller/Red Bull Content Pool
Sure, San Clemente (the nearest town to Trestles), has a far sleepier rep than other Orange County surf towns like Huntington Beach, Newport or Laguna, but that’s not to say there aren’t any gems.
After an amazing sushi meal at Taka’o, the bar next door has an epic karaoke program for whoever wants to get on stage and belt out a Stones hit. The Cellar and Vine are sneaker date-night spots and let’s not forget potentially the best burgers in all of California are found at Rider’s Club on the north end of El Camino Real.
Rock dancing is part of the Trestles experience
© Ryan Miller/Red Bull Content Pool
Escape the youngsters at dive bars like Big Helyn’s and Knuckleheads. Post dawn patrol, rub elbows with WCT stars at SC Café or Bear Coast across the pier for breakfast.
Lest you forget that every single year all 34 of the best surfers on planet Earth (and a couple wildcards) gather at Trestles for the Hurley Pro WCT event in September, potentially, the most high-performance spectacle in the sport.
Carissa Moore has won the WCT event at Trestles
© Trevor Moran/Red Bull Content Pool
Be aware
The pristine San Onofre State Beach on the shores of the multiple Trestles surf breaks almost became a six-lane toll road which could’ve harmed wildlife in the park and damaged the surrounding watershed. Key word: almost. For nearly 15 years, thousands of surfers and community residents banded together with the Surfrider Foundation to stop the unnecessary toll road, a campaign ending two years ago in their favor.
Presently, a major threat to this sanctuary is the recently decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, a retired nuclear plant sitting half a mile from Trestles. The thing is, there’s more than 3 million pounds of radioactive waste stockpiled in the joint with no place to relocate it, nor many takers. As they’ve already found cracks in the structure (which is what caused them to shutdown), any leaks, of course, could NOT be healthy for the area. Unless, perhaps, a mutant third hand helps you paddle faster.
Gabriel Medina gets innovative on Lowers's left
© Trevor Moran/Red Bull Content Pool
There’s also the recent shark sitch that’s become a bit of a thing this year. A woman was actually bitten while surfing Church in the spring (thankfully she’s fine, now) but since then, there have been numerous shark sightings up and down the coastline from Trestles to Capo Beach. One day, 25 different sharks were sighted on the coast, so … looks like “the ocean’s landlords” dig this sanctuary, too!
Yet another reason the land behind Trestles has been protected and is considered so sacred is the fact that it’s actually the site of the pre-Spaniard, Acjachemen Native-American tribe. Present day descendants of the Acjachemen were also influential in protesting the toll road, as their burial grounds are on this land. Perhaps their spirits send good vibes to the waves off their shores.
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