Surfing
Surfing
Top 10 Santa Cruz surfing spots to check out
If you come to this seaside town to catch some waves, check out these 10 epic Santa Cruz surfing spots.
When you drive up or down Highway 1 that goes right through Santa Cruz, California, you'll see that most of the cars have surfboards and you'll even see bicycle riders carrying surfboards. Santa Cruz is best known for its killer surf spots, surf culture and epic places to eat.
The University of California Santa Cruz sits on the top of a hill surrounded by redwood trees and between the college students and surfers, the city is filled with an eclectic bunch of folks. From summertime dance beach parties at the Crows Nest to an endless loop of Bob Marley playing in all the coffee shops, Santa Cruz is a fun town to live in and and to visit.
In no particular order, take a look at some of the top surfing spots in Santa Cruz.
01
Steamer Lane
Steamer Lane is one of the most popular and often overcrowded surf spots in Santa Cruz. Located at the edge of Lighthouse Field State Beach, it's easy to get to and has plenty of parking space. Steamer Lane is just off of Lighthouse Point and because the point faces south, most of the winds and big swells that you get in the North Coast surf spots are calmer at Steamer Lane. The right-hand reef breaks provide long rides and the Middle Peak is one of the best places to catch an epic wave.
You'll find a mix of all kinds of surfers at Steamer Lane, from newbie grommets to seasoned surf veterans. Park in the parking lot at the Lighthouse Point or in the east lot by the bathrooms where the locals hang out. You'll find Steamer Lane at 700 West Cliff Drive.
Steamer Lane
© Lisa Herrick on Unsplash
Get a sense of the waves from this past Red Bull surfing event held at Steamer Lane, the Coldwater Classic. And for more surfing action, check out the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum and this film, “The ABC of Surfing,” to learn more about surf history and the players who helped shape the sport today.
- Pros: Easy access and parking, calmer waves, surfers of all skills
- Cons: Overcrowding
- What’s nearby: Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, Steamer Lane Supply coffee, Lighthouse Field State Beach
- Places to stay: Hotels like the Sea & Sand Inn are located north of this surf spot, closer to the wharf.
02
Cowell Beach
When you're looking for surf schools and a place to learn how to surf, Cowell Beach is the place to go. Just off of West Cliff Drive and about a mile south of Steamer Lane, Cowell Beach is where you'll mostly find beginners. Cowell Beach is a good place for beginners to learn how to paddle out to the wave, and to make the move from laying down to standing up on the board. The waves are super long and gentle, the bottom is sandy, and the water shallow so you'll see lots of young kids trying their hand at surfing.
Cowell Beach is also where most of the surf instructors teach their students the tricks of surfing. You'll find plenty of surf shops across the street from the beach with lots of places to eat including the popular seafood joint Ideal Bar & Grill. After playing in the water, the family can head over to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The beach is just north of the Municipal Wharf.
- Pros: Good for learners, gentle waves, family-friendly
- Cons: Not ideal for advanced surfers
- What’s nearby: Santa Cruz Wharf, Santa Cruz Boardwalk
- Places to stay: Hotels like Beach Street Inn and Dream Inn are within walking distance.
03
Natural Bridges State Beach
Another popular Santa Cruz surf spot is Natural Bridges State Park located at the north end of West Cliff Drive. There's plenty of parking and access to the water is a breeze. Most of the waves come from the north which gives you bigger swells than in the protected parts of Steamer Lane and Cowell Beach.
You get a right point reef break here and the waves can get pretty big when the winds whip in from the northwest. You'll see a mix of surfing levels here, but when the big swells pop up, only seasoned or experienced surfers should hit the waves. You'll find the beach and surf spot at 2531 West Cliff Drive.
- Pros: Good parking, big swells, restroom facilities
- Cons: May be better for more experienced surfers
- What’s nearby: Santa Cruz Coastal Campus Trail, Seymour Marine Discovery Center museum, Ivéta Westside cafe, Venus Spirits Cocktails & Kitchen
- Places to stay: Several hotels can be found inland near Cabrillo Highway, including Fairfield Inn & Suites and Hampton Inn.
04
Mavericks
Head about an hour north of Santa Cruz up the awesome and scenic Highway 1 to the little town of Half Moon Bay. Watch big wave surfers from around the world, like Justine Dupont, Kelly Slater, and Jeff Clark, tackle the ginormous waves at Mavericks.
Mavericks
© Fred Pompermayer
As one of the most feared surf breaks in the world, only extremely experienced surfers should even think about taking on the right-hand wave. While Mavericks is super dangerous, the reward for advanced surfers is a tall A-frame peak wave with a thick lip and mighty tubes to barrel in.
The waves routinely hit 25 feet and when the big swells roll in, they can go as high as 60 feet. The break is a half-mile from shore, so be prepared for a long paddle to ride a wave for about 15-20 seconds.
You'll find Mavericks at West Point Avenue in Pillar Point. This beach is tucked away behind Pillar Point Harbor, a marina with great views and places to eat.
Get a sense of the size of these waves by watching this video “Surf Sessions” of big wave surfers.
- Pros: Big and challenging waves, close to shops and restaurants
- Cons: Far out from the shore, farther out from Santa Cruz, not good for beginners
- What’s nearby: Half Moon Bay Distillery, Oceano Hotel & Spa, Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, JZ Surfboards Surf Shop
- Places to stay: Inn at Mavericks and Beach House Hotel are both quite close to Mavericks.
05
The Hook at Pleasure Point
Head south along Highway 1, take the 41st Avenue exit, and drive down past loads of surf shops, pizza and burger joints to the end, and you've reached the beautiful Pleasure Point area. Take the steps down to the beach and catch the waves at The Hook or Sharks Cove. As this is one of Santa Cruz's most popular surf spots and easy to get to, you'll find it very crowded on most days.
Locals, tourists, and those from over the hill come to surf the long easy waves that make Pleasure Point a dream surf spot for all levels of surfers. The parking lot for Pleasure Point is at the end of 41st Avenue where it meets East Cliff Drive. See if you can spot any surfers with these funny surf accessories and gear.
- Pros: Tourist-friendly, good for all skill levels, parking lot
- Cons: Crowds
- What’s nearby: Miches and Ceviches seafood restaurant, Cat & Cloud Coffee, Pleasure Point beach
- Places to stay: Hotels like the Best Western on 41st Avenue are located further inland but still close by.
06
30th and East Cliff
Surfers with more experience enjoy the aggressive waves, swells, and breaks here. This is a fun spot to watch really good athletic surfers perform aerial tricks and ride aggressively on shortboards. This is where you‘ll find the elite East Side surfers; they protect their territory from novice surfers and those who are just visiting. 30th and East Cliff is a great spot to watch agro surfers and learn a tip or two from them.
- Pros: Great to watch surfing from a respectable distance
- Cons: Not friendly to beginners or tourists, no parking lot
- What’s nearby: Moran Lake Beach, Cole’s Bar-B-Q
- Places to stay: You’ll find hotels like the Best Western on 41st Avenue and Capitola Venetian Hotel north of this surf spot.
07
Capitola Beach
If you want a family-friendly beach and a place for the youngsters to learn how to surf, Capitola Beach is the ideal spot. The water is shallow here, the waves small and gentle, and the kids can have a blast playing in the water. Capitola Village has lots of great restaurants, ice cream shops, and cute boutique stores to shop in. Capitola Beach is located at the end of San Jose Ave where it meets the Esplanade.
- Pros: Family-friendly, lots of activities nearby, gentle waves
- Cons: Tourist hotspot may deter locals, not great for advanced surfers
- What’s nearby: Hotels like Capitola Beach Suites, Zelda’s On The Beach restaurant, Margaritaville
- Places to stay: The Capitola Venetian Hotel is steps from this beach. Other nearby hotels include Inn at Depot Hill on Escalona Drive and Monarch Cove Inn on El Salto Drive.
08
Manresa State Beach
Continuing south of Santa Cruz, drive about 13 miles down Highway 1to Manresa State Beach at 1445 San Andreas Road. Not for beginners or those faint of heart, Manresa has massive waves in the wintertime, with peaks, valleys, and left and right breaks. You have to paddle about 1/4 mile out to get to the ridable waves, but once you're out there, you have long rides. This surf spot is rarely crowded and always go with someone else because Manresa is notorious for its rip currents.
- Pros: Great for surfers who want a challenge, good winter waves, parking lot
- Cons: Not good for beginners, paddle far out from the shore, high rip current risk
- What’s nearby and places to stay: Lodging like the Flora Vista Inn, Manresa Uplands State Beach and Campground.
09
Four Mile
Head north of Santa Cruz about four miles to the aptly named surf spot, Four Mile. Here you'll find mostly local intermediate and experienced surfers who look sideways at newcomers or out-of-towners. This North Coast location has a bit more protection from the summer winds that blow in every afternoon and surfers can ride epic waves. Drive up Highway 1 to 1310 Coast Road to find Four Mile.
- Pros: Great for intermediate and experienced surfers
- Cons: Few amenities nearby, not amenable to tourists or beginners
- What’s nearby: Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve
- Places to stay: Head into Santa Cruz to stay at any number of inns and hotels.
10
Scott Creek
Go 13 miles north of Santa Cruz just past the charming hamlet of Davenport to surf Scott Creek. This challenging surf spot has a combination of both surf and reef breaks that only intermediate and seasoned surfers should tackle. Expect long paddles to catch the waves, rip currents, and cold north winds. But when the conditions are just right, you're going to get some of the best surfing in all of Santa Cruz.
- Pros: Good for intermediate and experienced surfers
- Cons: Not ideal for beginners, prone to rip currents
- What’s nearby: Close to the small town of Davenport, home to Whale City Bakery and Davenport Roadhouse
- Places to stay: Make your way to nearby Santa Cruz to find a place to stay for the night.
Grab your board and hit the waves
There are so many rad surf spots in Santa Cruz where you can catch waves, barrels, tubes, and point breaks every day of the year. Santa Cruz is truly one of the best places to surf in the world. If you feel like you want to become a professional surfer, check out “4 Surfing,” where four professionals talk about what being a pro-surfer is really like.
