Santa Cruz Surf Spots (2024)

The best place to start out if you're new to the sport, Cowell's offers long, gentle waves textbook for longboarding. It's generally understood that Cowell's is the spot for beginner or novice surfers, so the scene in the water is crowded yet generally polite.

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Just to the left of the small rock jetty is where Capitola usually breaks, offering perfect longboard waves when conditions allow. When the swell is up, a nice left careens in front of the jetty and the right can go on forever, assuming your skag doesn’t snag in the kelp-infested water. Also, about a block and a reef away is the infamous Toe’s Over, which needs a huge winter swell and a minus low tide to break. But when it does, it’s pure left- and right-breaking bliss. It probably won't be as crowded as Cowell's, but there are a lot less wave to go around. There is plenty of parking down in the village, but watch out for Capitola meter maids.

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This is by far the most famous surf spot in all of Santa Cruz, but if you want to paddle out at "the Lane," you better be a damn good surfer. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being friendly), the localism factor at the Lane is an 11. When the swell is up, it's the most dangerous place to surf in Santa Cruz but it's also the best place to watch great surfing year-round. With four reef breaks rolled into one spot—The Point, Middle Peak, The Slot and Indicators—the Lane has it all, including ogling tourists. There’s even a surfing museum in the nearby lighthouse.

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There are lots of waves to be ridden between The Hook and 30th Ave. The stairs at 36th Ave. is generally the central access point. There are great varieties of longboard waves and this place is generally crowded with everyone from groms to experts, longboarders to ultra thin-glassed rippers. Practice, as always, common courtesy and you should be all right in the outer, best breaks. On less crowded days a good place for beginners and experts alike.

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Manresa has a solid beach break as long as the wind stays down, and is generally not as crowded as surfing spots within Santa Cruz or Capitola. It's a mélange of peaks, valleys and sandbars, but a lot of the time the place is epic, breaking left and right and all over the place. Expect a long, grueling paddle during the wintertime to the outside and nil to no summertime surf—unless there’s a south swell. It can get pretty big with a substantial north swell. Watch out for rip currents.

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The southern tip of that charming stretch of rocky shoreline collectively known as Pleasure Point, The Hook is located down the stairs at the end of 41st Avenue. Named for the copious amounts of kelp in the lineup that “hooks” around skags and booties, this nice little point break also has a lot of surfers that are “hooked” on the spot. Nevertheless, it’s got a right-facing wave that, if you can maneuver around the flock, is to die for. On bigger days you might get away with shortboard but it's generally big sticks out there. Be prepared for a taste of localism, not recommended for beginners.

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This spot is for experienced surfers only. 30th is where the Pleasure Point elite surf. There are maybe two or three people on the planet who are allowed out there on a longboard, and they are certainly locals. It's a great spot for aerials and aggressive rides, spectators welcome.

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When the conditions are right, just south of the rock arches of Natural Bridges offers surfing conditions similar to Steamer Lane, except without the crowds and the local groms on the cliff throwing rocks at you. The only problem is the conditions aren't right that often. It's still a beautiful place to just paddle out and chill in the kelp.

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If you've exercised all other options and you don't mind driving half way to Monterey, Moss Landing offers miles of beach break and, near the harbor entrance, can offer up some killer rides. Usually not crowded, but definitely for more advanced surfers. Again, watch out for rip tides. It's about 20 miles south of Santa Cruz on Highway 1.

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Highway 1

Road trippin'; Hwy 1, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

If you're interested in a bit of an adventure, just head north out of town on Highway 1 and watch out for waves. It's a great way to avoid crowds and on any given day one of dozens of 'secret' surfing spots is usually breaking. Try Waddell Creek State Beach, Ano Nuevo, or just pull over and hike to the shore anywhere you stop—you may find the perfect wave.

Located about an hour north of Santa Cruz, Mavericks is California's most famous big-wave surf spot with waves that rival (and draw surfers from) Hawaii. There's a contest every year, pending conditions, with some of the best big wave surfers in the world, but you can find at least a few pros any time the swell is up.

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Located four miles north of town (yes, that's how it got its name), locals tend to stare hard and long at newcomers. Because of its bluff-protected location, Four Mile isn’t affected (as much) by the afternoon summer winds as most spots on the North Coast. It breaks frequently but not consistently, with swells ranging from mediocre to awesome. Four Mile reaches its full potential during west, northwest 10-foot-and-above swells.

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Longboard paradise. Clean right-facing lines peel off and make for a great ride that will take you all the way into the break known as Trees and into the Capitola Wharf. Well, not quite, but the ride is long and the waves are gentle. Easygoing, without all the soft-board hassles of Cowell to spoil your wave. For years you needed to be an Opal Cliff resident or purchase a key at the nearby Freeline Surf Shop to open the gate to the stairs, but there has been a recent push to open up Privates to the public.

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A potent combination of a beach and reef break, Scott dishes out about every challenge a surfer can handle. From long paddles and strong currents and rips to sharky waters and unpredictable peaks, Scott isn’t for the faint of heart—or arms. But when it goes off, it’s heaven on water. Breaks best with a powerful north swell. Scott Creek also gets a lot of wind, so if you see sails, you probably won't be surfing.

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