Dawn patrol surfing in Big Sur

Big Sur, California

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Big Sur means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

6:59 AM
First Light: 6:29 AM

Day length: 12h 1m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:59 AM

First light: 6:29 AM

Sunset

7:00 PM

Last light: 7:30 PM

Data from Andrew Molera State Beach (river mouth) · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:59 AM

Sunset

7:00 PM

Day Length

12h 1m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

7:00 AM

Sunset

6:58 PM

Day Length

11h 58m

Tue, Sep 29

Sunrise

7:01 AM

Sunset

6:57 PM

Day Length

11h 56m

Wed, Sep 30

Sunrise

7:02 AM

Sunset

6:55 PM

Day Length

11h 54m

Thu, Oct 1

Sunrise

7:02 AM

Sunset

6:54 PM

Day Length

11h 51m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

7:03 AM

Sunset

6:52 PM

Day Length

11h 49m

Best dawn patrol spots in Big Sur

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Featured Beaches(1)

Andrew Molera State Beach (river mouth)

Intermediate

Big Sur rivermouth and point-style setup inside Andrew Molera State Park. It has right-breaking potential and meaningful access complexity.

Dawn patrol access guide for Big Sur

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Andrew Molera State Beach (river mouth)
river-mouth
intermediate

Big Sur rivermouth and point-style setup inside Andrew Molera State Park. It has right-breaking potential and meaningful access complexity.

Early access

Expect a walk to the beach and rivermouth area. Stay on state park trails and avoid private ranch boundaries.

Parking

Use Andrew Molera State Park day-use parking. Account for park hours, fees, trail status, and any river crossing or access changes.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Big Sur

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Big Sur

Dawn patrol in Big Sur typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

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