Dawn patrol surfing in Cayucos

Cayucos, California

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

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

Sunrise

6:55 AM
First Light: 6:25 AM

Day length: 12h 1m

-2 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

6:55 AM

First light: 6:25 AM

Sunset

6:56 PM

Last light: 7:26 PM

Data from Cayucos Pier (south side) · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

6:55 AM

Sunset

6:56 PM

Day Length

12h 1m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

6:56 AM

Sunset

6:55 PM

Day Length

11h 59m

Tue, Sep 29

Sunrise

6:57 AM

Sunset

6:53 PM

Day Length

11h 56m

Wed, Sep 30

Sunrise

6:58 AM

Sunset

6:52 PM

Day Length

11h 54m

Thu, Oct 1

Sunrise

6:58 AM

Sunset

6:50 PM

Day Length

11h 52m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

6:59 AM

Sunset

6:49 PM

Day Length

11h 50m

Sat, Oct 3

Sunrise

7:00 AM

Sunset

6:47 PM

Day Length

11h 47m

Best dawn patrol spots in Cayucos

Dawn patrol access guide for Cayucos

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Cayucos Pier (south side)
beach
lower-intermediate

User-friendly Central Coast beachbreak with consistent bars by the pier.

Early access

Use stair access south side.

Parking

Street parking near the pier; check signs.

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 Cayucos

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Cayucos

Dawn patrol in Cayucos 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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