Dawn patrol surfing in El Granada

El Granada, California

Recommendations refresh hourly based on tide, wind, and crowd telemetry from Quiver.

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

Next steps

Keep planning El Granada

Use this dawn patrol guide as the filter, then jump to live spots, tides, or the seasonal window.

Check live El Granada spotsSee the local breaks and current surf conditions.Open pageFind the best surf windowCompare today's call with the seasonal pattern.Open pageWatch the tide windowUse tide timing before you commit to a spot.Open page

El Granada surf report today

BeachHeightWindVerdict
Surfers Beach / Princeton Jetty (El Granada)10.4 ft4 mph100/100

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Featured Beaches(1)

Surfers Beach / Princeton Jetty (El Granada)

Intermediate

Surfers Beach, also called Princeton Jetty, starts at the south jetty of Pillar Point Harbor in El Granada, across Highway 1 from town and about 3 miles north of Half Moon Bay. It is a sandy beach break with rights and lefts. The main peak sits closest to the jetty and crowds easily. The beach further from the jetty is quieter and suits newer surfers, and several surf schools work nearby.

Today's dawn patrol plan in El Granada

Best window

2:30 AM–3:30 AM

tide in range, good swell angle

Top picks

1Surfers Beach / Princeton Jetty (El Granada)
10.4 ft4 mph
Glassy morning conditions before onshore windsLess crowded lineups at sunriseEast-facing beaches for sunrise viewsSpots with easy parking for early arrivals

Dawn patrol access guide for El Granada

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Surfers Beach / Princeton Jetty (El Granada)
beach

Surfers Beach, also called Princeton Jetty, starts at the south jetty of Pillar Point Harbor in El Granada, across Highway 1 from town and about 3 miles north of Half Moon Bay. It is a sandy beach break with rights and lefts. The main peak sits closest to the jetty and crowds easily. The beach further from the jetty is quieter and suits newer surfers, and several surf schools work nearby.

Early access

Free parking is along the side of Highway 1 near the RV park and at Pillar Point Harbor. Public restrooms are at the harbor boat launch ramp, a short walk from the beach.

Your surf plan

  • Best window:
  • Bring: shortboard, wax, headlamp for the walk down
  • Wind: 6 mph
  • Log it after: 15 seconds builds your forecast

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in El Granada

Dawn patrol in El Granada 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.