Dawn patrol surfing in Monterey

Monterey, California

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

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

Sunrise

7:00 AM
First Light: 6:30 AM

Day length: 11h 58m

-3 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

7:00 AM

First light: 6:30 AM

Sunset

6:58 PM

Last light: 7:28 PM

Data from Del Monte Beach · Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

7:00 AM

Sunset

6:58 PM

Day Length

11h 58m

Tomorrow

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

7:03 AM

Sunset

6:54 PM

Day Length

11h 51m

Fri, Oct 2

Sunrise

7:03 AM

Sunset

6:52 PM

Day Length

11h 49m

Sat, Oct 3

Sunrise

7:04 AM

Sunset

6:51 PM

Day Length

11h 47m

Best dawn patrol spots in Monterey

Loading map...

Featured Beaches(1)

Del Monte Beach

Beginner friendly

Monterey beach-break and sandbar zone. Del Monte is an exposed beach break and sandbar with winter as the favored season.

Dawn patrol access guide for Monterey

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Del Monte Beach
beach
beginner-intermediate

Monterey beach-break and sandbar zone. Del Monte is an exposed beach break and sandbar with winter as the favored season.

Early access

Straightforward beach access, but respect residential parking and dune paths.

Parking

Use Del Monte Beach access points in Monterey. Parking can be limited near residential access streets.

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 Monterey

Conditions

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

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging
Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Monterey

Dawn patrol in Monterey 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.

Check it, surf it, log it

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened — and build the record you'll compare every next call against.

Learn More

iPhone app is live. Android beta is open.