Dawn patrol surfing in San Clemente
San Clemente, California
Updated February 10, 2026 at 8:50 PM · Dialed recommendations refresh every 30 minutes based on tide, wind, and crowd telemetry from Quiver.
First light in San Clemente means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 6 spots are worth the 5am alarm.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
6 spots
204s
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
Old Man's (SanO)
Beginner friendly**San Onofre State Beach** represents California's surf culture birthplace, the "Waikiki of California" with gentle longboard waves rated 6/10 for consistency but 4/10 for performance.
Poche Beach
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
San Clemente Pier, Northside
AdvancedNo description available.
San Clemente State Beach
Beginner friendlyNo description available.
T-Street
Beginner friendlyT-Street (Trafalgar Canyon) provides year-round consistency rated 7/10, working on any tide with southwest swells (160-250°, center 215°).
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What to focus on today
- Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
- Less crowded lineups at sunrise
- East-facing beaches for sunrise views
- Spots with easy parking for early arrivals
Session logging tips
Once you wrap the surf, drop a note in your Quiver journal with tide, board, and crowd observations. Over time you'll see crystal-clear patterns about when San Clemente rewards this type of session objective.
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