Least crowded surf spots in San Clemente

San Clemente, California

Updated February 10, 2026 at 8:49 PM · Dialed recommendations refresh every 30 minutes based on tide, wind, and crowd telemetry from Quiver.

When San Clemente lineups stack up, knowing a backup changes everything. These 6 breaks range from tucked-away reef passes to underrated sandbars that stay empty even on weekend south pulses.

Top spot recommendations

Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.

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Featured Beaches(6)

204s

Beginner friendly

No 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 friendly

No description available.

San Clemente Pier, Northside

Advanced

No description available.

San Clemente State Beach

Beginner friendly

No description available.

T-Street

Beginner friendly

T-Street (Trafalgar Canyon) provides year-round consistency rated 7/10, working on any tide with southwest swells (160-250°, center 215°).

What to focus on today

  • Secondary peaks and tide windows that thin crowds
  • Parking tricks and walk-in trails most visitors skip
  • Forecast cues that trigger locals-only surges
  • Nearby alternates when the primary target turns into a zoo

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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