Tide conditions for Santa Cruz surf spots
Santa Cruz, California
Updated Refreshed hourly · Tide data refreshes every 30 minutes from NOAA stations.
A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in Santa Cruz. These 5 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.
Current Tide
Next Low
05:00 AM
-0.4 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 10:00 PM(5.4ft) | 5:00 AM(-0.4ft) | -- | 4:00 PM(3.0ft) |
| Tomorrow | 11:00 PM(5.4ft) | -- | -- | -- |
| Wed, Jul 1 | -- | 7:00 AM(-0.4ft) | -- | -- |
| Fri, Jul 3 | 12:00 AM(5.1ft) | 8:00 AM(-0.2ft) | -- | -- |
| Sat, Jul 4 | 1:00 AM(4.6ft) | 8:00 AM(-0.1ft) | -- | -- |
| Sun, Jul 5 | -- | 9:00 AM(0.5ft) | -- | -- |
Today
Tomorrow
Wed, Jul 1
Fri, Jul 3
Sat, Jul 4
Sun, Jul 5
Beach Tide Preferences
Each beach performs best at a specific tide range and direction. Plan your session around these windows.
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
5 spots
38th Avenue (Santa Cruz)
Intermediate38th Avenue, also called Jack's by some surf reports and locals, is a user-friendly right reef that handles south and west swells. It offers long rides at lower tide and is popular with longboarders and groms.
Mitchell's Cove
IntermediateA reefy cove along West Cliff Drive that offers wedgy peaks and occasional barrels on W and NW swells. It's also a popular dog beach, so expect pups running around the sand.
Pleasure Point
IntermediateThe crown jewel of Santa Cruz's East Side, Pleasure Point is a long right point over reef offering multiple sections, from First Peak to Sewers. It's surfable year-round and accommodates longboards and shortboards depending on swell size.
Steamer Lane
AdvancedOne of California's most iconic waves, Steamer Lane is a series of right-hand reef points (Indicators, Middle Peak, and Slot). It offers long walls and powerful sections and is best tackled by experienced surfers comfortable with crowds and cliffs.
The Hook
IntermediateThe Hook is the canonical East Cliff/41st Avenue reef break historically tied to Rockview. This punchy right reef sits between Pleasure Point and 38th Avenue, works on south and west swells, and is best suited to intermediate surfers comfortable with rocks, crowds, and a tighter takeoff.
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What to focus on today
- Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
- How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
- Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
- Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Santa Cruz
- Tide preferences vary by spot in Santa Cruz. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
- Tides significantly impact surf conditions in Santa Cruz. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
- You can check tide charts for Santa Cruz on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.
Make the next surf call sharper
Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.
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