Orange County, California
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Church, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the S. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and glassy conditions. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with calm winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Church is the southernmost and most forgiving break in the Trestles complex, a cobblestone right-hand point break well-suited for longboarding and flow surfing. The slow, peeling waves and relatively mellow character make it the beginner-friendly entry point to the world-class Trestles surf zone. Located on the same cobblestone reef system formed by San Mateo Creek, it offers a mellower experience than the famous Lowers break to the north.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Church is 2-3ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is SSW at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Church is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 10s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Church is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Church works best with a S swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Church. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Church is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Church is the southernmost and most forgiving break in the Trestles complex, a cobblestone right-hand point break well-suited for longboarding and flow surfing. The slow, peeling waves and relatively mellow character make it the beginner-friendly entry point to the world-class Trestles surf zone. Located on the same cobblestone reef system formed by San Mateo Creek, it offers a mellower experience than the famous Lowers break to the north.
The prime season at Church is summer, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Church include cobblestone bottom, long walk in, crowds. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Church forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
