Swell Intel

Trails Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

Orange County, California

San Onofre1-2ftChurch1-2ftTrestles1-2ft
Trails surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11.05s
Wind
11mph
S / Gusts 16mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.9ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.8ft @ 12sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 10sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 9mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|5-9mph E
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 8mph from the N.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s SW|6-9mph N
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Sat
3ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

14s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Trails Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

Trails is a mellow beach break located along Orange County's central coast, offering forgiving sand-bottom waves ideal for developing surfers and those looking for a relaxed session. The break faces northeast but receives best performance from south-southwest swells, which wrap around the Southern California coastline and peel across the sandy bottom with consistent shape. Protected by offshore westerly winds, this accessible spot provides a fun introduction to coastal Orange County surfing with amenities and parking nearby.

Moderate shore breakRip currents during larger swells

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Trails Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Trails?
The current wave height at Trails is 1-2ft with a 11.05s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Trails surf forecast?
Our Trails 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Trails?
The current breaking wave height at Trails is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft 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.
When is the best time to surf Trails?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Trails is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.