San Diego County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Trestles, San Diego County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the S. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with 12mph from the SSE.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 8s with moderate SE wind around 8mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
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Lower Trestles is one of the best waves in the world — a cobblestone point break that produces both rights and lefts off a perfectly defined peak. Selected as the 2028 LA Olympics surfing venue and longtime WSL Championship Tour stop. The wave is rippable and consistent but the crowd and competition-level lineup make it effectively advanced. The 15-minute walk from the parking lot is the only thing keeping numbers in check.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Trestles is 2-3+ft with a 15.3s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph 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 Trestles is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1ft S tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Trestles is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 12.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Trestles works best with a SSW swell and ENE 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 Trestles. 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.
Trestles is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Lower Trestles is one of the best waves in the world — a cobblestone point break that produces both rights and lefts off a perfectly defined peak. Selected as the 2028 LA Olympics surfing venue and longtime WSL Championship Tour stop. The wave is rippable and consistent but the crowd and competition-level lineup make it effectively advanced. The 15-minute walk from the parking lot is the only thing keeping numbers in check.
The prime season at Trestles is fall, 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 Trestles include extreme crowds, high-performance lineup, cobblestone bottom, long walk in. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Trestles 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
