San Diego County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on SW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSE.
Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on SW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSE.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·6-8ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Upper 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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on SW swell at 9s with light SSE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 18s and light ENE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on S swell at 13s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and fair - good by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 6–8ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on S swell at 14s and light winds out of the NW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, Sep 7: 6–8ft, 13s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 6-8ft on S swell at 13s with gentle NW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Upper Trestles turns Good.
Check Upper Trestles from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Upper Trestles is the winter-wave counterpart to Lowers, producing a longer, steeper right-hander off the same cobblestone reef deposited by San Mateo Creek. It draws in W and NW swells that Lowers misses, making it a prime option during North Pacific winter storms. Notably less crowded than Lowers, making it a smart alternative when the main peak is a zoo.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Upper Trestles is 2-3+ft with a 5.6s swell period. Wind is SSE at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Upper Trestles is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.9ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft SSW 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 Upper Trestles is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 6ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Upper Trestles works best with a W 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 Upper 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.
Upper Trestles is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Upper Trestles is the winter-wave counterpart to Lowers, producing a longer, steeper right-hander off the same cobblestone reef deposited by San Mateo Creek. It draws in W and NW swells that Lowers misses, making it a prime option during North Pacific winter storms. Notably less crowded than Lowers, making it a smart alternative when the main peak is a zoo.
The prime season at Upper Trestles is winter, 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 Upper Trestles include cobblestone bottom, crowds on clean overhead days, long walk in. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Upper 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
