Lunada Bay
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
4–5 ftchest to head
On now · until 5:15 PM
Compare bothOn now · until 5:15 PM, Now to 5:15 PM Pacific.
then the light fades
4–5 ft · chest to head
Small waves for a shortboard.
Lunada Bay surf guide
Palos Verdes' big-wave reef right, for experienced surfers · 3 things to watch
Lunada Bay guide
Palos Verdes' big-wave reef right, for experienced surfers.
- Good for
- Experienced surfers; step-ups and guns.
- The wave
- A walled right over boulders, for solid winter swells.
- Watch for
- A steep, slick cliff trail.
- A rip that pulls toward the rocks.
- A long localism reputation.
- Best when
- Best on a W to NW swell (270°–310°) with ENE offshore wind, at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
MoreLess about Lunada Bay
Shortboards at 6–15 ft. Any tide works. Most consistent in fall and winter.
In 2024 Palos Verdes Estates settled a 2016 lawsuit over localism at Lunada Bay, admitting no liability. The five-year deal brings benches and signs that welcome visitors, sweeps for illegal structures, and a route for harassment reports to reach the Coastal Commission.
The steep goat trail now carries a warning, and the gentler way down is the south trail, which the city now signposts. The rock fort surfers had built on the beach came down in 2016.
Palos Verdes Estates police say they won't put up with localism or harassment in the water, and they want to hear about anyone blocking access. Know the wave, take your turn, be respectful.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:00–11:15 AM2:50–5:23 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Mondo Surf, Surf-Forecast, Surfnerd, Surfline, City of Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles Times, LAist, Courthouse News Service and Wikipedia.
Send a spot correctionNo cam for this spot yet.
Live buoy Santa Monica Bay
- WAVES
- 4.0 ft
- PERIOD
- 7s
- FROM
- W 261°
- WATER
- 74°
Observed 1:30 PM · 53 min old
7-day surf
SB shortboard · LB longboard
Thu 12 PM · now
4–5 ft · chest to head ·
6 mph onshore · tide 1.0 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 3.6 ft every 13 s from WSW
Inside your session: Now–5:15 PM, then the light fades
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph cross | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor–Fair | 3 mph offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 3 mph onshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 8 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 1.7 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 10, onshore | 4.2 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 11, onshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph offshore | 1.1 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 2 mph glassy | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 3 mph offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 6, cross-onshore | 4.7 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 9 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 7 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph cross-offshore | 3.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 8 mph, gusts 9, offshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 1.7 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 2 mph glassy | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 14 mph, gusts 28, offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 6 mph, gusts 8, cross-offshore | 5.2 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 6 mph cross-onshore | 1.4 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | −0.1 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 10 mph, gusts 13, onshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 5, cross-offshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 2.2 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.1 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 4 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 5.7 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 8, onshore | 1.7 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 8, cross-onshore | 3.9 ft and rising |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 2.7 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 3 mph offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 4, glassy | 4.8 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 3 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 2.7 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 5 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 7, onshore | 0.9 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 4 mph onshore | 3.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 1 mph glassy | 3.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 4.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 3 mph cross-onshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 6 mph onshore | 0.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 7 mph onshore | 0.4 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 5 mph onshore | 2.9 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 3.3 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 4.1 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 1 mph glassy | 5.7 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Shortboard Poor, longboard Poor | 4 mph onshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable | 8 mph onshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.1 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Shortboard Unavailable, longboard Unavailable, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 7, onshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:00–11:15 AM2:50–5:23 PM
King Harbor · feet above low water
Swell
New W swell fills in Monday morning.
Best session from it: Mon 6 AM–5:15 PM at Lunada Bay
Details
New W swell (10s) fills in Monday morning, peaks Monday midday.
Wave forecast checked against the live Santa Monica Bay buoy.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Lunada Bay good for beginners?
Not really; it suits surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Lunada Bay?
Any tide works, but it’s best at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
What swell works at Lunada Bay?
A W to NW swell (270°–310°) is best, with ENE offshore wind. It picks up swell from SW to NNW (215°–330°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Lunada Bay?
It’s mainly a shortboard wave, best at 6–15 ft.
What should I watch out for at Lunada Bay?
A steep, slick cliff trail; a rip that pulls toward the rocks; and a long localism reputation.