Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)
Garbage · Garbage Beach
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
4–5 ftchest to head
Best tomorrow · Fri 6
Compare bothNothing good left today.
Best tomorrow · Fri 6, 5:45 to 10:15 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
3–4 ft · waist to chest
On the small side for a longboard; light offshore wind is grooming the waves.
Show on chart ↓
Onshore: wind from sea to land. It can make the waves choppy. Gusts 6 mph: short bursts above the usual wind.
Rising tide: the water level is going up; 0.5–3.0 ft is this spot’s best range.
Water temperature is in °F; a swimsuit is enough for warmer water, depending on how cold you feel. This is the latest water reading, not a forecast for the session.
Buoy-checked: a live ocean buoy near this spot keeps this forecast honest.
Sunset Cliffs (Garbage) surf guide
Point Loma's best-known cliffside reef, reached by stairs at Ladera Street · 3 things to watch
Sunset Cliffs (Garbage) guide
Point Loma's best-known cliffside reef, reached by stairs at Ladera Street.
- Good for
- Intermediate and better surfers; longboards on the slower south peaks.
- The wave
- Peeling rights, plus snappier lefts, over a flat shelf of rock.
- Watch for
- Cliff edges and steep trails; use the stairs.
- Rocks and urchins.
- A rip runs out to the peaks.
- Best when
- Best on a WSW to NW swell (240°–315°) with E offshore wind, at low to mid tide (about 0.5–3 ft).
MoreLess about Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)
Longboards at 2.5–5 ft, shortboards at 3–8 ft. Most consistent in fall and winter.
Come on a rising tide from low toward mid; at high tide the reef goes under.
The paddle is long, but a rip carries you out to the peaks. Kelp beds outside keep the surface clean when wind roughs up the rest of San Diego.
The sandstone turns unstable in wet weather and the trails along the top are undeveloped, so stay back from the edge.
- Local tip
- Park near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Ladera Street and take the metal stairs down. Skip the rope route to the south.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:50 AM–4:00 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Mondo Surf, Go Visit San Diego, Surf-Forecast, Deepswell, Go Surfing San Diego, Visit Ocean Beach San Diego, American Surf Magazine, Wikipedia and City of San Diego.
Send a spot correctionNo cam for this spot yet.
Live buoy Scripps Nearshore
- WAVES
- 3.8 ft
- PERIOD
- 14s
- FROM
- WNW 299°
- WATER
- 76°
Observed 1:30 PM · 52 min old
7-day surf
LB longboard · SB shortboard
Thu 12 PM · now
4–5 ft · chest to head ·
5 mph, gusts 6, onshore · tide 0.9 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 4.2 ft every 13 s from W
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Good, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 AM | 5–6 ft | Longboard Epic, shortboard Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 3.0 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 5.7 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 1 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 5 mph, gusts 6, onshore | 0.9 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 11 mph, gusts 14, cross-onshore | 1.9 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 9 mph, gusts 12, cross-onshore | 4.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 6, glassy | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 9, glassy | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 5.9 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 3 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 4.6 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.9 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 10 mph, gusts 12, cross-onshore | 0.8 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 11, cross-onshore | 4.0 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 8, cross-offshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 1 mph glassy | 1.5 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 9 mph, gusts 13, cross-offshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 6 mph, gusts 10, offshore | 5.8 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 5 mph, gusts 12, offshore | 5.3 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 9 mph, gusts 10, cross-onshore | 1.3 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 11 mph, gusts 13, cross-onshore | 0.1 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 9 mph, gusts 16, cross-onshore | 3.1 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 14, cross | 4.2 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-offshore | 2.1 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair | 4 mph offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 3 mph offshore | 5.8 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 5 mph cross-onshore | 1.9 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | −0.3 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 12, cross | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-offshore | 4.2 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 2.6 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 4 mph offshore | 5.1 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph offshore | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 6 mph onshore | 2.6 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph onshore | 1.3 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.9 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, cross-onshore | 3.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 3 mph cross-offshore | 4.7 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 1 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 6.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 7 mph onshore | 3.3 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 7 mph onshore | 0.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph onshore | 0.7 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, cross-onshore | 3.4 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, cross-onshore | 3.3 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 3 mph cross | 2.5 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph glassy | 4.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 6.0 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 7 mph onshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable | 9 mph onshore | 0.5 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 9, cross-onshore | 0.3 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, cross-onshore | 2.7 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:50 AM–4:00 PM
Quarantine Station · feet above low water
Swell
Primary ·
W276°
Secondary ·
SSW197°
Primary is the main displayed swell by wave energy; another swell can affect this spot more because of its direction.
Short period means closely spaced waves; they usually have less push than a similar-size swell with longer gaps.
Secondary is another swell in the water; it can add waves from a different direction.
Long period means longer gaps between waves; a similar-size swell can have more push.
Wave forecast checked against the live Scripps Nearshore buoy.
Updated 2:03 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Sunset Cliffs (Garbage) good for beginners?
Not really; it suits surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)?
It’s best at low to mid tide (about 0.5–3 ft).
What swell works at Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)?
A WSW to NW swell (240°–315°) is best, with E offshore wind. It picks up swell from SSW to NNW (200°–330°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)?
Either works: longboards at 2.5–5 ft, shortboards at 3–8 ft.
What should I watch out for at Sunset Cliffs (Garbage)?
Cliff edges and steep trails, so use the stairs; rocks and urchins; and a rip runs out to the peaks.