Cottons Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
S, SW
Wind
E, ESE
Surf Height
shoulder high to double overhead
Tide
low
Cottons Surf Guide
Cottons Point, the lefthander at the north end of the Trestles beaches, is a long, often-fat left that breaks further off the beach than any of the other nearby spots. Depending on sand buildup and the tide, the wave typically offers a rather flat face that's perfect for cutbacks. However, if there's a large, long-period, southerly swell and a minus low tide, Cottons turns into a quality high-performance wave, complete with a crackable lip-line and multiple barrel sections before unloading into the menacing shorebreak. Cottons is a pretty cool novelty wave, as well as a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of Uppers and Lowers.
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced
Average
Local Vibe
Doable
Hungry with insatiable longboarders, but overall, mostly cordial.
Crowd Factor
Heavy
Generally packed, especially on weekends.
Spot Rating
Fun
Wobbly, sectiony, cutback city most swells, but with a solid S swell and negative low tide it can get pretty good.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Pretty mellow but the paddle back up the point gets long on a solid S swell.
Water Quality
Fair
Typically ok but gets dicey after a rain.
Hazards
Car rip-offs, beach backpack rip-offs, getting caught by a speeding train on the trestle, rattlesnakes in the lineup after a rain.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Funboard, Longboard
Access
San Onofre State Park; or walk, run, crawl, roll, bike, e-bike, skate, back flip down the trail after parking off the Cristianitos exit.
Bottom
Sand and cobblestone
Best Season
Best March-October, but it works year-round .
Do you have local knowledge about Cottons?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]