Blacks
Beachbreak below the Torrey Pines bluffs in La Jolla. A deep offshore canyon focuses long-period west and northwest swell into fast, shifting A-frame peaks with real push. Access is a steep bluff trail in either direction.
When it’s on
Blacks works best on a SW to NW swell. It also picks up S to SW swell. Light offshore from the east through northeast. Low to mid tide window.
Spot intel
- Parking
- Free lot at the Torrey Pines Gliderport off Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, then a steep dirt trail down the bluff. The paved service road off La Jolla Farms Road is the other way in. Either way, the climb back out with a board is the price of admission.
- Crowd
- Thick when the canyon is doing its work. The trail thins the casual crowd but the standard in the water stays high, with a committed local and university-town crew on it early.
- Beginner-friendly?
No.
Fast, powerful peaks that break hard on shallow sand, strong rips on any size, a long steep trail between the car and the water, and a lineup that assumes competence. Not a wave to learn on.
- Famous for
- Blacks Beach. The canyon-focused beachbreak under the Torrey Pines bluffs, widely regarded as the heaviest and best beachbreak wave in San Diego County. Winter northwest swells here draw surfers from the whole region.
- Lineup etiquette
- Shifting beachbreak peaks spread priority around. The surfer closest to the peak on a given bank has the wave, and the sets move, so position is earned over and over.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 32.8810, -117.2528
- Shore faces
- W
- Region
- La Jolla, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for Blacks?
- Blacks works best on a SW to NW swell. It also picks up S to SW swell.
- How big does Blacks need to be?
- Blacks is best in the 4-10ft range on a 12-20s period.
- What are the best conditions at Blacks?
- Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
- Where is Blacks?
- Blacks is a canyon-fed beach break in La Jolla, California. The beach faces W.
- Does GhostFingers forecast Blacks?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades Blacks with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.
Nearby spots
New to reading a forecast? Start here.
Get notified when GhostFingers ships.