Churches
Mellow cobblestone right and left at the south end of the Trestles stretch, just north of San Onofre. Softer and more forgiving than Uppers and Lowers up the beach.
Spot intel
Parking
Access off the Basilone Road exit through San Onofre State Beach, then a walk up the beach. Day-use parking fee.
Crowd
Moderate and mixed. Longboarders, mid-lengths, and families spread across a forgiving peak. Less territorial than the Trestles waves to the north.
Beginner-friendly?
Depends.
A soft, rolling point wave that works for less experienced surfers on small days. The catch is the walk in and the cobblestone entry, not the wave.
Lineup etiquette
Priority goes to the deepest rider on the point. Room on the shoulder when it is not crowded.
When it's on
South through west swell with light morning wind. Forgiving across most of the tide.
When beginners can paddle out
Knee-high to chest-high on a mid tide with light wind. The cobblestone bottom rewards booties on the paddle out.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 33.3780, -117.5760
- Shore faces
- SW
- Region
- South OC, California
Launching summer 2026.
Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind. One email when Churches ships in the app.
Other South OC spots
- Lowers · Famous spot
- Doheny · Famous + beginner-friendly
- San Onofre · Famous + beginner-friendly
- T-Street · Famous spot
- Salt Creek · Famous spot