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GhostFingers · San Diego County · Carlsbad

Tamarack

Sand beachbreak at Tamarack Avenue in Carlsbad, at the north end of the Carlsbad State Beach stretch. Reef pockets sit at the margins of an otherwise sand bottom.

Carlsbad Famous + beginner-friendly

Spot intel

Parking

Free street parking along Carlsbad Boulevard, with a state beach lot at Tamarack. Stair access to the sand.

Crowd

Moderate. Longboard and shortboard mix, and the peaks spread along the sand.

Beginner-friendly?

Depends.

Sand bottom with a workable inside on a small day, but reef sits at the margins and rip currents run along the beach on size.

Famous for

The main Carlsbad beach access at Tamarack Avenue, the busiest surf stretch in the city.

Lineup etiquette

Beachbreak priority is per-wave from the peak, not by lineup position.

When it’s on

South through west swell with light offshore wind from the east through northeast. Mid tide window.

When beginners can paddle out

Small clean swell under about waist high, light wind, mid to high tide, and surfed on the open sand away from the reef margins.

Where it breaks

Coordinates
33.1450, -117.3450
Shore faces
W
Region
Carlsbad, California

Common questions

What swell direction is best for Tamarack?
Tamarack works best on a SSW to WNW swell.
How big does Tamarack need to be?
Tamarack is best in the 2-6ft range on a 11-18s period.
What are the best conditions at Tamarack?
Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
Where is Tamarack?
Tamarack is a carlsbad beach break in Carlsbad, California. The beach faces W.
Does GhostFingers forecast Tamarack?
Yes. GhostFingers grades Tamarack with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, winter 2026.

New to reading a forecast? Start here.

Launching winter 2026.

Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind.

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