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GhostFingers · Orange County · South OC

Uppers

High-performance cobblestone-and-sand right and left at the north end of San Mateo Point in San Clemente. A long, rippable wall that draws the broad South County swell window.

South OC Famous spot

Spot intel

Parking

Cristianitos exit off the 5, then a roughly 20-minute walk down the access trail from the San Onofre State Beach lot. Day-use parking fee.

Crowd

Thick and skilled. One of the most contested lineups in California. Shortboard-dominated, with a rotation that rewards the deepest paddler.

Beginner-friendly?

No.

A long walk in, a fast performance wall, and a packed lineup with zero patience for missed positioning. Not a beginner wave.

Famous for

Upper Trestles. The right-handers above Lowers: longer walls, fewer surfers in the lineup, and a 20-minute walk from the parking at San Onofre.

Lineup etiquette

Priority on a point goes to the deepest rider. Dropping in on a wave already underway from the peak is the standard call-out.

When it's on

South through southwest swell as the primary season, with west swell as the secondary. Light wind from the northeast through east. Mid-tide window.

Where it breaks

Coordinates
33.3824, -117.6007
Shore faces
SW
Region
South OC, California

Common questions

What swell direction is best for Uppers?
Uppers works best on a S to SW swell. It also picks up WSW to WNW swell.
How big does Uppers need to be?
Uppers is best in the 4-8ft range on a 12-20s period.
What are the best conditions at Uppers?
Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-3.5ft.
Where is Uppers?
Uppers is a performance cobble point in South OC, California. The beach faces SW.
Does GhostFingers forecast Uppers?
Yes. GhostFingers grades Uppers with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, summer 2026.

New to reading a forecast? Start here.

Launching summer 2026.

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

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