San Diego County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·6ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Upper Trestles, San Diego County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 5–7ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-7ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 5mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, Jun 25: 5–7ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-7ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 4–6ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-6ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jun 27: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 4-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 4-6ft and poor - fair conditions with moderate SSE wind around 9mph.
Upper Trestles is the winter-wave counterpart to Lowers, producing a longer, steeper right-hander off the same cobblestone reef deposited by San Mateo Creek. It draws in W and NW swells that Lowers misses, making it a prime option during North Pacific winter storms. Notably less crowded than Lowers, making it a smart alternative when the main peak is a zoo.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Upper Trestles is 5-7ft with a 16.75s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Upper Trestles is 5-7ft, produced by a 2.6ft SSW primary swell at 17s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Upper Trestles is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Upper Trestles works best with a W swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Upper Trestles. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Upper Trestles is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Upper Trestles is the winter-wave counterpart to Lowers, producing a longer, steeper right-hander off the same cobblestone reef deposited by San Mateo Creek. It draws in W and NW swells that Lowers misses, making it a prime option during North Pacific winter storms. Notably less crowded than Lowers, making it a smart alternative when the main peak is a zoo.
The prime season at Upper Trestles is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Upper Trestles include cobblestone bottom, crowds on clean overhead days, long walk in. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Upper Trestles forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
