San Diego County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 4-5ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 18s — 8mph from the WSW.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on SSW swell at 17s with gentle NW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with light SSE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light ESE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 13s with gentle ESE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 4-5+ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is W at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Upper Trestles is 4-5+ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1.1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft S tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 16.5s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
