Swell Cabin › San Clemente › Trails
Trails: surf spot in San Clemente
Beginner to intermediate.
- Wave
- Beach break, lefts & rights
- Level
- all levels
- Faces
- SW (offshore wind: NE)
- Best tide
- mid (from surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05)
- Best season
- Apr – Oct: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Water temperature
- 15–22°C (shorty or rash vest (warmest) to 4/3 mm (coldest))
- Location
- San Clemente, United States (33.3467, -117.5261)
Other surf spots in San Clemente
- San Clemente Pier: Beach break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid to high
- 204s: Beach break, lefts & rights, for intermediate surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE)
- Trestles: Point break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SSW (offshore wind: NNE), best tide: mid
- San Onofre: Reef break, lefts & rights, all levels, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: all tides
- Doheny State Beach: Reef break, lefts & rights, for beginners, faces S (offshore wind: N), best tide: low to mid
- Strands Beach: Beach break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE)
- Salt Creek: Reef break, left-hander, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: all tides
- Agate/Pearl Street: Reef break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces SW (offshore wind: NE), best tide: mid
- Laguna Beach (Brooks Street): Reef break, lefts & rights, for advanced surfers, faces WSW (offshore wind: ENE), best tide: all tides, rising
Places to stay near Trails
- San Onofre State Beach /Campsite (0.5 km away): Camping
- San Onofre Beach Campground (0.6 km away): Camping
- San Onofre Bluffs Campground (2.0 km away): Camping
- Summer Soul Surf Camp (4.4 km away): Surf camp
- Camp Pendleton San Onofre Campground (5.3 km away): Camping
- Camp Pendleton Beach Campground (5.5 km away): Camping
- San Onofre Beach Cottages (5.6 km away): Chalet
- San Mateo Campground (8.5 km away): Camping
Surf schools near Trails
- San Onofre Four Doors (4.9 km away)
- The Point At San Onofre (5.0 km away)
- San Onofre, the Point (5.1 km away)
- Middle Trestles (6.7 km away)
- Lower Trestles (7.0 km away)
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to surf Trails?
Trails is in San Clemente, where the best surf season is Apr – Oct (April, May, June, July, August, September and October). It works best at this tide: mid. The wind is offshore there when it blows from the NE.
What wind is offshore at Trails?
Trails faces SW, so wind from the NE blows offshore and grooms the waves, while wind from the SW blows onshore and makes them choppy. The forecast on this page rates every hour with its wind.
What is the best tide to surf Trails?
The best tide at Trails is mid, from published surf guides (surfnerd.com, checked 2026-11-05). The forecast on this page weighs each hour’s tide and shows the best window each day.
Is Trails good for beginners?
Trails suits all levels on an average day; check the size in the forecast before you go out.
Where can I stay near Trails?
The nearest places to stay are San Onofre State Beach /Campsite (0.5 km away), San Onofre Beach Campground (0.6 km away), San Onofre Bluffs Campground (2.0 km away) and Summer Soul Surf Camp (4.4 km away). Swell Cabin lists 145 places to stay within 14 km of San Clemente.
What is the surf forecast for Trails?
Swell Cabin rates Trails hour by hour for the next 7 days (Flat, Poor, Fair, Good, Great, Epic) from the way it faces, its level and its best tide, with the swell and wind forecast, and shows the best time each day.
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