Garbage Surf Forecast
BREAK TYPE
Reef break named for nearby storm drain.
GOOD FOR
A reef bottom throws up a punchy peak with a workable right and a shorter left when a clean west or northwest swell lines up. Waist to overhead is the sweet spot, with more push than the mushier cliffs peaks nearby. Best suited to confident intermediates and up who can read a shifty takeoff and pull into a quick section without hesitating on the drop.
BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
WORKS BEST WITH
- Swell Direction
- SW NW W SSW
- Wind
- E NE SE
- Tide
- Mid
WHEN IT WORKS
Faces open ocean and takes west and northwest energy cleanly, so the standout window runs roughly November through March. Summer south swells wrap in weaker and often close out. Look for morning offshores off the mesa, and target a rising mid tide, since dead low exposes too much reef and high tide fattens the shape into a soft roll.
AVERAGE CROWD FACTOR
- Weekdays
- Mellow
- Weekends
- Packed
WHAT TO KNOW
The reef is shallow, uneven, and covered in urchins, so booties are common and a mistimed wipeout can end the session. Cliff exit and entry demand timing between sets, and the bluffs above are actively eroding, with posted warnings. Crowds stay modest compared to Ab, but regulars know the peak and a quiet, respectful approach in the lineup goes a long way.
GETTING THERE
Park curbside along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard south of Ladera Street, free but tight on weekends. The main route drops in via the Ladera stairs, then a short scramble along the cliff edge, roughly five minutes with a board. Dirt use trails farther south work at lower tides but get sketchy in wet weather. No restrooms or showers at the bluff itself.