Trestles Surf Spot
Trestles is the string of world-class breaks at the mouth of San Mateo Creek inside San Onofre State Beach, straddling the Orange/San Diego county line. It’s a walk-in spot—no vehicle access—via the paved trail from Cristianitos Road (about a mile with bikes and skateboards common); the name comes from the railroad trestle over the creek, now a concrete viaduct. Expect a natural setting with wetlands along the creek and long, sand-and-cobblestone shoreline.
For surf, Trestles is a cobblestone point/reef setup famous for long, high-performance walls. From north to south you’ll hear Cottons → Uppers → Middles → Lowers → Church; Lower Trestles is the jewel—fast, rippable lefts and rights that really light up on S–SW groundswell with light E/NE winds, especially April–October. It’s a heavily surfed training ground for pros and a frequent top-tier contest venue.
Practical notes: plan for the walk in (no services on the trail or beach), respect the sensitive creek habitat, and expect talented, competitive crowds on good days. The break’s profile is so strong it will be the surf venue for the Olympics Games LA28.
Access Via Bike Trail
Here’s the classic walk-in route:
Start at Carl’s Jr (3929 S El Camino Real at Cristianitos Rd). From the lot, face toward the ocean and walk west on Cristianitos to the freeway overpass.
Cross the I-5 bridge (or take the dirt path from the east side that goes under the freeway). On the west side, veer right onto the paved multi-use trail signed for San Onofre/Trestles.
Follow the paved trail ~1 mile to the coast. You’ll pass the railroad viaduct near the creek; go under it and continue straight to the beach. (Bikes & skateboards are common; expect surf graffiti on the path.)
Pick your break: at the shoreline, turn left/south for Lowers, or right/north for Uppers/Cottons. Church is farther south toward San Onofre.
Parking tip: there’s a pay lot and some street parking near Carl’s Jr at Cristianitos/El Camino Real (State Parks pass/Yodel app may apply), then it’s the same walk-in route above.
Time: about 15–20 minutes on foot (5–10 by bike) from Carl’s Jr to the sand, depending on pace and which peak you aim for.