San Onofre State Beach

San Onofre, California, South of San Clemente on I-5
Exit on Basilone Road, and follow signs (map)

Beach Highlights

San Onofre State Beach is a prestine beach located between Oceanside and San Clemente. The beach is reknown for its surfing. Overnight camping is not allowed at the beach. For overnight camping, San Onofre State Beach Campground is located nearby.

Prestine Land

San Onofre Beach is part of a larger 3,000 acre coastal canyon park. The land is prestine, showing what much of the Southern California coast must have looked like before development.

Surfing

San Onofre's prestine beach has several surf breaks on its 3½ miles (5½ km) of coast, ranging from the beginner’s gentle breaking waves, long sandy beaches and little social stigma, to one of the premiere surf breaks (trestles) in the United States.

San Onofre State Beach exemplifies the surfing lifestyle in California because of its culture and pace. Summer days and many weekend surfers and non-surfers riddle the beach playing volleyball, road bocce ball, telling stories, barbecuing, bathing in the sun, resting under the iconistic grass huts, or simply surfing their long boards, short boards, or body boards in patient wait of the next slow lazy roller to arrive for the masses.

Beaches: North to South

Trestles - Uppers, Middles, Lowers

Trestles Beach is located in an inaccessible-by-vehicle area, a long walk from either the north or south end is necessary for entrance. Although no conclusive geological study has been performed, environmental interest groups claim the water and surf are under threat of degradation or destruction by the construction of the 241 toll road extension.

The Church

Located off Camp Pendleton's beach resort, Church provides sunbathing and duckwatching. The name refers to the long-gone chapel which was located at the site.

The Main Park - Old Man's

The main park has parking right up to the beach and has 'flush' pit toilets and cold showers, but no camping. It is divided by the locality into three breaks spots known as The Point, Old Man's, and Dogpatch (named from north to south). All perform best on a south swell, though the beach takes any surf and slows it down to a very slow pace.

Though shortboarders are not often successful at the above breaks, there have been occasions of mild short board success.

"With a 15 minute paddle to the south of Point, you'll find yourself in the surfing world's equivalent to the movie Cocoon. Here at Old Man's, geezers rule and grommets learn. The wave rolls off a rock reef some 200 yards (200 m) offshore and is mushy. A longboard is the surfboard of choice.

San Onofre Beach waves are indecisive about breaking. If you understand this point, you'll be well ahead of the game. Waves here like to crest, back off, crest, back off, crest, back off and then finally break. Trying to find your "one last wave" of the day can be a good trial in anger management. But if you find yourself ready to spout, you've missed the point. San O' is there to remind us that in this crowded world, there's still a spot where we can all ride together with smiles on our faces."

Trails

Trails is the last of the surf spots at San Onofre State Beach and is the most southern. Trails are also the last point to camp at San Onofre Beach. Camping is on the bluffs with cold showers and 'flush' pit toilets near by. A new policy closes the sites during the winter, but during the summer, surf is only a small trail hike down a cliff away, leading you to open beaches and uncrowded line ups. Shark warnings were high during 2004 and dolphin sightings are not uncommon. The break is sometimes walled up, however often bigger than Old Man's.

Nude Beach

Nudity is somwhat tolerated although if patroled by a ranger, which it frequently is, you will be ticketed. It is at the extreme southern end of the camping portion of San Onofre State Beach on the stretch of beach between lifeguard tower six and the edge of Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base.

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station

Located between San Onofre SB and San Onofre Surf Beach is San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) provides nearly 20-percent of the power to more than 15-million people in Southern California.

Amenities

The park includes the beach, campground and bluffs. A large dirt parking lot is located next to the beach, which can get muddy during rain and crowded on good surf days. Fire pits are available in certain sections of the beach. Chemical toilets are also available.

Regulations

And as with all beaches in San Diego County, alcohol is prohibited.