Wetsuits & Surf Gear
visit store

Photo credit: karmative.com
Surf Break: Sunset Cliffs

Photo credit: karmative.com
Surf Break: Sunset Cliffs

Photo credit: karmative.com
Surf Break: Sunset Cliffs

Photo credit: Chris Maxin
Surf Break: Sunset Cliffs

Sunset Cliffs in San Diego County is an exposed reef break that has quite consistent surf. Winter is the best time of year for surfing here. Works best in offshore winds from the east. Groundswells more frequent than windswells and the ideal swell angle is from the west. Reef breaks provide lefts and rights. Best around low tide. Likely to be crowded if working. Beware of urchins, rips, rocks, obstacles, locals and pollution.

Secret spot? We can hide it!

Overall Sunset Cliffs Surf Consistency and Wind Distribution

IMPORTANT: Beta version feature! Swell heights are open water values from NWW3. There is no attempt to model near-shore effects. Coastal wave heights will generally be less, especially if the break does not have unobstructed exposure to the open ocean.

Stop animation

The graph shows the variation of swells directed at Sunset Cliffs over a normal year, b... (show all text)

The rose diagram illustrates how frequently and how strongly the wind blows from differ... (show all text)

Also see Sunset Cliffs surf quality by season and Sunset Cliffs surf quality by month.

Select Sunset Cliffs Location Map Detail:

Regional Map | Local Map | Detailed Map

Latest Gallery Images for Sunset Cliffs

visit the
gallery
or click to view

Upload your photo of Sunset Cliffs

Contours:

Roads & Rivers:

Select a surf break from the menu Select to locate on the map

Use this relief map to navigate to United-States - San Diego County surf breaks and tide stations that are in the area of Sunset Cliffs

Other Nearby Surf Breaks closest to Sunset Cliffs:   (click location name for more details)
Closest break	Garbage	1 mi
Second closest break	Bird Shit	1 mi
Third closest break	Ocean Beach Pier	2 mi
Fourth closest break	Pescedero Pesky	2 mi
Fifth closest break	OB pier	2 mi
Wave buoys nearest to Sunset Cliffs:
Closest wave buoy	San Clemente Basin Buoy	48 mi
Second closest wave buoy	Santa Monica Basin Buoy	126 mi
Third closest wave buoy	Tanner Banks Buoy	134 mi
Fourth closest wave buoy	East Santa Barbara Buoy	183 mi
Fifth closest wave buoy	South Santa Rosa Island Buoy	183 mi
Tide stations nearest to Sunset Cliffs:
Closest tide station	San Diego, Quarantine Station, California	2 mi
Second closest tide station	Point Loma, California	4 mi
Third closest tide station	Quivira Basin, Mission Bay, California	4 mi
Fourth closest tide station	Crown Point, Mission Bay, California	5 mi
Fifth closest tide station	San Diego, San Diego Bay, California	5 mi
Ski Resorts closest to Sunset Cliffs:
Closest ski area	Snow Valley (United States)	104 mi
Second closest ski area	Mt Baldy (United States)	106 mi
Third closest ski area	Big Bear Mountain (United States)	107 mi
Fourth closest ski area	Snow Summit (United States)	107 mi
Fifth closest ski area	Bear Mountain (United States)	112 mi
Town and city forecasts close to Sunset Cliffs:
Closest city location	Coronado (United States)	5 mi
Second closest city location	National City (United States)	9 mi
Third closest city location	San Diego (United States)	9 mi
Fourth closest city location	Imperial Beach (United States)	12 mi
Fifth closest city location	Chula Vista (United States)	13 mi

• The closest passenger airport to Sunset Cliffs is North Island Nas (San Diego) Airport (NZY) in USA, 4 km (2 miles) away (directly).
• The second nearest airport to Sunset Cliffs is San Diego International Lindbergh Fld Airport (SAN), also in USA, 7 km (4 miles) away.
• Third is Miramar Mcas Airport (NKX) in USA, 20 km (12 miles) away.
• General Abelardo L Rodriguez International (Tijuana) Airport (TIJ) in Mexico is 33 km (20 miles) away.
• General Alberto L Salinas C International (Ensenada) Airport (ESE), also in Mexico is the fifth nearest airport to Sunset Cliffs and is 119 km (74 miles) away.