CHOOSING WHERE TO SURF

Knowing how to find the best waves breaking in LA at any particular time is knowledge you'll acquire. Factors include which beaches collect which swell directions, access to those beaches and as locals can be territorial, what's the environment for visitors.

Los Angeles County Beach Map. Los Angeles County Surf Map. North Los Angeles Surf Map. South Los Angeles Surf Map.

When you know the beaches, know the swells (Surf Forecasts).

LOS ANGELES SURF BEACH DESCRIPTIONS

North Los Angeles County...isn't what you're thinking. This mountainous, wave-rich coast is the yang to metro LA's yin...North LA (surfline.com) South Los Angeles County...is known as the home of movies, television, the Lakers...not for waves. They can get good, but...South LA (surfline.com)

NORTH TO SOUTH...

COUNTY LINE: Little Sycamore Canyon Road. STAIRCASE: A mile above Leo Carrillo LEO CARRILLO: Wave breaks near a big rock... ZUMA BEACH: Works best on a crossed up swell. WESTWARD BEACH: A heavy, shallow beachbreak. DRAINPIPES: Almost always bigger than it looks. POINT DUME: Fantastic right point on south swells. BIG DUME: If it's too big at Little Dume... LITTLE DUME: A point and beach break. LATIGO POINT: At the condos at Latigo Shore Dr. MALIBU COLONY: Mushy beachbreak. MALIBU: THE fabulous, famous, classic... FIRST POINT: First Point is a perfectly shaped right. SECOND POINT: Fast, performance-oriented wave. THIRD POINT: An incredibly rippable wave MALIBU: More... TOPANGA: A long, sectiony right seen from PCH. SUNSET: Right at Sunset Blvd. WILL ROGERS STATE BEACH: Small, inconsistent. VENICE BEACH. SANTA MONICA BEACH: SEWER PIPE: Serious left that peels. CHEVRON REEF: First artificial reef for surfing. HAMMERLAND: A top to bottom beachbreak. EL PORTO: Some powerful beachbreak peaks. HERMOSA BEACH. MANHATTAN BEACH: REDONDO BREAKWATER: One of the fabled waves. REDONDO STATE BEACH: Closed-out beachbreak. TORRANCE BEACH: Close-out beachbreak. ROYAL PALMS STATE BEACH: Random peaks. WHITE POINT: Family bodyboarding. Intermediate. CABRILLO BEACH: A small beginner beachbreak. UPPER HAGGERTY'S: A rock-riddled line-up. HAGGERTY'S: Beautifully shaped lefts. LOWER HAGGERTY'S: Only breaks over five feet. THE COVE: Most popular spot in Palos Verdes. LUNADA BAY: Intimidating. Unparalleled localism. How to pick beginning surf beach.