Tucked just south of Lower Trestles and north of San Onofre State Beach, Church offers long, playful waves with fewer crowds and less intensity than its world-famous neighbor. It’s a favorite among longboarders, casual shortboarders, and anyone looking for a fun, less competitive alternative in the Trestles zone.
🏄 The Break
Church is a cobblestone-and-sand-bottom point-style wave that offers long, workable rights with a mellow face. It doesn’t pack the same punch as Lowers, but that’s part of the charm—Church is all about flow and glide.
- Wave Type: Point-style reef break
- Bottom: Cobblestone and sand
- Wave Shape: Long, peeling rights with occasional lefts
- Best for: Longboards, mid-lengths, cruisy shortboards
📅 Season and Conditions
- Season: Church lights up in the summer and early fall with long-period south and southwest swells. Winter can bring rideable NW swells but with less consistency.
- Tide: Medium tide rising is ideal. Too low can expose rocks; too high can fatten it out.
- Wind: Mornings are glassy with light offshore winds—winds tend to pick up midday.
- Swell Direction: Best on SW and S swells, but can hold combo swells nicely too.
🤙 Crowd Dynamics
Church is generally less crowded than Lowers, but it’s no secret spot. Access requires a bit of a walk or bike ride (unless you’re camping at San Onofre or military), so the crowd tends to be more dedicated but mellow.
- Mixed crowd of longboarders, older locals, and San O regulars
- Friendly vibe, especially compared to the intensity of Lowers
- Occasional groups from surf camps or schools
- Lineup is more relaxed, but etiquette still matters
📍 Summary
Church is a go-to wave for those seeking lengthy rides and mellow vibes in the Trestles area. While it won’t deliver the high-performance ramps of Lowers, it rewards smooth surfing and smart positioning. It’s a great spot for logging, flowy turns, or just soaking up the classic San O experience with a little more wave to yourself.