San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
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Positives
- Never flat
- Big-wave potential
- City attractions
- Entertainment and nightlife
Negatives
- Cold water & bad winds
- Urban crowds
- Shark "red triangle, "Fickle
- Lack of sunshine
San Francisco and San Mateo Counties surf travel guide
Despite being one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, San Francisco is often overlooked by travelling surfers tending to focus on the warmer waters and reliability of Southern California or the numerous pointbreaks of “Surf City USA,” aka Santa Cruz. In recent years, city breaks like Ocean Beach have started to appear regularly in surf media, which is old news regarding Mavericks, California’s premier big-wave reef. Every winter, paddle-in or tow-in acts of bravado remind us that one of the heaviest breaks on the planet lies less than 48km (30mi) away from San Francisco’s rolling hills, cable cars, and famous bridge. Many surfers looking to escape city crowds will cross the Golden Gate Bridge and scout the isolated Marin County coast, but for such a large metropolis, there is still relative room to move in the wide-open space of Ocean Beach. Due to the proximity of the Farallon Islands, there are always the white sharks to think about, though fatalities have been few in the last 100 years.
Surf spots in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
Research the 18 surf breaks in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 18 breaks in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to San Francisco and San Mateo Counties
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Travel Information
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Visas
Due to Covid there are special restrictions so it is essential to check the latest news before booking any trip. Normally most Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis and Japanese are part of the Visa waiver program so do not need a visa to enter the USA for up to 90 days, but they do need to apply for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) which costs US$14.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta.
Other nationalities need to check as the rules are constantly being adjusted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_United_States
Getting There
Coming from abroad, most flights land in San Francisco international airport (SFO). Airport shuttles cover $10 to reach the centre, 22km (14mi) away. It’s a 10h drive from Los Angeles ($35 with Greyhound buses).
Getting Around
Within San Francisco a car is not ideal mainly because it’s so hard to park, but is necessary to reach other spots in the Bay Area. Rentals start around 160$/w and gas is cheap. Young drivers are charged extras. Although cable cars are a must for SF tourists, public transport is not an easy option for the surfer.
Accommodation
Most lodging options are concentrated in downtown SF. To be closer to the surf try the Ocean View Motel next to Ocean Beach ($99/dble), Best Western Lighthouse Hotel in Rockaway ($140/dble) or San Benito House in Half Moon Bay ($110/dble). One budget option is Marin Headlands Youth Hostel near Fort Cronkhite ($31-37/p).
Activities
Tourist highlights include Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Alcatraz… It’s simple to see a bit of everything following the well-indicated scenic drive. SF nightlife is great with many bars, restaurants, live music, sporting events—basically everything and anything.
Hazards & hassles
Part of the Red Triangle, which accounts for 11% of great white shark attacks worldwide. Pollution risks are obvious around the city breaks. Stay out of the water on the day following heavy rain, when bacteria levels hit record highs. Localism gets serious at Fort Point and a couple of other spots. Unless you’re qualified and experienced, don’t even think about riding Mavericks.
Handy Hints
A full quiver should include big guns for out of control Ocean Beach and Mavericks (of course). Good news is that there are plenty of surf shops (Aqua, Wise, Mollusk) around Ocean Beach, and Mavs pioneer Jeff Clark shapes boards in HMB. Surfcamp Pacifica organises lessons.
Due to global pandemic, Visas, Getting There, Getting Around or Accommodation information and pricing may have changed. Always check Government Travel Advice before travelling.