How to Plan a Northern California Surf Trip
If you've got the surfing bug, and you're looking for some good waves, definitely plan a trip up to Northern California. The water may be a bit chillier, but if you pack your wetsuit, gloves and booties, you'll be comfortable out there, riding some of the greatest waves in the country. You'll really see a difference in the waves--once you're north of Point Conception, there's much more swell. Check out the ideas below to help you get an idea of what to look for and how to make the most of your time before and during your trip.
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Instructions
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Look up the extended swell forecasts. Yes, Northern California has a beautiful coastline, from Big Sur up to Crescent City, but if you use your vacation days to search for waves when there simply won't be any, you will be bummed. On the bright side, camping north of San Francisco can be a rich experience in and of itself.
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Plan your attack based on what the waves are doing. Many waves work much better when, for example, swell energy is coming from the west as opposed to southern swell or steep northern swell. Fall and winter months are generally the best times to reap the benefits of strong North Pacific storm activity. If you want to surf a specific spot, wait until the right season and then go when a good swell is coming. If you have a limited time frame, travel to areas that pick up swell generated during the given season.
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As stated above, fall and winter are the best times to find waves destined for California's North coast. Plan to head North, or to the coast, during this half of the year and you'll have much better luck finding some solid surf. The next step is to explore the coast. If you don't have local knowledge or a connection with a NorCal surfer, go online and scout out some spots. Surfline.com's travel section has some good info (see Resources below). There are great waves in Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino and Humboldt counties, and PCH runs along the coast for the majority of the coastline. If you head out when swell is coming in, you will score.
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Look into where you will stay each night. Given the variety of features in the coastline, you may decide to look for new surf every day of your trip. It's important to know where campsites are located, along with the location of towns in case you need to restock your food or beer supply.
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Head into the unknown! There are tons of waves up there, most of which you'd be hard pressed to find documented online or anywhere else. Lots of spots will turn on with the right tide, and many will be blown out during the day only to reveal perfect shapes when the evening glass off occurs. Drive the coast, keep your eyes peeled for secluded, hard-to-access beach breaks, look for rivermouth sandbars and sharp bends in the coast that might create great waves, and find your own secret spot.
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