Surfing in Ventura is usually a bunch of mediocre beach breaks and crowded points, or at least what it can seem like. Luckily, this guide will help break down which beaches to surf and when, how to access them, nearby food for your post-surf snack, and the dangers of surfing at each beach.
Starting with Ventura Point, arguably the most crowded break in Ventura, with a couple of different points to take off at. After the recent facelift, to access it, a person has to park in the derby lot or the lot with the pay meters. From there, take the back road and walk down until you reach a disabled parking turnout, and take the wooden trail back to the Top Point. The Top Point offers lefts and rights on a good swell that can be peaky on the right type of swell. The paddle out can be a hassle due to the sweeping current on big swells. But on the smaller swells, it can be the best place to surf with no crowd. For the Point itself, you can walk down by the fence you will see and walk up the point. This is a crowded point with a long line that you can ride to the pier on a big day. But on average days, you can get a good ride. Make sure to generate speed quickly, or you might get closed out. The Final peak, which could be the best for the intermediates or longboarders, is The Pipe. The Pipe is down the way from a giant pipe. Paddle out and head for the peak. It’s a long ride that’s soft except for when it’s big.
The next beach is Ventura Harbor, the local hotspot for talent in Ventura. This offers a punchy, consistent wave that can get messy with a lot of wind on it. Paddle out by the jetty and enjoy the beach break, and sit at one of the peaks which consists of the Left Jetty Peak, the Middle Peak and the Far Right Jetty Peak. Middle Peak can be a little more closed out, but the other two offer some quality peaks. Park on the street and hop the fence. Look out for the groms, also known as the locals, they run the place.
Most of the beaches are located on Seacliff, which offers a variety of breaks. Take the state beaches exit and find the beach you want. Starting with Emma Wood and Ventura Overhead. Emma Wood is an A-Framey beach break that can barrel when it’s firing. On the outside is Ventura Overhead, which is a reef break with occasional sharks. It’s the training ground for Sunset, and it can get pretty big. Also, a very exhausting paddle out. To access the beach just park at Emma Wood State Park and find a peak or paddle out to Overhead, which is easy to find because the bigger waves break out there.
The next beach is Summer’s, which is a mediocre beach break, but when the swells align, it can have firing barrels with corners, but most days it’s just a small beach break with little to no crowd, but when it’s on, the wave can be a sick little barrel. Although most of the time the waves are super small or close out. If a person is looking to practice pulling in, it can be an amazing beach to practice on when the waves are good. Park along the road for Summers and Solimar as well as Mondos.
Next up is Solimar beach, which has a reef break that can mush out most of the time, but with a good swell, you can have a good wave that even barrels. On the inside is a small right point break that also has sneaky lefts running through. The wave is easy to know when sets are coming because bombs on the reef will break or stand up. When the wave stands up, paddle out a little farther and be ready to take off.
Next up is Mondos and Tanks. Mondos is a soft beginner-friendly wave with an inside that can barrel on the right swell. Almost always crowded with surf schools, longboarders, and kooks. Be careful going down the rocks when it’s wet because it can be super slippery. Tanks is a hidden spot that you can find by paddling out by the houses on the left. It can be a slopey fun wave with an amazing air section at the end. The wave does not usually break until a bigger swell. The spot is for high intermediate and above.
The next spots are on Seacliff and offer some good waves. Pitas Point is an amazing left point that can be a hassle to get to, but on a good swell, can be a rincon alternative.
Along with it is Faria Beach is a hassle to get to because the rocks are a climb. To get there, there are 10 ft+ of rocks to the beach and at high tide it can be into the water. Park by the RVs and climb down the rocks to the beach. Or park at the camping/RV parking grounds and take the stairs down into the water.
Next up The Wall or Strawberry Fields, park along the street and walk to the beach, the wave is running right and can have a short left. There can be a lot of kelp out. Go anywhere you want along the wave, depending on your comfort level. This is a pretty soft wave most of the time that still offers a good amount of turn sections. So don’t be afraid to send it. Hobsons is a soft break by Hobson RV park, the beach is a small soft wave with beginners spread out along it, but when there’s a good swell, it can be a firing point at the top, and a beachbreak to the left. With a grill right off the side. Be careful of the rocks on the inside.
Before La Conchita is Little Rincon, a point that is hard to access without getting out at the Cliff Side Inn and walking down the rocks, and just sitting anywhere along the point. Go during low tide for the best surfing experience.
A notable mention is La Conchita, a little beach break nearby Rincon that can be easily overlooked. On a good South Swell, you can find some barrels and nice corners. To access La Conchita, get off of the PCH into the La Conchita neighborhood. Park near the street, walk to the area with buoys tied on a string, and follow the path into the tunnel. When in the tunnel, just walk out the end and you will be at the beach. The best side is usually to the right, but look around because it can depend on the day.