About El Capitan State Beach

El Capitan breaks so seldom that you begin to wonder if it's even a surf spot, but El Cap does get damn good. The setup is another dreamy Santa Barbara righthand point. El Cap only lifts a finger but a handful of times (if that) each autumn and winter season. It needs large W swells with just the right tide and wind to offer those fabled, roping, righthand barrels. Sitting deep and risking the unmakeable section will probably thrust you into the boulders, resulting in a barnacle massage.

Source: El Capitan State Beach Surf Guide

Ability Level

Advanced

Beg Int Adv

Advanced

Local Vibe

Doable

Welcoming Intimidating

Medium, but a lot of folks will go without looking anyway.

Crowd Factor

Heavy

Mellow Heavy

It's a scarce, precious resource: think a major frenzied crowd.

Spot Rating

Perfect

Poor Perfect

Regional classic.

Shoulder Burn

Medium

Light Exhausting

Not bad when it is small, plenty of work to be had when it is pumping.

Water Quality

Clean

Clean Dirty

Pretty clean unless it just rained.

Additional Information

Hazards

Drop-ins, sharp boulders on the point, sand-sucking pits.

Access

Exit 101 at the park's signed off-ramp. Go left under the bridge and head toward the kiosk. You can find your way from there.

Bring Your

Shortboard, bodyboard

Seabed

Rock and sand

Best Season

October-February

Swell Consistency and Wind Overview

Photos & Videos