Kelly's Cove sits at the north end of Ocean Beach, tucked below the historic Cliff House. A couple of large rock formations shelter this southwest-facing nook from afternoon northwest winds, so it holds more reliable peaks and shape than the exposed stretch further south. It's a sand-bottomed beach break with both lefts and rights.
When It Works
The cove picks up south swells and takes anything from south through west-southwest to northwest, with southwest (SW) the best match. When it lines up, expect the typical Ocean Beach thumpers, just with cleaner, more dependable peaks. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft and is moderately consistent.
Wind and Tide
Look for east (E) offshore wind to clean things up. It can break across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a solid pick for intermediate surfers. The shelter and easy access pull in a much higher concentration of surfers than further south, so expect a busy lineup when it's on.
Access
Large parking lots sit right alongside the beach, and restrooms and other amenities are close at hand.
