T Street, short for Trafalgar Street, is the main surf spot in San Clemente and an early stomping ground for many of the professional surfers who came up in the 1980s. It sits at the foot of Esplanade, with a rock reef on the outside and a beachbreak on the inside. The peaks are fun, and the lefts are usually the pick of the two.
When It Works
The spot draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with southwest (SW) the best match, and the fun peaks really come alive on south swells. It works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. Breaking over boulders and sand with both lefts and rights on offer, it stays very consistent, so there is usually something to ride.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind to clean it up. It can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call. Expect it to run fairly hollow on the lower tides and turn mushy up high.
Local Tips
This is a beginner-friendly wave, and the lineup gets very busy when it is on. Keep the blackball hours in mind too: no surfing from 11am to 6pm in summer, and from 10am to 6pm on weekends.
Access
There is a surf shop close by, and you can rely on free roadside parking when you pull up.
