A mellow, forgiving beach break tucked between the jetties at Newport Beach's 36th Street, this spot delivers fun peaks and left walls when south swells hit and most breaks along the peninsula close out. SSE, S, and SSW swells are the primary drivers, with E and NE winds keeping faces clean. Mid tide is the sweet spot. At head-high-plus the wave opens up properly, though size beyond that can push things back toward the closeout range it benefits from elsewhere. Winter west swells work too, making this a year-round option with a quieter lineup than nearby 28th Street or Blackies. Bottom: Sand. Season: March through October primary, November through February on W and NW swells. Consistency: moderate. Stay aware of the jetty structure on the sides of the lineup, a wipeout drifting toward the rocks is the main hazard here.
Lineup pressure here is moderate and notably less intense than 28th Street and Blackies. The vibe is mostly cordial. This is the kind of place where average surfers can share peaks without the competitive edge of more hyped spots on the same stretch. Arriving at dawn on a south swell day when the peninsula is maxing elsewhere is the move.
Street parking off Newport Boulevard. Some metered spots are mixed in. Check the street sweeping schedule before settling in since an unusually open block of spots is a red flag. Newport Beach has good amenities nearby including food, restrooms, and board rentals further down the peninsula. Water quality is generally clean but degrades after rain.
If the lower jetties are too small or too crowded, 28th Street and Blackies both sit nearby with more consistent peaks but heavier lineups. On bigger, cleaner swells, The Wedge at the south end of the peninsula offers a completely different experience for advanced bodyboarders and bodysurfers.
Forecast by Windy.app
