Montara
Open-coast beachbreak on the north end of Half Moon Bay, just south of the Devil's Slide cliffs. Full exposure to the North Pacific — punchy, fast, sand-bottom peaks across the cove. The wave runs heavy by Bay Area standards.
Spot intel
Parking
Free lot at Montara State Beach off the 1, about 50 spaces. Roadside parking on the shoulder when the lot's full. Short walk to the sand.
Crowd
Spread, never as thick as the spots inside Pillar Point. Locals run the working peaks. The lot fills on the cleanest mornings.
Beginner-friendly?
No.
Strong rips, fast closeout sections on larger swells, and cold water in the low 50s°F year-round. Not a beginner wave.
Lineup etiquette
Beachbreak priority is per-wave. Paddling inside an active takeoff is the standard call-out.
When it's on
West or northwest groundswell with light offshore wind from the east. Mid-tide window when the bars line up. Hooded full suits are standard.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 37.5473, -122.5161
- Shore faces
- W
- Region
- Half Moon Bay, California
Launching summer 2026.
Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind. One email when Montara ships in the app.