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GhostFingers · Orange County · North OC

Sunset Beach (HB)

West-facing beachbreak running the unincorporated Sunset Beach stretch of Huntington north of Bolsa Chica. Sand bottom. Combo south and west swell window. Multiple shifting peaks along the beach length.

North OC Famous + beginner-friendly

Spot intel

Parking

Free street parking on Pacific Coast Highway and the numbered avenues running inland from the beach. Metered lots at the south end near the Bolsa Chica entrance.

Crowd

Moderate. The beach length spreads the lineup. Less concentrated than the Pier stretch to the south.

Beginner-friendly?

Yes.

Sand-bottom beachbreak with multiple peaks, forgiving wave shape, and a low-density lineup relative to the rest of the Huntington stretch. The catches are along-shore current and the lack of a posted lifeguard tower in winter, not the wave.

Lineup etiquette

Beachbreak priority is per-wave, not by lineup position. A wave already taken from the peak isn't open to paddle into.

When it's on

Combo south through southwest and west through west-northwest groundswell with light offshore wind from the northeast through east. Mid-tide window.

When beginners can paddle out

Knee-high to chest-high on any tide with light wind, on the softer peaks spaced along the beach length.

Where it breaks

Coordinates
33.7155, -118.0710
Shore faces
SW
Region
North OC, California

Common questions

What swell direction is best for Sunset Beach (HB)?
Sunset Beach (HB) works best on a SSW to W swell.
How big does Sunset Beach (HB) need to be?
Sunset Beach (HB) is best in the 2-5ft range on a 11-16s period.
What are the best conditions at Sunset Beach (HB)?
Light or offshore wind under about 8 knots, with the tide around 1-4ft.
Where is Sunset Beach (HB)?
Sunset Beach (HB) is a mellow beach break in North OC, California. The beach faces SW.
Does GhostFingers forecast Sunset Beach (HB)?
Yes. GhostFingers grades Sunset Beach (HB) with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, summer 2026.

New to reading a forecast? Start here.

Launching summer 2026.

Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind.

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