Surf Cowell's Cove

Santa Cruz, California

4.8/5

based on 5 reviews

Save

View all 4 photos

All 4 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Description

Added by Austin Brizgys

This is a great place to learn to surf with an easy paddle out and other beginners on foam boards. There are sand volleyball courts on the beach. Duration: 2 hours.

Cowell's Cove is located just south of Santa Cruz’s iconic Steamer Lane. The break is a slow pealing right, and is a very user-friendly wave for beginners. It can get crowded on weekends, especially when it's sunny, but no need to worry, there are a lot people out on foam boards and most are beginners as well. If you want a friendly and easy place to surf or are looking for a trip to Santa Cruz, this is the spot for you! The friendly conditions also make it a good place to learn to stand up paddle surf as well, just make sure you give yourself enough space from the crowd to turn the bigger board.If you need to rent a board and wetsuit or want to get a lesson, you can go to Cowells Surf Shop, which is right across the street from the beach. If you’re looking to make a day of it down in Santa Cruz, check out the sand volleyball courts or satisfy your inner foodie by heading into town for a bite at Café Campesino.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Features

Stand Up Paddle

Surfing

Beach

Family Friendly

Food Nearby

Scenic

Surf Cowell's Cove Reviews

Dana J. Wright

Surf Cowell's Cove

09/22/21

I was teaching my girlfriends how to surf here and we had a blast. Surfline said 3-4ft, poor to fair. We arrived at about 8AM and it was strait glass with 3-4ft sets coming in about every 6 minutes. Wind started to pick up around 10:30 and we decided to call it. Five star day

5.0

Andy

Surf Cowell's Cove

10/22/20

Great spot in santa cruz for beginners to learn to surf. Lots of people out there.

5.0

Elena P

Surf Cowell's Cove

07/24/20

This is a great spot for beginners. When first learning or renting, club ed has some really nice instructors.

4.0

Noah Crider

Surf Cowell's Cove

06/18/20

This is a perfect spot for a beginner surfer looking to better their skills.

5.0

Team

Tyler Drake

Team

Surf Cowell's Cove

11/06/13

If you've ever taken a lesson before or are comfortable paddling for waves and standing up, this is a great spot to hone your skills. The crowd is usually very friendly and the waves are forgiving.

5.0

JohnPaul Macdonell

Surf Cowell's Cove

10/29/13

Great spot to learn how to surf. Best conditions with a negative or low tide.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Beach Day at Lighthouse Field State Beach

This beach is less crowded compared to other beaches in Santa Cruz. I got there early on a Saturday and found easy street parking. There was plenty of space to spread out on the soft sand. Later in the day I saw dolphins several times! This is close to the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum. It’s also not too far from the boardwalk. Expect to see Monarch butterflies if you come in the winter as it...

Bonfire at Seabright State Beach

This is a wide, beautiful beach that's an amazing spot to spend the day and enjoy a bonfire at night. Seabright is probably the most popular spot in Santa Cruz for a bonfire, due to its convenient proximity to the Beach Boardwalk. But luckily, this beach is tucked in between the San Lorenzo River and the Santa Cruz Boat Harbor, and is just far enough away to limit the crowds a bit. There are te...

A Beach Bonfire in Santa Cruz at Twin Lakes SB

This one-mile stretch of beach is the perfect option for those looking for a peaceful Santa Cruz experience, but without the crowds. The beach features soft sand, playful surf, an awesome view of Walton Lighthouse, and a handful of fire pits to choose from. It's a great spot to spend the entire day with friends and family, so plan on getting there early to secure a fire pit. The beach is also a...

Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges State Beach is a wonderful place to photograph located in Santa Cruz off of West Cliff Drive. This is a great place to practice long exposure photography to capture awesome water movement as it passes through the "Natural Bridge" formation. The best time to shoot this spot is at sunrise due to the sun risng in the east directly behind the formation making for an awesome photo. ...

Surf at Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges is off of West Cliff Drive to the north of popular Santa Cruz break, Steamer Lane. The break is a right point break, which breaks on a rocky shelf and reef. The break is best during sizable swells (NW, SW, and West) and a low tide. Be sure to check the wind, this break gets blown out because it's more exposed than Steamer Lane. Also, bring your booties, the reef is pretty sharp....

Photograph Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges' Monarch Grove

The park's Monarch Grove provides a temporary home for thousands of Monarchs. From late fall into winter they make this their home and if you time it perfectly you can see them in clusters in the trees. When you reached the Natural Bridges State Park, on the right of the Visitors Center you'll find the path "Monarch Trail", fallow it and you'll end up at a fence off area with milkweed plants a...

Surf Cowell's Cove

Description

Download the Outbound mobile app

Features

Surf Cowell's Cove Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Beach Day at Lighthouse Field State Beach

Bonfire at Seabright State Beach

A Beach Bonfire in Santa Cruz at Twin Lakes SB

Natural Bridges State Beach

Surf at Natural Bridges State Beach

Photograph Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges' Monarch Grove

Discover

Community

Company

Follow Us

Mobile Apps