Toes Over
- Longboard, Beginners
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Toes Over is an exposed beach/jetty break in the Los Angeles area with fairly consistent surf that can suit longboard-style, peeling-wave riding. Multiple sources describe the setup as most favorable around mid tide (with the tide falling) and during the summer season when swell tends to cooperate. Swell direction is consistently given as southwest, and wind conditions are important for surf quality. Northeast winds are reported as offshore/favorable at times, while the break can become choppier with afternoon westerly winds. Overall wave character is typically soft and peeling, with rides that can run tens of meters depending on the specific set. Safety is a key concern at this spot. Rocks and jetty features are repeatedly highlighted as hazards, and rip currents/strong currents are reported in the surf zone. Water quality can be impacted by urban runoff from Ballona Creek; sources warn to avoid the water for roughly 72 hours after significant rainfall due to elevated bacteria risk—particularly near the creek outlet. The lineup can be sometimes crowded, and localism is mentioned in multiple warnings. Facilities are generally available nearby (parking, restrooms, showers, and picnic areas), but lifeguard coverage is described as seasonal and rescue availability at the spot level is limited—so plan carefully around conditions and staffing.
- Fairly consistent exposed beach/jetty surf
- Best window reported around mid tide (falling tide)
- Southwest swell favored
- Northeast winds can be offshore/favorable for cleaner surf
- Exposed beach/jetty break with fairly consistent surf
- Often works best around mid tide as the tide is falling
- Southwest swell direction is favored
- Waves are generally mellow/longboard-friendly
- Water quality can be questionable, especially after rainfall/pollution impacts
- Rocks and jetty features create injury risk
- Rip currents and strong currents are reported
- Can be crowded with a localized lineup
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, E
- Offshore directions
- NE, NNE
- Wind Range
- 5–15 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade
- Reliability
- Moderate; mornings can be calm or offshore at times.
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts
- Best Months
- June, July, August, December, January, February
- Shadow Zones
- The jetty can provide slight protection from northerly winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small wave size is repeatedly reported.
- Launch
- Medium — Beach/jetty break with a mix of sand and jetty influence; rocks are a noted concern.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — One source describes launch difficulty as moderate; another describes it as easy due to wide sandy access.
Through the year
Can be crowded on summer weekends; mornings may be busier with local longboarders.
December through March.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed beach/jetty break with fairly consistent surf. Works best around mid tide with a falling tide and favors a southwest swell window.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- S, SW
- Swell Height
- 0.6–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Best tide reported as mid tide; some sources also mention best conditions mid tide with the tide falling.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Open/exposed setup; some slight shelter from the jetty depending on wind direction.
- Wind Effect
- Northeast winds are reported as offshore/favorable for cleaner surf; conditions can turn choppy with afternoon westerlies.
- Bigger Swell
- Can close out when swells exceed about 2 meters.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Often described as fairly consistent; quality can vary with pollution and wind.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Typically mellow pace; can still vary with swell.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling waves near the jetty.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Slow, steady peel suited to longboard-style riding.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Reported to run long for beach/jetty surf.
- Typical Ride Length
- 40–80 m
- Ride Length Details
- Longboard-friendly waves that can provide extended rides.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Toes Over in the full forecast view.
Toes Over wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–8 ktsGusts 13 kts
- Direction
- SW224°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 248 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.2 m10s period
- Temperature
- 13–25 °C
Over the next 7 days, Toes Over is forecast for daytime winds of 1–8 kts, peaking around 8 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 13 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.6–1.2 m with a period of about 10s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Water pollution / urban runoff
- Rip currents and strong currents
- Localism
- Stingrays
- Occasional submerged debris
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguard coverage with daylight staffing referenced.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited at the spot level; regional context indicates year-round professional lifeguard services across the wider area.
- Emergency Info
- Lifeguard towers staffed seasonally and during daylight hours; nearest hospital referenced as Marina del Rey Hospital. In an emergency, call 911.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Moderate localism is also reported; treat the lineup as potentially territorial.
Rules of the spot
Avoid the immediate mouth of the creek after heavy rainfall due to elevated bacteria risk; follow standard surfing etiquette.
- Surfing restricted to designated areas during peak lifeguard hours
- Do not surf within the actual Ballona Creek channel
- Best conditions are reported around mid tide as the tide is falling.
- Avoid the water for about 72 hours after significant rainfall due to high bacteria counts.
- Shuffle your feet in the sand to reduce stingray risk.
- Watch for pollution impacts near the Ballona Creek outlet.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Los Angeles
- Nearest Town
- Playa del Rey
- Parking
- Paid public parking lots available at the end of Culver Blvd; limited street parking on Pacific Ave.
- Access
- Accessible via Pacific Avenue in Playa del Rey; a short walk across the sand from the street or parking lots.
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous hotels and rentals in Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey.
- Food & Drink
- Several cafes and restaurants are located within walking distance in Playa del Rey.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rentals are referenced at surf shops in nearby Venice and Manhattan Beach.
- Gear Repair
- Available at local surf shops in the wider South Bay area.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Toes Over?
The best overall months at Toes Over are June, July, August, September, October, April, May. The best wind months are June, July, August, December, January, February.
Which wind directions work at Toes Over?
Toes Over works with NE, E winds. Offshore directions are NE, NNE.
What skill level is Toes Over suitable for?
Toes Over suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner to Intermediate.