Will Rogers
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Will Rogers is an exposed breakwater surf spot on the Los Angeles coast that only works occasionally, so conditions can vary a lot from day to day. When it is on, it’s described as beginner-friendly: a mellow, wide-open beach break with sandy bottom and an easy launch into the water. For the best surfing, look for SW to W swell (commonly described around 2–4 ft) combined with light offshore wind from the NE. Reports also emphasize that afternoon sea breezes can make things choppy, and wave shape/quality can drop as conditions get larger or the tide isn’t favorable. Safety is a key concern here. Multiple sources note pollution issues (including elevated bacteria risk after heavy rainfall/runoff), plus natural hazards like rips/undertow and sharks, along with man-made hazards including buoys. Additional guidance recommends avoiding entering the water for at least 72 hours after heavy rainfall. Also, stick to lifeguard guidance and designated swim/surf zones. On the amenities side, the spot is backed by beach facilities (toilets/showers and family amenities like a playground) and accessible parking near the lifeguard station. Water temperatures are cold year-round relative to the air, so a spring or summer wetsuit is commonly recommended even in warmer months, with colder winter water noted in monthly averages.
- Beginner-friendly beach break when conditions are present
- Best window often matches SW/W swell with light offshore NE wind
- Open sandy beach with relatively easy entry
- Beginner-friendly when conditions are on
- Sandy, easy entry/launch with open space
- SW/W swell with light offshore NE wind typically gives best sessions
- Facilities such as toilets, showers, playground, and nearby food options
- Only works occasionally/inconsistently
- Choppy potential and low wind reliability
- Water quality concerns (especially after rain/runoff)
- Hazards including rips/undertow and man-made buoys
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NNE
- Offshore directions
- NNE
- Wind Range
- 15 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Sea-breeze pattern with light offshore NE winds reported for the best surf sessions.
- Reliability
- low
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gustiness reported.
- Best Months
- July, August, September, October, June
- Shadow Zones
- Pacific Palisades cliffs can create wind shadows when winds are more northerly (context note).
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small/occasional working conditions; ideal cited around 2–4 ft on SW swell.
- Chop Level
- Moderate chop — Chop reported; afternoon sea breezes can add cross-chop/choppiness.
- Launch
- Small — Beach launch/entry on sand.
Through the year
Low year-round; described as uncrowded even when working (spot-level). Extremely crowded during summer weekends reported in one enrichment source.
December–March
By sport
What to expect for each.
Used occasionally on light-wind days by foil-surfers/wingfoilers; wind is often inconsistent.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Minimum water depth reported as suitable for foil setups.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 6–8 m²
An exposed breakwater beach break that only works occasionally. Beginner-friendly when it’s on—best with SW to W swell (about 2–4 ft) and light offshore NE wind; water entry is easiest at the sandy beach with open space.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SW
- Swell Height
- 2–4 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Spot reports conflict: one source says best at medium incoming tide; another lists low tide. Avoid low tide if it makes waves close out.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed breakwater positioning—conditions can change quickly and can be inconsistent.
- Wind Effect
- Light offshore NE winds are ideal; afternoon sea breezes can make conditions choppy.
- Bigger Swell
- Often closes out and can become unrideable when swell exceeds about 2 meters (reported); ideal working swell commonly cited around 2–4 ft.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Quality described as good/average depending on swell and tide; waves can become short/mushy and close out on larger sets.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Spot guide describes mellow, learner-friendly waves; other report characterizes waves as very soft when conditions are smaller.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Reports describe mellow, peeling/soft waves that can crumble.
- Peel Speed
- Slow — Mellow, slow-leaning waves.
- Ride Length
- Short — Short rides are commonly reported; another report describes wide-open mellow waves suitable for learning.
- Typical Ride Length
- 30–60 m
- Ride Length Details
- Beginner-friendly, wide-open mellow waves suitable for learning; also reported as short and mushy that can close out on larger swells.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Will Rogers in the full forecast view.
Will Rogers wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–7 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- SSW205°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 247 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–0.8 m12s period
- Temperature
- 15–25 °C
Over the next 7 days, Will Rogers is forecast for daytime winds of 1–7 kts, peaking around 7 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is SSW. Waves run 0.6–0.8 m with a period of about 12s. 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
- Rips and undertow
- Man-made buoys
- Pollution (including after rain/runoff)
- Sharks
- Submerged groins / hazards near pier structures (reported nearby hazards)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards reported for this spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited at the spot level; the region notes year-round rescue coverage via LA County lifeguards/water rescue services.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number: 911. Lifeguards stationed along the beach (reported).
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism concerns reported; described as uncompetitive/uncrowded even when working.
Rules of the spot
Respect designated surfing/swimming zones and lifeguard guidance.
- No surfing in swim-only zones (summer, enforced by lifeguards)
- Paid parking required (reported)
- Best surf conditions are typically SW to W swells with light offshore NE winds.
- Avoid low tide (waves can close out).
- Best entry is on medium incoming tide.
- Avoid entering the water for at least 72 hours after heavy rainfall due to urban runoff and possible high bacteria levels.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Los Angeles
- Nearest Town
- Pacific Palisades
- Parking
- Parking area at the end of the lot, left of the lifeguard station; described as accessed by turning left after entering. Paid parking required (reported).
- Access
- Enter via Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near Temescal Canyon Road; drive to the end of the parking area left of the lifeguard station (reported).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Near — Accommodation options in the Pacific Palisades and nearby Santa Monica area (reported).
- Food & Drink
- Food options available nearby; one report also cites a specific restaurant and additional snack stands along a nearby bike path area.
- Equipment Rental:
- Some seasonal rentals for surfboards and SUPs may be available near parking lots (reported).
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 Will Rogers?
The best overall months at Will Rogers are July, August, September, June. The best wind months are July, August, September, October, June.
Which wind directions work at Will Rogers?
Will Rogers works with NNE winds. Offshore directions are NNE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Will Rogers?
Recommended equipment sizes at Will Rogers: Wingfoiling: 6–8 m². The typical wind range is 15 kts.
What skill level is Will Rogers suitable for?
Will Rogers suits these riding levels: Surfing: Beginner.