Point BreakBeginner — Intermediateyear-round

Cowells

Santa Cruz's premier beginner wave. Gentle peeling right in the sheltered bay below the boardwalk. Longboard paradise.

Mellow right point

🌊29 surfers checked Cowells today

Ask Neptune about Cowells today

Get AI-powered surf coaching tailored to current conditions

→

Ask Neptune About Cowells

Loading chat...

Best Conditions

Swell Direction

W, SW

Swell Size

2–5 ft

Tide

any tide

Wind

light

Season

year-round

Skill Level

Beginner — Intermediate

Location

County

Santa Cruz

Region

Santa Cruz

Coordinates

36.9555, -122.0195

NOAA Buoy

Nearby Spots

Steamer Lane

1990 ft · Point Break · Best 3–12 ft

→

Santa Cruz Harbor

1.4 mi · Jetty Break · Best 3–8 ft

→

Natural Bridges State Beach

2.0 mi · Reef Break · Best 3–8 ft

→

Pleasure Point

2.5 mi · Point Break · Best 3–8 ft

→

38th Avenue

2.8 mi · Reef Break · Best 3–8 ft

→

Related Articles

Wave Science

How to Read a Surf Forecast: Swell, Wind, Tide & Period Explained

6 min read

Wave Science

Why Swell Period Matters More Than Wave Height for Surfers

7 min read

Wave Science

How Wind Affects Surfing: The Complete Guide to Reading Wind Conditions

13 min read

Get Daily Alerts for Cowells

Get notified when conditions are firing at this spot

Get Personalized Coaching for Cowells

Neptune gives you AI-powered surf coaching, session tracking, and real-time conditions — tailored to your skill level.

Sign Up Free