San Onofre State Beach SUP - Stand Up Paddle Board and Kayak
San Onofre State Beach is a popular surf spot - you are only allowed to launch paddle assisted vessels south of a certain spot.
The very Sothern "Dog Patch" break of the San Onofre Surf Beach is the area where you are allowed to use a paddle assisted vessel according to the State Park rules.
The regulations are a bit confusing and controversial and what type of vessel is covered looks like it can depend on how the vessel is used. After reading the sign at the park entrance, I interpret the regulation to be such that if you are using a paddle on a board, you must launch south of the location noted. So I launch and ride my iSUP without a paddle North of the spot where you must launch paddle assisted vessels. Because I am using my board without a paddle it is no longer a paddle assisted vessel and is no longer a SUP or iSUP (it is an iSU or a giant inflatable longboard). I knee paddle to catch the waves and my giant inflatable longboard works great! If I want to use a paddle I launch by the "Dog Patch" area at South end of San Onofre Surf Beach. Scroll down my page to see more information about the various breaks and regulations in San Onofre.
I don't recommend San Onofre for casual inexperienced paddlers. Scroll down the page for more information about paddling and/or surfing a SUP or kayak at San Onofre
Here is a video of me surfing on my giant inflatable longboard at The Point in San Onofre - super fun long small waves and a little fiddle playing on the sand:
More videos of San Onofre are on my San Onofre videos page Information about camping in San Onofre is on my San Onofre Camping page
More information about San Onofre stand up paddle boarding and kayaking:
I don't recommend San Onofre for casual inexperienced beginner paddlers. However, once you gain some experience and are interested in riding waves you might want to try it.
San Onofre has several surf breaks on its 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of coast:[11]
Trestles -- A world-famous surfing area known for its consistent point break waves.
Church -- Near Camp Pendleton’s beach resort is the at the South end of the Trestles area. Church is also an excellent point break wave.
Surf Beach -- Surf Beach is divided into three breaks spots known as The Point, Old Man’s, and Dogpatch. San Onofre Surf Beach is an excellent longboard wave that is is generally gentle and long surf breaks. In the above video I am surfing at The Point.
The very Sothern "Dog Patch" break of the San Onofre Surf Beach is the area where you are allowed to use a paddle assisted vessel according to the State Park rules. The "Dog Patch" break is quite good for kayak or SUP surfing and not as good for regular board surfing. The Dog Patch waves tend to back off in some places, but you can still stay on the wave in a SUP or kayak. Dog patch is good for those learning to SUP or kayak surf. Many more advance kayak or SUP surfers launch by the Dog Patch area but work their way North towards the Old Man's area - this tends to be tolerated. It isn't clear from the state park regulations if you are supposed to stay south by the Dog Patch area once you are out in the water, or if you are allowed to paddle further North.
Trails -- The southernmost surf spot at San Onofre includes both rock bottom and sandy breaks
Due beach erosion and limited parking n the bottom dirt lot, the wait times to enter San Onofre State Beach is often long on summer days (2 hours plus) and you need to pay to park unless you have a pass.
The confusing and restrictive San Onofre State Beach rules and regulation about launching and paddling a SUP or kayak at San Onofre may actually be illegal - Article 10 SEC 4 of the California Constitution prohibits excluding the right of way to access the water.
Here is the section from the California Constitution:
California Constitution ARTICLE X WATER
SEC. 4.
No individual, partnership, or corporation, claiming or possessing the frontage or tidal lands of a harbor, bay, inlet, estuary, or other navigable water in this State, shall be permitted to exclude the right of way to such water whenever it is required for any public purpose, nor to destroy or obstruct the free navigation of such water; and the Legislature shall enact such laws as will give the most liberal construction to this provision, so that access to the navigable waters of this State shall be always attainable for the people thereof.
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Other San Onofre pages I have include: San Onofre Camping San Onofre Surf Beach San Onofre Surf Beach Music Jam San Onofre Videos
Here is a longer video that shows more shots of San Onofre and includes pictures and video of camping and other activities - I have even more San Onofre videos at this link.
Items covered in this web page include:
SUP / Stand up paddle boarding at San Onofre State Beach California
Kayak / kayaking at San Onofre State Beach California
Places to SUP and stand up paddle board San Onofre State Beach California
Places to kayak at San Onofre State Beach California
SUP surfing / Stand up paddle board surfing at San Onofre State Beach California
Kayak surfing at San Onofre State Beach California
Surf ski surfing at San Onofre State Beach California
Outrigger canoe surfing at San Onofre State Beach California
Paddle assisted vessels at San Onofre State Beach California
Paddle assisted vessels rules and regulations San Onofre State Beach California
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Other San Onofre pages I have include: San Onofre Camping San Onofre Surf Beach San Onofre Surf Beach Music Jam San Onofre Videos