Ano Nuevo

Ano Nuevo consists of a series of right-handers working across a sandy bottom, with quality peaking when SW groundswell aligns with mid to high tide conditions. The spot sits in a sheltered cove configuration that deflects N and NW wind, making it consistently glassy during spring and summer when offshore patterns dominate the area. When swell direction, tide, and wind align, surfers describe it as a cohesive bowl of a wave, though these moments are unreliable enough that many trips yield nothing rideable.

Location and access involve a trailhead off Highway 1 roughly half a mile south of the Año Nuevo State Reserve entrance, with free parking in a dirt lot; the beach walk crosses scenic terrain. Surfers also access the area from Gazos Creek to the north. The surrounding coast between Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay has several nearby parks offering alternative sessions if conditions disappoint.