Ghost Trees
Ghost Trees is Pebble Beach's secret big wave—a right-hand slab named for the white, ghostly Monterey Cypress trees that frame the break. The Carmel Canyon focuses swells to produce waves in the 40-60 foot range on rare winter days. The spot is controversial: jet-ski bans limit access, and the exclusive Pebble Beach community has mixed feelings about the surfers. When conditions align, Ghost Trees produces some of California's most photogenic big wave barrels.
Ghost Trees surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
Today's ConditionsToday's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to MRY, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when North America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in North America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Ghost Trees trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- W (281°)
- Direction range
- 270° - 292°
- Size range
- 3.7m - 18.3m
- Ideal size
- 6.7m - 11.1m
- Height multiplier
- 1.08×
- Ideal period
- 20s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- E (101°)
- Offshore range
- 56° - 146°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Difficulty
8/10
Crowd level
3/10
Access: Restricted (jet ski ban)
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Ghost Trees?
Ghost Trees is a big-wave spot in Pebble Beach, USA, that mostly breaks right.
What swell works best at Ghost Trees?
Ghost Trees picks up swell from the W round to the WNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the W. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 3.7m and keeps going up to about 18.3m, with the sweet spot around 6.7 to 11.1m. Period matters too: aim for 20s or longer, as anything under 18s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Ghost Trees?
An E wind is dead offshore at Ghost Trees, and anything from the NE round to the SE keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to midday. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Ghost Trees?
Ghost Trees isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
When is the best time of year to surf Ghost Trees?
The most reliable run of swell at Ghost Trees comes Nov to Mar. There's a second window in Oct too. Rare winter days.
Is Ghost Trees good for beginners?
No. As a big-wave spot, it's strictly for experienced surfers. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 3/10). Things to watch for: sharp, shallow reef (booties help).
How do I get to Ghost Trees?
The nearest airport on our list is MRY, then it's roughly a 15-minute drive. Restricted (jet ski ban).
What other surf spots are near Ghost Trees?
The closest breaks we track are Steamer Lane (44 km) and Pleasure Point (45 km), handy when Ghost Trees isn't working.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Oct
Rare winter days
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Steamer Lane
⬛ NorCal's finest • Lighthouse point • Cold-water champions
Pleasure Point
😊 Santa Cruz mellow • Multiple peaks • Year-round variety
Mavericks
🐻 Northern California's monster • Boulder reef • Where legends test themselves
Ocean Beach SF
🦈 Cold water crucible • North Pacific power • SF's test piece
Plan a trip around Ghost Trees
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.