1.3ft Hs
WSW from · 250° · 5.1 s
CALIFORNIA / Santa BarbaraSPOT / 276
Thousand Steps.
Reef
Variable reef peaks34.396° N / 119.714° W
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Forecast & tide at a glance
Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.
Estimated surf face0.7 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Oct 22, 8:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind4.0 mphWNW from · older cache
NOAA tide reference4.6 ftMLLW · Santa Barbara
READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS
Swell by swell.
Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.
Thu Oct 22, 8:00pm Pacific
GFS · 4 components
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
0.8ft Hs
WSW from · 241° · 11.3 s
0.6ft Hs
W from · 260° · 10.8 s
MFWAM · 2 components
1.8ft Hs
W from · 264° · 7.0 s
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.
Coastal wind retrieved Thu Oct 22, 2:12pm · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 2:12pm (older cache) · ECMWF Oct 22, 2:12pm (older cache) · MFWAM Oct 22, 2:12pm (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.
Tide predictions: Santa Barbara, 2 km reference; retrieved Thu Oct 22, 6:45pm. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu Oct 22 | 0.8 ft | 4.4 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Oct 23 | 1.0 ft | 3.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Oct 24 | 0.8 ft | 4.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Oct 25 | 0.6 ft | 3.5 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Oct 26 | 0.7 ft | 4.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Oct 27 | 0.8 ft | 2.9 mph | 14/14 |
| Wed Oct 28 | 0.7 ft | 2.6 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 8:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | WSW · 8.3 s | 4.0 mph WNW | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–1.0 ft | 1.0 ft | WSW · 8.2 s | 5.0 mph WNW | 4.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.4–1.0 ft | 1.0 ft | WSW · 8.1 s | 5.9 mph W | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–1.0 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.0 s | 5.4 mph W | 2.7 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–1.0 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.0 s | 8.3 mph WSW | 1.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.9 s | 7.6 mph WSW | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.7–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 7.9 s | 5.7 mph WNW | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.7–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 7.9 s | 4.5 mph WNW | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.7–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.0 s | 6.2 mph W | 1.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.7–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.0 s | 5.4 mph W | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.1 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 8.1 s | 6.6 mph WSW | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.2 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 8.1 s | 3.5 mph WNW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.2 ft | 1.4 ft | W · 8.1 s | 2.2 mph NE | 5.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.7–1.3 ft | 1.4 ft | W · 8.2 s | 2.9 mph E | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.7–1.3 ft | 1.5 ft | W · 8.2 s | 4.2 mph ESE | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.7–1.3 ft | 1.5 ft | W · 8.2 s | 2.1 mph SE | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 1.0 ft | 0.9–1.3 ft | 1.5 ft | W · 8.1 s | 4.0 mph SW | 2.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.3 ft | 1.6 ft | W · 8.0 s | 5.2 mph SSW | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.3 ft | 1.6 ft | W · 7.8 s | 3.7 mph SW | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.4 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 7.4 s | 2.2 mph SW | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.6 ft | W · 7.1 s | 2.3 mph WSW | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 6.8 s | 0.5 mph WNW | 2.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 6.9 s | 2.6 mph S | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 7.1 s | 2.3 mph W | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 1.2 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 7.3 s | 11.4 mph NE | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 7.5 s | 11.5 mph NNE | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.9–1.5 ft | 1.7 ft | W · 7.8 s | 6.7 mph NE | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 1.1 ft | 0.8–1.5 ft | 1.6 ft | W · 8.0 s | 7.0 mph NNE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.8–1.4 ft | 1.6 ft | W · 8.1 s | 6.2 mph NNE | 2.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.8–1.4 ft | 1.5 ft | W · 8.3 s | 4.6 mph NE | 1.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.7–1.3 ft | 1.5 ft | W · 8.4 s | 5.6 mph NE | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 1.0 ft | 0.7–1.3 ft | 1.4 ft | W · 8.5 s | 7.3 mph NNE | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.3 ft | 1.4 ft | W · 8.6 s | 9.6 mph NNE | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.2 ft | 1.4 ft | W · 8.7 s | 7.6 mph NNE | 2.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.2 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 8.8 s | 6.1 mph ENE | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.6–1.2 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 8.9 s | 2.2 mph ESE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.1 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 8.9 s | 1.9 mph W | 5.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 9.0 s | 2.2 mph S | 5.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 0.9 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 9.0 s | 3.0 mph SW | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.3 ft | W · 9.1 s | 4.4 mph SW | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 9.1 s | 5.0 mph SW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 9.0 s | 4.8 mph SW | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 9.0 s | 5.0 mph WSW | 0.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.9 s | 5.9 mph WSW | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.8 s | 6.7 mph WSW | 0.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.7 s | 7.9 mph W | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.1 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.4 s | 5.8 mph WNW | 2.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.5–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.2 s | 4.2 mph NW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.0 s | 3.5 mph NW | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 7.9 s | 2.8 mph NNW | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.0 s | 3.8 mph NNE | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.2 ft | W · 8.0 s | 4.0 mph NNE | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 12:00am | 0.8 ft | 0.6–1.0 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.1 s | 3.8 mph NNE | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 1:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.1 s | 4.0 mph NNE | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 2:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.2 s | 4.2 mph NNE | 1.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 3:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.3 s | 4.4 mph NNE | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Sun 4:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.4–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.4 s | 4.6 mph NNE | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Sun 5:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 3.7 mph NNE | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Sun 6:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.6 s | 3.4 mph N | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 7:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.6 s | 3.4 mph N | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sun 8:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.6 s | 3.2 mph NNE | 5.7 ft | 3 |
| Sun 9:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.6 s | 0.9 mph NNE | 6.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 10:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.6 s | 2.7 mph S | 5.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 11:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.6 s | 4.1 mph S | 5.0 ft | 3 |
| Sun 12:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.3–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.7 s | 4.5 mph SSW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sun 1:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.3–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.8 s | 3.6 mph SSW | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 2:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.7 s | 3.5 mph SW | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 3:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.4 s | 4.1 mph WSW | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Sun 4:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.9 s | 5.0 mph WSW | -0.3 ft | 3 |
| Sun 5:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.3–0.8 ft | 0.8 ft | W · 7.5 s | 4.7 mph W | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 6:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.3 s | 3.9 mph WNW | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 7:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.2 s | 2.4 mph NW | 2.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 8:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.2 s | 1.7 mph NNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.
This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.
Know the spot
A tide-sensitive local reef zone below the East Mesa bluff.
Also known as One Thousand Steps · Camino al Mar.
- Break type
- Reef
- Wave direction
- Variable reef peaks
- Reported difficulty
- Intermediate
- Bottom
- Rock & sand
- Reported swell preference
- W–NW
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid
The map deliberately treats this as a reef belt rather than pretending one fixed takeoff is permanent.
Before paddling out: 157-step access, slippery stairs, exposed reef, beach disappears at higher tide.
Thousand Steps public stairway Public access pin; peaks shift along reef belt
Source references
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / Thousand Steps
Read this stretch of coast.
Follow the swell window
The catalogue’s reported preference for Thousand Steps is “W–NW”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.
Check the water level
Reported tide preference: Low–mid. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.
Read the bottom and the lineup
Catalogue bottom: Rock & sand. Reported difficulty: Intermediate. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.
A useful note for next time
Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.
Camera references nearby
Leadbetter Point / SBCC CoachCam ↗
Santa Barbara City College / CoachCam · about 1.2 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Choose “East Campus”, then “Surf Conditions” for the Leadbetter Point view. The other presets offer additional ocean, beach and harbor views.
Santa Barbara Waterfront ↗
City of Santa Barbara · about 2.0 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Waterfront and harbor panorama; not a measurement of surf at Leadbetter.
West Beach ↗
The Milo · about 2.6 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Hotel-hosted West Beach view for visibility and coastal conditions.
Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.
Make the next session easier
Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work
Nearby spots to compare
PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.
COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE
Waves at the model cells
Awaiting shared model dataSignificant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.
Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.