2.2ft Hs
W from · 275° · 11.3 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 face1.4 ftOlder cached forecast Wed Nov 11, 9:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind4.6 mphNW from · older cache
NOAA tide reference2.2 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.
Wed Nov 11, 9:00pm Pacific
GFS · 4 components
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
0.6ft Hs
SW from · 224° · 13.3 s
0.2ft Hs
W from · 273° · 12.7 s
MFWAM · 2 components
3.9ft Hs
W from · 277° · 9.9 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 Wed Nov 11, 8:00pm · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Nov 11, 8:00pm (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 11, 8:00pm (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 11, 8:00pm (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 Wed Nov 11, 7:30pm. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 11 | 1.5 ft | 3.8 mph | 14/14 |
| Thu Nov 12 | 1.4 ft | 6.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Nov 13 | 2.1 ft | 6.8 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Nov 14 | 3.3 ft | 3.4 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Nov 15 | 2.0 ft | 5.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Nov 16 | 2.7 ft | 3.1 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Nov 17 | 1.9 ft | 7.0 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 9:00pm | 1.4 ft | 0.8–2.0 ft | 2.1 ft | W · 12.2 s | 4.6 mph NW | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Wed 10:00pm | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.9 ft | 2.0 ft | W · 12.1 s | 4.3 mph WNW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Wed 11:00pm | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.8 ft | 2.0 ft | W · 12.1 s | 5.4 mph NNW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.8 ft | 2.0 ft | W · 12.0 s | 6.7 mph NNW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 12.0 s | 6.4 mph NNW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 12.0 s | 5.4 mph NNW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.9 s | 5.0 mph N | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.9 s | 4.9 mph NNE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.9 s | 5.1 mph NE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.8 s | 4.7 mph NNE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.8 s | 5.1 mph NE | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 11.9 s | 6.4 mph ENE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.8–1.7 ft | 2.0 ft | W · 11.9 s | 6.9 mph E | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00am | 1.3 ft | 0.9–1.7 ft | 2.0 ft | W · 12.0 s | 8.8 mph SE | 5.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00am | 1.4 ft | 0.9–1.8 ft | 2.1 ft | W · 12.0 s | 9.3 mph SSE | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00pm | 1.4 ft | 1.0–1.8 ft | 2.1 ft | W · 12.1 s | 8.6 mph SE | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00pm | 1.4 ft | 1.0–1.8 ft | 2.1 ft | W · 12.2 s | 7.3 mph SSE | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00pm | 1.5 ft | 1.0–1.8 ft | 2.2 ft | W · 12.4 s | 6.4 mph SE | 2.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00pm | 1.4 ft | 0.8–1.9 ft | 2.1 ft | W · 12.5 s | 6.2 mph ESE | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00pm | 1.3 ft | 0.4–1.9 ft | 1.9 ft | W · 12.7 s | 6.5 mph ESE | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00pm | 1.5 ft | 0.8–2.0 ft | 2.2 ft | W · 12.8 s | 5.5 mph ESE | 0.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.3–2.0 ft | 2.5 ft | W · 13.0 s | 5.1 mph E | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 1.6 ft | 1.0–2.0 ft | 2.4 ft | W · 13.1 s | 6.6 mph ESE | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.3–2.1 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 13.3 s | 6.6 mph ESE | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.3–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 13.5 s | 6.0 mph ESE | 1.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 1.7 ft | 1.1–2.2 ft | 2.6 ft | W · 13.6 s | 7.4 mph ESE | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 1.8 ft | 1.3–2.3 ft | 2.7 ft | W · 13.5 s | 8.6 mph E | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 1.9 ft | 1.4–2.3 ft | 2.8 ft | W · 13.4 s | 11.0 mph E | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 1.9 ft | 1.4–2.4 ft | 2.9 ft | W · 13.3 s | 10.4 mph E | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.4–2.5 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 13.2 s | 9.7 mph ESE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 2.0 ft | 1.5–2.5 ft | 3.0 ft | W · 13.1 s | 7.0 mph E | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.4–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 13.0 s | 7.2 mph ENE | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.6 mph E | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.8 s | 10.4 mph E | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 12.7 s | 5.8 mph E | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.5–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.6 s | 8.5 mph E | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.6 s | 8.2 mph ESE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.5 s | 9.1 mph ESE | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.5 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.4 s | 8.9 mph SE | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.5 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.3 s | 6.6 mph SSE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.5 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.2 s | 1.8 mph WSW | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.6–2.5 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.2 s | 2.8 mph S | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.6 ft | 3.1 ft | W · 12.1 s | 5.8 mph SW | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 12.1 s | 6.4 mph W | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.8–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 12.0 s | 8.4 mph W | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 11.9 s | 7.2 mph W | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 2.1 ft | 1.7–2.6 ft | 3.2 ft | W · 11.7 s | 5.7 mph W | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 2.2 ft | 1.7–2.7 ft | 3.3 ft | W · 11.4 s | 4.0 mph WNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 2.3 ft | 1.7–2.8 ft | 3.4 ft | W · 11.0 s | 3.1 mph WNW | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 2.3 ft | 1.7–2.8 ft | 3.5 ft | W · 10.8 s | 2.0 mph W | 1.7 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 2.3 ft | 1.6–2.9 ft | 3.5 ft | W · 11.0 s | 3.9 mph WNW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 2.3 ft | 1.6–3.0 ft | 3.5 ft | W · 11.4 s | 4.6 mph WSW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 2.3 ft | 1.6–3.0 ft | 3.5 ft | W · 11.8 s | 4.9 mph NW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 2.4 ft | 1.5–3.2 ft | 3.6 ft | W · 12.1 s | 3.0 mph NNE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 2.5 ft | 1.5–3.3 ft | 3.7 ft | W · 12.5 s | 2.5 mph NE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 2.6 ft | 1.6–3.4 ft | 3.9 ft | W · 12.9 s | 2.4 mph NE | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 2.7 ft | 1.7–3.6 ft | 4.1 ft | WNW · 13.3 s | 2.9 mph NNW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 2.9 ft | 1.9–3.7 ft | 4.4 ft | WNW · 13.8 s | 3.5 mph NW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 3.0 ft | 2.0–3.9 ft | 4.6 ft | WNW · 14.2 s | 2.8 mph NNW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 3.2 ft | 2.4–4.0 ft | 4.9 ft | WNW · 14.5 s | 1.2 mph NNE | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.4–4.1 ft | 4.9 ft | WNW · 14.8 s | 1.8 mph SSE | 4.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 3.4 ft | 2.5–4.2 ft | 5.0 ft | WNW · 15.1 s | 3.6 mph S | 4.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 3.3 ft | 2.4–4.2 ft | 5.0 ft | WNW · 15.2 s | 4.7 mph SSW | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.5–4.3 ft | 5.1 ft | WNW · 15.2 s | 4.3 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.6–4.3 ft | 5.1 ft | WNW · 15.2 s | 4.3 mph WSW | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 3.4 ft | 2.6–4.3 ft | 5.1 ft | WNW · 15.1 s | 5.0 mph WSW | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.5–4.3 ft | 5.0 ft | WNW · 14.9 s | 4.0 mph SW | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.5–4.3 ft | 5.0 ft | WNW · 14.8 s | 3.4 mph SSW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 3.3 ft | 2.5–4.3 ft | 4.9 ft | WNW · 14.6 s | 2.5 mph S | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 3.2 ft | 2.5–4.2 ft | 4.9 ft | WNW · 14.4 s | 2.7 mph SE | 0.9 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 3.2 ft | 2.4–4.2 ft | 4.8 ft | WNW · 14.2 s | 3.4 mph ESE | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.3–4.1 ft | 4.7 ft | WNW · 14.1 s | 4.4 mph ESE | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 3.1 ft | 2.3–4.0 ft | 4.6 ft | WNW · 14.0 s | 5.4 mph ESE | 0.7 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.