The Wedge
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
326 reviews
Excellent
218
Very good
89
Average
15
Poor
3
Terrible
1
Nick C
Cincinnati, OH418 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Nice place to stop. Ion street parking for the most part. Quick walk to the sand for great ocean views but even better views of the houses and cliffs of surrounding Newport Beach and Corona Del Mar. there were life guard stations and plenty of space for fun. The day we were there the waves were calm but we were told some days there are tremendous waves.
Written 9 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
themurrayfamily
Sheffield, UK318 contributions
Feb 2020
As nice as it is to see it isn't somewhere to spend too long with when you have small children. Ours like going in the water but the waves were just too strong and big down here so we didn't stay long. Nice to visit though on a quiet week day afternoon when there really weren't many other people around.
Written 27 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TLBPsyD
Gilbert, AZ1,671 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
This is a great place to prank a newbie with a boogie board. Watch them catch a wave and then eat it when the waves pull back. Gotta love the memories from Freshman Year.
Written 28 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James Weaver
Irvine, CA2,287 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
In 1939 a Hurricane came to Newport Beach and created waves of some 12 to 14 feet coming directly up the harbor channel. Certainly there was not much built in the area at that time, but thinking of this makes me shudder at what would be the outcome today. As you try to park, yes it is difficult here, you will walk by some lovely small original cottages that remain, some very large homes on perhaps 2 or 3 lots, and the back sides of those that face the bay. Always a treat, that I do not do often enough. We usually drive along the bluff in Corona Del Mar for that view and look across the channel toward the Wedge for Sunsets. My experiences of 67 years in Orange County have included many visits and they are all each extraordinary. Several years ago! The Newport Beach Film Festival showed a documentary on the Wedge, their most popular movie ever. If you can view this film, locate it and enjoy. During the screening at the Lido Theatre I saw, many of the Wedge old timers and youngsters were present, what a thrill to see them today and body surfing in years long ago on film.
Written 13 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert C
Newport Beach, CA31 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
The Wedge may be the most famous and most dangerous body surfing break in the world. Spectacular to watch and photograph when a large swell from the south / southwest arrives in Newport Beach (ideally with an offshore wind creating the best conditions), but only the most experienced body surfers and board riders with superb swimming skills should venture into the water when the "surf is up." Due to the effect of a jetty at the entrance of Newport Harbor, a swell at the proper angle will create a huge "refracted" wave (up to 30 feet), which is the product of a swell / wave colliding with a previous swell / wave that has been redirected by its collision with the jetty. Originally built by the Army Corp of Engineers from 1916-1921, an enlargement and extension of the jetty in 1935 is what Wedge historians believe has created the now world famous waves that frequently break in extremely shallow water and have been the cause of several deaths and many serious injuries, some of which have permanently paralyzed the unfortunate surfers.The effect of the collision of a wave and the "backwash / sidewash" at a different angle from the previous wave is in effect a new wave in a wedge shape that is much larger than either in height and depth, and highly unpredictable concerning how or where it will break.
i learned a lot about The Wedge break in 1976 doing research for a lawsuit against the City of Newport Beach filed on behalf of a young man paralyzed at The Wedge. One result of the suit was the subsequent posting of signs by the City of Newport Beach on the beach warning of the extremely dangerous conditions arising from the truly unique surf adjacent to the jetty.
Those signs should be heeded by everyone contemplating entry into the ocean when the big swells arrive - and surfing novices and others not extremely familiar with the conditions should enjoy the exciting world class surfing action by experts from the shore.
i learned a lot about The Wedge break in 1976 doing research for a lawsuit against the City of Newport Beach filed on behalf of a young man paralyzed at The Wedge. One result of the suit was the subsequent posting of signs by the City of Newport Beach on the beach warning of the extremely dangerous conditions arising from the truly unique surf adjacent to the jetty.
Those signs should be heeded by everyone contemplating entry into the ocean when the big swells arrive - and surfing novices and others not extremely familiar with the conditions should enjoy the exciting world class surfing action by experts from the shore.
Written 18 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo_Ann000
San Diego, CA39 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
The Wedge is a must see if you are in Newport Beach. Very cool watching the body boarders and surfers catch the huge waves. There isn't a parking lot so be prepared to drive around the neighborhood looking for a parking spot.
Written 4 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kimmied76
7 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
We went here to watch this really cool break and the brave guys who ride it! We went 2 mornings - about 6:30. The first morning was a bigger break and amazing to see! The second day the break was mellower but still fun to watch.
Written 10 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike
Newport Beach, CA1,095 contributions
May 2013 • Family
The Wedge is a classic and historic Newport Beach location. Known for a horrific shore break but fabulous body surfing, it is absolutely wild when the big winter waves arrive. Surf at your own risk. The Wedge can be dangerous and is not for children or the inexperienced. Over the years absolutely thousands of swim fins have been lost there. It would be interesting to know where they all went.
Written 20 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA1,201 contributions
Sept 2021
World Famous Wedge is a California coastal classic, and looking like a thrill seeker postcard on most days. No longer a secret, the area is swarmed with visitors and parking can be tough.
Written 28 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
Vero Beach, FL11,102 contributions
Aug 2020
I made my firs visit recently (I'm from Florida) on a green-flag day at the lifeguard stands (gentle conditions). A bunch of kids were in the water enjoying the mostly 2-3 foot waves with occasional 4-5 foot outbursts. A few weeks earlier, there had been a memorable spell of waves July 3-5. There are splendid videos at YouTube.
There is no parking lot nearby, but parallel parking on the nearby residential streets, except on street-cleaning days. Time of visit matters: The Wedge is open to surfboards and bodyboards before 10 am and after 5 am in the summer; bodysurfing and swimming only, from 10 to 5. This is where bodysurfing was more or less invented on the US mainland, using swim fins. In turn, at least two brands of surfing/lifeguard swim fins were invented at or near Newport Beach.
Main reasons for visiting the spot are the impressive jetty (and the boats coming and going) and the waves near the jetty. Even on a small day, they tend to smash rather directly on the beach, unlike the waves at Newport Pier (the Point), a much better place for casual beach visitors to be in the water. Waves bounce off he jetty, creating unusual patterns that surfers of various sorts can ride. The waves also create large rip currents on large-wave days that allow experienced users to get out beyond the surf. The big rips (here and also elsewhere in the area) have led to the distinctively Californian system of using lifeguard boats to pick up rescued swimmers (rather than attempting to return them directly to the beach) and taking them to safer points to return to the beach or, occasionally, to the harbor.
It can be worthwhile to check Surfline, the online beach camera and surf prediction service, before visiting. Conditions vary wildly and large waves can happen here on days when nearby beaches are not nearly so large.
Note that extremely big days bring out crowds. It can be worthwhile to show up before dawn.
There is no parking lot nearby, but parallel parking on the nearby residential streets, except on street-cleaning days. Time of visit matters: The Wedge is open to surfboards and bodyboards before 10 am and after 5 am in the summer; bodysurfing and swimming only, from 10 to 5. This is where bodysurfing was more or less invented on the US mainland, using swim fins. In turn, at least two brands of surfing/lifeguard swim fins were invented at or near Newport Beach.
Main reasons for visiting the spot are the impressive jetty (and the boats coming and going) and the waves near the jetty. Even on a small day, they tend to smash rather directly on the beach, unlike the waves at Newport Pier (the Point), a much better place for casual beach visitors to be in the water. Waves bounce off he jetty, creating unusual patterns that surfers of various sorts can ride. The waves also create large rip currents on large-wave days that allow experienced users to get out beyond the surf. The big rips (here and also elsewhere in the area) have led to the distinctively Californian system of using lifeguard boats to pick up rescued swimmers (rather than attempting to return them directly to the beach) and taking them to safer points to return to the beach or, occasionally, to the harbor.
It can be worthwhile to check Surfline, the online beach camera and surf prediction service, before visiting. Conditions vary wildly and large waves can happen here on days when nearby beaches are not nearly so large.
Note that extremely big days bring out crowds. It can be worthwhile to show up before dawn.
Written 1 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How to I get to the Wedge? Is it at the end of the Balboa Peninsula
Written 9 November 2016
The Wedge, famous for watching professional surfers
at high surf is at the very tip of the Newport Beach Balboa Peninsula. Coming from Pacific Coast Hwy,
take Balboa Blvd for about 4 miles then it will wrap onto Channel Road, drive several blocks to the end of the culdesac area. There is a sidewalk, grassy area with a few park benches and then it flows into the beach area. The rock Jetty at the very tip of Balboa Peninsula Point, is the highlight of the Wedge where surfers look forward to some great surfing when the tide is up. Very fun to watch.
Written 2 April 2017
Yes - The Wedge is absolutely wheel chair accessible from the culdesac area. There is a sidewalk, grassy area with a few park benches and then it flows into the beach area. The rock Jetty at the very tip of Balboa Peninsula Point, is the highlight of the Wedge where surfers look forward to some great surfing when the tide is up. Very fun to watch.
Written 2 April 2017
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