This page was written and reviewed by Michael J. Cefali, Esq. Attorney Cefali is a founding partner of Cefali & Cefali, APC, based in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He holds a Juris Doctor from Chapman University Fowler School of Law and a B.A. in Global Studies & Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy. Widely recognized for his advocacy in personal injury law, he has secured multi-hundred-thousand-dollar settlements in motorcycle accidents, hit-and-runs, and red-light collision cases. He maintains a perfect 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Cefali actively supports his community through the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributes to housing and meal programs for those in need, and enjoys fishing and spending time with his rescue dogs.
The date below reflects when this page was last reviewed for accuracy. Please see our Editorial Guidelines.
The Trestles area of San Clemente is one of the most popular surf spots in California. It is within walking distance of San Onofre State Beach and Camp Pendleton. The main attraction at Trestles is the long, sandy beach, which makes for a great place to relax and enjoy the ocean breezes.
Trestles is known best for its large, breakable surf spot. Surfers around the world travel here to challenge their skills on this wave. Other water sports like diving and body surfing are also common in this area. In fact, "Trestles Dive" was a famous name in body-boarding when that sport was gaining popularity.
There are also several hiking trails that take visitors through the nearby canyon and up to some beautiful viewpoints high above the beach. This area is also home to several campgrounds and RV parks, another reason why it's so popular with families looking for a California vacation destination.
Trestles Beach is an ocean-front beach in the San Clemente area. The name of the beach comes from the long Trestles surf break that stretches out into the Pacific Ocean. Trestles is a popular location for surfing and bodyboarding because of the consistent waves that travel north to south along the beach. Tressels is open to the public year-round and offers two ways to access it. One way to access this beach is by parking at San Onofre State Park and walking across the train tracks to get to it. The other way to access it is on foot by walking down Avenida la Paz from historic downtown San Clemente. There are also public restrooms, a lifeguard tower, picnic tables and fire rings located at trestles as well as parking for over 100 cars.
Trestles Beach is one of the best surf spots in Southern California. The spot has a wide variety of waves that are fun for all skill levels. Trestles is a long right-point break. It is a very fast and powerful wave that breaks over a shallow sand bottom. This wave is great for beginners because it has a gentle takeoff zone and there are lots of places to take off on this wave. There are also some great barrels that can be caught when Trestles gets big. This spot is also great for advanced surfers because they can work on their backhand barrel riding skills on this wave. The peak at Trestles is hollow and fast with a long wall that makes for epic tubes, especially during the winter swells. When the conditions are good, Trestles can get to be really big so this spot is not for beginners.
When the swell starts to come from the west, this spot can get really fun. This wave holds good shape when there are offshore winds, but when the wind is light, it can get super fast and turn into a high-performance wave that requires good technique to ride well.
Michael Cefali is a dedicated accident attorney based in San Juan Capistrano, California, committed to securing justice and fair compensation for accident victims.
A graduate of Newport Harbor High School, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Global Studies and Maritime Affairs from the California Maritime Academy, followed by his Juris Doctor from Chapman University School of Law.
Deeply invested in his community, Michael is an active member of the Rotary Club of San Juan Capistrano, contributing to efforts that provide meals, housing, and support to those in need. Outside of his legal work and volunteer service, he enjoys fishing in Dana Point and spending time with his three rescue dogs—a Chihuahua, a Spaniel mix, and a Shepherd mix.
Driven by his strong belief in justice and fairness, Michael remains steadfast in advocating for individuals harmed by the negligence or inaction of others.
