Tamarack State Beach
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About Tamarack State Beach in Carlsbad, California
Tamarack Surf Beach, as this part of Carlsbad State Beach is known, is located where Tamarack Avenue crosses Carlsbad Boulevard. At this intersection you’ll find the entrance to a large parking lot that is usually full on sunny days. The city provides a stairway for access to the rest of Carlsbad State Beach at Sycamore, Maple, Cherry and Hemlock Avenues. The parking lot and beach access at Pine Avenue is called Robert Frazee Beach.
Between Tamarack Beach and Frazee Beach there are two paved paths that make this a superb place for walking. One is a sidewalk at the top of the bluff and the other is a paved promenade at the back of the beach on a seawall.
Tamarack Beach is a fabulous wide sandy beach all the way to Frazee Beach.
- Address
- Carlsbad Blvd and Tamarack Ave
Carlsbad, CA 92008 - Park Name
- Carlsbad State Beach
- Other Names
- Tamarack Surf Beach
- Owner
- State Park
- Pet Details
- No dogs allowed on the beach
- Fees
- Fee for parking
- Activities
- Surfing, Swimming, Sunbathing, Fishing, Scuba Diving, Running, Walking
- Amenities
- Restrooms, Showers, Lifeguard
Nearby Attractions
California Watersports on Carlsbad Lagoon
0.7 miles away
California Watersports is a rental company on the shores of Carlsbad Lagoon (Agua Hedionda) in Carlsbad. They rent motorized...
Nearby Lodging
Tamarack Beach Resort
0.5 miles away
With Mediterranean style influence and upscale décor, Tamarack Beach Resort presents stylish lodging, nearly right on the sand and...
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Reviews
Very poor choice if you’re riding your log. Too steep and fast for cruising and getting that cheater 5 that makes your heart sing. Between me and my crew we broke 2 boards in the horrible shore break. Definitely take it to Terramar or better yet Swamis or Cardiff Reef. The locals are extremely aggressive, especially the shaved head guy wearing his gangster chain and trunks in the dead of winter. I wish I had an extra pair of hands to give this place 4 thumbs down!!👎🏼
Brutally regulated by hostile locals, you can kiss your teeth goodbye by simply paddling out. Strange that these raging relics are so protective of an absolutely mediocre wave. You can only have one of two choices here: dismal close out, or baby poo soft mushburger. Skip this one and go 5 minutes south for an exponentially better experience. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk!
Super crowded. The local surfers are jerks! I did not get any good waves. The waves quality is low and difficult to catch. Tamarack is NOT a beginner break because of the reef shape, shifting peaks and selfish locals. Also there is an aggressive seal that was barking at surfers. Not as bad as the sea otters up north, but it was scary! The waves are better down at Ponto and Taramar. Plus the vibe is friendlier at those breaks.
Great beach but terrible surfing. Very difficult conditions with large local crowd of expert surfers. If you would like a beginner friendly break head south to 1 mile just south of the last jetty. That is a nice break that rolls in off the reef. Easy to catch with some fast sections at times. Or check out Grand View or Beacans. These are much friendlier surf breaks.










