Spot Guide › United States › California › Waddell Creek → Natural Bridges / Four Mile downwind route

Waddell Creek → Natural Bridges / Four Mile downwind route

California, United States · 37.0320, -122.1740

Downwind SUP FoilingSUP Foiling Expert cold-water coastal downwinder
Source
1
wind meter
1
tide station
2
guides & forecasts

conditions & access

Downwind run · ~26 km

Launch: Waddell Creek

Landing: Natural Bridges

Route drawn from the run name — approximate, not a GPS track.

Best wind

Coast-following 25-35 kt setup documented; compass direction is not published

Season

Condition-dependent

Water

Large, fast open-Pacific windswell; reported successful setup was about 8-12 ft with cliff-reflected reverb sections

Experience

Expert cold-water coastal downwinder

Hazards

Approximately 20 miles of cold exposed coast with large bumps, strong cliff reverb, difficult Waddell exit, limited bailouts and long-route shuttle/rescue dependence.

Parking & access

Arrange a legal long-route shuttle and verify current Waddell and Santa Cruz endpoint access.

“Progression Project forum local guidance reports that the experienced local group frequently runs from Waddell toward Natural Bridges or Four Mile, a roughly 15–20 mile coastal line. Progression Project forum local evidence describes experienced riders completing approximately 20-mile Waddell-to-Santa Cruz runs in 25-35 kt wind and 8-12 ft windswell.”

— via Progression Project forum — public topic and post research, last verified 2026-08-02

Live wind

wx.ikitesurf.com 548391 — WX Nearest live iKiteSurf station (nearby, not confirmed at launch): Coast Dairies (0.77 mi) — https://wx.ikitesurf.com/spot/548391 wx.ikitesurf.com

All 17 webcams in Santa Cruz & Monterey Bay

Tides

NOAA CO-OPS Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

Local guides

forum.progressionproject.com Anyone Else Doing Downhill Swell Runs With No Wind — Comment 11 — Progression Project Forum https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/anyone-else-doing-downhill-swell-runs-with-no-wind/6886/11 forum.progressionproject.com forum.progressionproject.com Parawing And Deflate Upwind Wind Angles Vmg — Comment 21 — Progression Project Forum https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/anyone-else-doing-downhill-swell-runs-with-no-wind/6886/11 https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/parawing-and- forum.progressionproject.com

Links are community-sourced and open directly on the provider's site. Verify conditions locally before riding.

nearby spots

California, United States Greyhound Rock → Natural Bridges / Cowell downwind route Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides · tides California, United States Scotts Creek / Davenport → Laguna Creek Beach downwind route Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides · tides California, United States Santa Cruz Prone Foiling wind · guides · surf · tides California, United States Natural Bridges → Santa Cruz Eastside downwind route FoilDrive-assisted and SUP Downwind Foiling wind · guides · tides California, United States Davenport → Monterey Bay crossing Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides · tides California, United States Mavericks → Santa Cruz expedition downwind route Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides

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