Teiki Mathieu Baillan surfing a self-made Alaya surfboard in Macaroni, Mentawaï, Indonesia. Photo by C. Naslain, 2009.
Find the best surf spots |
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Fullsuits and booties are a must all year, as the water rarely gets above 55 degrees F. Large swells pound the coast most of the year, and a variety of sandy beaches, rocky points and coves offer rideable surf under most conditions. Fall is your best bet for a combination of solid swell and favorable weather. Huge surf and rainy conditions are the payoff for the die-hard winter crew.
Seasonal swell & wind variations:
During the Spring and Summer, northwest winds and peaky windswell conditions prevail. In the fall and winter, long period swells are often accompanied by south winds during storms, which are favorable for many of the best spots. Winter winds turn onshore as the storms pass, before receding again ahead of the next swell.
Jan/Feb | Mar/Apr | May/Jun | Jul/Aug | Sep/Oct | Nov/Dec | |
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Best Surfing Season | ![]() |
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Typical Swell Size | ![]() |
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Surf Equipment | Combi intégrale | Combi intégrale | Combi intégrale | Combi intégrale | Combi intégrale | Combi intégrale |
Water temp. | 52°F | 52°F | 48°F | 55°F | 55°F | 52°F |
Air temp. | 55°F | 61°F | 63°F | 66°F | 64°F | 54°F |
Climate | ![]() |
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During the Spring and Summer, northwest winds and peaky windswell conditions prevail. In the fall and winter, long period swells are often accompanied by south winds during storms, which are favorable for many of the best spots. Winter winds turn onshore as the storms pass, before receding again ahead of the next swell.
This is an interactive map! Use controls to pan and zoom this map.
Your favourites and future surf spot lists
Surf Spots (24) | ![]() ![]() |
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Quality | Direction | Type | Frequ | Experience |
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Big Lagoon | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Bunkers | 2 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | ![]() |
All surfers | ||
Camel Rock | 9 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Sand-bar | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Cape Mendocino | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
Experienced surfers | |
Centerville Beach | - / - | Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | ||
Deadman's | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Reef-rocky | Experienced surfers | ||
Dry Lagoon | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Freshwater Lagoon | - / - | Right and left | Beach-break | ||||
Gale Point | - / - | ![]() |
Right | Point-break | Don't know | ||
Gold Bluffs Beach | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Harbor Entrance | 17 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Sand-bar | ![]() |
Pros or kamikaze only... | |
Little river - Clam Beach | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
Beginners wave | |
Mad River Beach | - / - | Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | ||
McKee's Creek | 1 / - | ![]() |
Right | Point-break | ![]() |
Experienced surfers | |
Moonstone | 1 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
Beginners wave | |
No Pass | - / - | ![]() |
Left | Point-break | Don't know | ||
North jetty | 12 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | breakwater/jetty | ![]() |
Experienced surfers | |
Patricks Point | 1 / - | Left | Reef-rocky | ![]() |
Experienced surfers | ||
redwood creek | 2 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Rivermouth | ![]() |
Pros or kamikaze only... | |
Samoa Peninsula | - / - | Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | ||
South Jetty - Table Bluff | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Stone Lagoon | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Beach-break | ![]() |
All surfers | |
Third Reef | - / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Reef-rocky | ![]() |
Experienced surfers | |
Trinidad State Beach | 3 / - | ![]() |
Right and left | Sand-bar | ![]() |
Experienced surfers |
Camel rock |
Camel rock |
Harbor entrance |
Harbor entrance |
By Roy Fenton , 11-02-2009
Its nice out here .... - I think the surf is great up in Humboldt. Theres waves for everyone , for everyliking and talent . Camel Rock scoring a 2* is a bit unfair . For consistency its the bet most days in the winter . Otherwise you gotta know where to go as usual . The 3 rocks south stone lagoon are also worth a check when the swell is dying.peace and Luv surf mates and sistas.
p.s---As for the locals , they can be as hard as the weather but a smile and giving way will temper that .
By Wish I was at Rincon , 18-01-2009
Don't know what to say - Up north it's cold and deep. Lots of sharks and ass hole meth heads... Way to Fickle and hostile by my recconing Better to go fishing in northern waters... Some good beach breach in Crescent City... Ask Greg Noll
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By htes , 13-11-2009
Camel Rock... - Just saw the latest video on Camel with about 30 guys on it...wow. What happened? Surfed regularly up there 20 years ago and a perfect day at Camel had 8-10 guys at the most. That sucks. That (and the Jetty) were my favorite waves. Hope all is well with you and my old friends in Humboldt.