In Del Norte County in Northern California, the Klamath River empties into the sea amid the redwoods on the coast. The wave owes its shape to the sand distribution that the rivermouth combs. The waves here are powerful and barrel hard for up to 200 meters. Be very aware that salmon run up this river in the fall (also the best time to surf). This attracts seals which in turn attract great whites. There have been multiple attacks at this break. Other hazards include heavy shorepound and fast currents.
What are the best surf conditions for Klamath River?
This spot gets good between waist high and triple overhead. We recommend a longboard when it is smaller and a shortboard when the size picks up. Klamath River is an intermediate surfer and up spot. The surf here is semi consistent (5/10) and crowds will almost never be a factor here (4/10). The best winds are offshore from the East. The best swells come from the Northwest, South, Southwest, and West. It will work best on an incoming tide at any level.
We recommend a 5/4 wetsuit with a hood year round. Water temps hover between 12 degrees in the summer and 11 degrees in the winter. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
