Gold Beach South Jetty Surf Guide

Gold Beach South Jetty Surf Guide

In a word, the southern Oregon coast is isolated. Precipitous cliffs and headlands render much of the shore inaccessible by road and, up until Coos Bay (one of the world's largest ports for forest products), only a few rudimentary arteries through the verdant Siskiyou National Forest and Kalmiopsis Wilderness link the coast with the populous interior valley.

Most of the surf spots are fickle, west-facing beachbreaks visible from the road, yet few accessible options exist. Siding the Rogue River, the south jetty at Gold Beach ("a little town...a lotta fun") is one of them: another stubby little jetty facing southwest, producing some powerful peaks with hefty currents and a massive seal population. Named for the gold that was found near here in the mid-1800s, the beach is layered with driftwood, backed by low dunes overrun with the invasive European grass. Hollow right wedges prevail given the correct wind and tide, although the bars are inept to withstand anything bigger than a foot or two overhead. The beach drop-off is relatively abrupt, causing for some heavy shorepound and frequent difficulty for paddling out.

Maddeningly fickle, the jetty shines through during windless conditions with a small swell and incoming tide. Forget about it during the wintertime, when south winds dominate and northerly swell overloads the place. Springtime can be good since north-northwest winds blow sideshore/offshore here, but don't count on the surf to settle down until April at the earliest. Considering that windsurfing is much more popular around here, it's a safe bet that the wind will be blowing upon your arrival.