Matunuck Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
SE, S
Wind
N
Surf Height
Knee-high to double overhead+
Tide
The waves typically get slower and fatter at high tide.
Matunuck Surf Guide
Matunuck’s surf is basically concentrated into three main breaks, from east to west: Deep Hole, a speedy left at low tide; Trestles, an A-frame peak with hollow rights and zippy lefts at lower tides; and The Point, a well-defined peak with a short, bowly right and a long, rippable left that links up with an inside bowl on incoming. All spots break over cobblestone/boulder reefs and can handle well-overhead swell. The Point likes SE swells, while Trestles and Deep Hole typically favor E swells, but all still operate on S swells.
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced
Darwinian as anywhere else — the best surfers get the best waves.
Local Vibe
Intimidating
With three quality reefbreaks in one zone, there’s bound to be some hostility.
Crowd Factor
Heavy
Perpetually packed with surfers, kayakers, etc.
Spot Rating
Perfect
Undoubtedly one of Rhode Island’s primo pointbreak/reefbreak zones, it’s like the West Coast of the East Coast.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Rip currents and tough paddle-outs are the norm when it’s big.
Water Quality
Clean
Pretty clean… now. An oil spill off Point Judith in 1996 incited new and increased safety regulation, and Surfrider’s Rhode Island Chapter implemented the Blue Water Task Force, which conducts water testing/analysis at several spots.
Hazards
Hypothermia, localism, rocks.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Fish, Funboard, Longboard
Access
Year-round free parking lot.
Bottom
Cobblestone boulders.
Best Season
September-December
Do you have local knowledge about Matunuck?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]