Shelter Cove Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Shelter Cove Surf Guide
A few quality reefs lie at the end of a scenic, 24-mile drive west from Redway. Southwest-facing, Shelter Cove is primo in spring and autumn, blown-out during most of the winter, and generally small in the summer. As the cove is crescent-shaped, it can be triple-overhead off Point Delgada but chest-high near the boat ramp. Deadman's is the most popular surf spot in Shelter Cove, and the wave is a bit like Lower Trestles.Third Reef lies smack-dab between Deadman's and No Pass, requiring a larger swell and a low tide to work properly. Long rights and lefts here, with the rights usually being a tad slower than the lefts. Just south of that is No Pass, an excellent lefthander peeling along a horseshoe reef, providing smackable lips and some unreal speed sections. Steep, wedging takeoffs and a few rocks. Further south and requiring a brief paddle around No Pass and a walk down the beach is the celebrated Gale Point, a rocky righthand pointbreak of much repute - long, fast walls and sweet tube sections with the correct swell angle. NW pulses up to double-overhead with a high tide works best here.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Beginner-Advanced
Local Vibe
Doable
Unpleasant to cheery, depending on who's there. Smile and talk to people, but don't ask what they do for a living.
Crowd Factor
Mellow
You can have it to yourself or share it with a few locals.
Spot Rating
Fun
Fun.
Shoulder Burn
Light
Not too bad.
Water Quality
Clean
Clean.
Hazards
Oh, yes, Whitey is here in full force.
Bring Your
Shortboard, Funboard, Longboard, Fish
Access
Take U.S. Highway 101 to the Redway-Shelter Cove exit then drive through Redway and enter onto Briceland Road, at the north end of town. It's a long, twisting drive to Shelter Cove and you have to walk to all of the surf spots, but it's worth every inch of the way.
Bottom
Rock
Best Season
September-November
Do you have local knowledge about Shelter Cove?
If you have any insights or information to add to this spot guide, drop us a note at [email protected]