A fickle but rewarding stretch of Oregon coast beachbreak, Rockaway Beach sits about 70 miles south of Tillamook, open to a wide swell window on a flat-bottomed sand bottom. Forecasts rate it best on small, clean N-S-E-W swells from April through October, preferring high tide and east wind to keep faces clean. the surfer community tells a different story at the north end reef section: a hollow, ledgey peak that gets thick and powerful at 4ft and above, with reported shark sightings, heavy currents, and a rip to the south of the cove that experienced surfers use as a paddle channel on bigger days. Mid-week the lineup is nearly empty, weekends see more company. Bottom: sand with rocky sections at north end. Season: April-October. Consistency: moderate, best in summer for clean small surf, reef section hit-or-miss needing specific swell and wind alignment to fire properly. Dawn patrol mid-week is your best window.
Weekdays can be empty. Weekends draw more surfers, particularly in summer. Some locals at the reef section have a reputation for being territorial on good days. Respect the lineup, know your limits, and you should be fine. This is not a spot to blunder into on a solid swell without experience.
Turn west onto N. First Avenue at the Rockaway Beach Access sign from Highway 101. Parking is free with no facilities on site. A Mexican restaurant on the main avenue is worth the stop. No rentals reported nearby.
Manzanita, a few miles to the south, offers similar flat-bottomed beachbreak peaks and is worth checking when Rockaway is a swirling mess. Linda Mar to the south is flagged by locals as a more forgiving option when the reef section is maxing out.
Forecast by Windy.app
