Salmon Creek

Edit Spot

About

love it, clean and expansive, with beautiful views and the coolest people in california. surf, build a little bonfire, spark a fatty, play the bongos...
I love this spot. Grew up in the area, and its the first place i ever surfed. It can hold alot of people, so its great when respectful, skilled surfers come and visit. it takes care of itself at size. Everyone welcome as long as they pack their trash, don't drop in, and don't bail their board. This place can get epic, near perfection in the fall when a late season south swell is running. Respect and enjoy.

Atmosphere:
cold and choppy, exposed to wind, swell and lots of really big sharks, only epic and glassy in the fall, with occasional exceptions year round. everyone is very friendly IF you hold onto your board and dont drop in. could drown real easy here if you dont know what your doing. Doran Beach, to the south, is a much better learning spot.

Very, very sharky. Several attacks here in last 10 years. Also getting progressively more crowded. Gets around 50 guys out on any given weekend day when its not to big. However, big stretch of beach, so it can hold a crowd. Also, very pretty beach, natural surroundings, pack your trash! south end of beach is all sand dunes and beach grass, north end gets rocky with cliffs. the beach is seperated by the beautiful, sand-bar creating, shark attracting salmon creek. Most people surf near the mouth of the creek, can always find empty, surfable wave to the south.

Additional Info:
dont need much skill if its small, but gotta be experienced if its big, paddle can get gnarly. get the longest rides on good souths. can be mushy after a nice drop, but can also get hollow and long. kinda like ocean beach, but one notch less gnarly. if beginner/trannie, find a peak to yourself down the beach and leave the better peaks to the skilled locals. ALWAYS hold onto your board.

Location

Access

right off of highway 1, north of bodega bay.

Walk	Short walk (5-15 min)
Public access	Yes
4x4 required	Unknown
Boat required	Unknown

Wave Characteristics

Type	Beach break
Direction	Right and left
Bottom	Sandy
Power	Powerful
Frequency	Very consistent (150+ days/year)
Normal length	Short (<50m)
Good day length	Long (150 to 300m)