Overview
Brookings Jetty is a mellow, sand-bottomed beach and jetty break facing southwest. Offshore rocks knock the punch out of northerly swells, so it usually runs softer and mushier than the waves up around Crescent City or Gold Beach. The beach slopes gently and there is plenty of inside whitewater, which makes it a forgiving, user-friendly place to surf. Peaks break both left and right.
When It Works
The spot draws swell from south to west and is usable from 0.9 m / 3 ft to 2.1 m / 7 ft. It is a summer and autumn wave, with the season running roughly June through October, though it rates as a below-average performer overall. Higher tides tend to bring the best, if softest, shape, with the surf breaking close to shore. Drop to low tide and the sand bottom sits close to the surface, throwing up some hollow, fast peaks left and right, but closeouts take over.
Wind and Tide
Look for a northeast offshore wind, with a workable wind window from north to east. It breaks on mid and high tide, and a rising tide is generally the better call.
Local Tips
Everything from shortboards and fish to funboards and longboards works here, and the gentle setup suits everyone from beginners to experts. Expect a moderately busy lineup on hot afternoons and weekends and a fairly quiet one the rest of the time, with a somewhat reserved, generally mellow feel. Keep the southbound littoral drift in mind, since it can nudge you down the beach. There is moderate shark danger given how close the jetty sits to the Chetco Rivermouth, and watch for the occasional wandering RV.
Access
From Highway 101 heading south, bear left onto West Benham Lane at the first stoplight north of California. Follow the road down the hill and turn left onto Boat Basin Road by Beachfront RV Park, then veer into the dirt parking strip right in front of the break.
