Surf: Somewhat sheltered from summer NW winds by Cape Foulweather, Otter Rock is popular with beginners and longboarders. Several mushy, soft-rolling beachbreak peaks are open to most swells but best on a small W. Occasional snap on the inside under exceptional conditions. Can get good on a small S summer swell. Experiences a lot of rips along the rocks in the winter and early spring, which can work like a ski lift. Sometimes gets a good peak towards the Cape serving up good lefts and rights. Environment: Nice recreational beach, gets crowded with surfers, spongers, and all kinds of people. Located at Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park. One veteran refers to the Otter Rock scene as the Old Man’s/Waikiki of Oregon. Has a large parking lot that often fills, plus restrooms, nearby food, and a long stairway down to beach. More surfers probably learned to surf here than anywhere else in Oregon, though some folks down at Agate make the same claim. Surf: General: It’s argued that more people learn to surf at Otter Rock than anywhere else in Oregon. A user-friendly setup featuring several beachbreak peaks, it’s generally mushy and accessible for those with less experience. Best on a small W swell, there can be rips and strong currents around the rocks during the winter and spring months. Otter Rock will also break on small S swells in the summer months, but those aren’t as consistent. The area does enjoy some protection from the regular summer NW winds thanks to the appropriately named Cape Foulweather. Otter Rock does get crowded when the weather’s nice, as it’s not only popular with surfers but a variety of ocean lovers and those looking to escape to the Oregon coast. Beware of dangerous rip tides, especially in winter. Tides: Higher for the beachbreaks, variable for Boiler Bay. Depends on the swell size — low is best for smaller surf, high for bigger. Size: Head-high or a little bigger. Wind: E, SE Swell: W Bottom: Sand-covered rocks help make Otter Rock a reliable spot on the Oregon coast. Paddling: Long paddles with some duck-diving required, but by no means a pounding beachbreak. Spot Rating: One of the most popular places to learn to surf in Oregon, it’s a user-friendly, inviting surf spot that can be fun when it reaches its optimum size. Be cautious of dangerous rip tides in the winter. Access: Located at Devil’s Punch Bowl State Park, there’s a parking lot at Otter Rock with restrooms, but it often fills up. Access the beach by a long stairway. Crowds: Crowd Factor: A well-utilized spot, days with warm weather and blue skies can be especially busy. Local Vibe: A friendly spot that’s not all that competitive due to the amount of beginners that test the waters here. Environment: Generally pretty clean in this part of the world, but exercise caution when paddling out after periods of heavy rain. Hazards: Cold water, sharks, rip tides. Season: Best on a small to mid-sized W swell, and early-season swells in the Autumn can offer clean conditions with more accommodating weather and temps, but don’t discount January.