Overview
Hobuck/North Coast is a sand-bottomed beachbreak on Makah reservation land along the northern Washington coast. The surf here is average rather than remarkable, and conditions can be unpredictable. This is a wild, remote stretch of coast: expect cold water, strong currents, sharks, and a long way from help if something goes wrong.
When It Works
The break draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with northwest (NW) swell the best match. It's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft, and the sandbars throw up both lefts and rights. Consistency is good, so there's usually something to ride when a swell fills in.
Wind and Tide
Look for east (E) offshore wind to groom the faces. It can work across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is beginner-friendly terrain, and the lineup tends to stay fairly quiet.
Access
Getting in is the hard part. Hobuck Beach is the easiest entry point, but it only opens onto the weaker beachbreak. For better quality, follow the trail a couple of miles south past Portage Head, though nothing here is world-class. Come prepared, since it's a long way from help.
