Winchester Bay/South Umpqua Jetty is a man-made righthander on the south side of the mighty Umpqua River entrance, where an Army Corps rock jetty reaches about 1000 yds (910m) into the Pacific. The jetty doubles as a wind block and lets sand pile up into bars, feeding a reliable, sometimes dredging right that peels away from the rocks in often classic form. It breaks over sand, and a rip usually runs along the jetty to give you an easy paddle back to the lineup. On most S to NW swells a nice left peak sets up about 100 yds (90m) to the south, and when it's glassy there's a near-infinite stretch of peaks down the dunes of the Siuslaw National Forest.
When It Works
The spot draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with northwest (NW) the best match, and it really comes alive on NW and W swell as one of Oregon's good big-wave spots. Although the sandbars shift, it handles a significantly larger swell than most, if not all, of the state's outside jetty breaks. It works from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 4.6 m / 15 ft and tends to be moderately consistent.
Wind and Tide
The offshore wind direction is east (E), and it works across low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call. Keep in mind the spot is exposed to S winds, and since most big winter swells arrive with S winds, genuinely good conditions are rare.
Local Tips
This righthander suits intermediate surfers, and you can expect a moderately busy lineup when it's on. You might run into the odd unfriendly local, so grin and bear it, and be aware of a relatively major shark hazard here.
Access
The beach is public, with a car park offering free parking plus roadside parking. Since the spot is visible from Highway 101, you can scope it first from the overlook at the top of the hill just south of Winchester Bay.
