Barrels
- Shortboard
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Small waves
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Barrels is an exposed point break on the Jiaoxi coast area in Yilan County, surfacing over a rocky bottom near harbor/point structures. The wave is known for fast, walling sections that can hollow out—often described as barrel-like—depending on swell angle and tide. The break is performance-oriented and can become heavy and dangerous close to the rocks when swell builds. Wind strongly affects quality here. Southwest winds are described as offshore and typically provide the cleanest conditions, while the spot’s timing and consistency are also tied to seasonal ocean patterns. Spot-level wind notes list a typical usable window in the cooler months (roughly October through March) and indicate moderate gustiness, with offshore setups improving groomed wave behavior. Safety is a major consideration: rocks, submerged reef elements, and close harbor-wall proximity create hazards, and currents can be more active around the point and harbor wall. Low tide can make rocky entry/exit more hazardous, so the recommended approach is to be cautious around the access points and to monitor current strength before committing. In terms of access and comfort, the spot is described as moderately accessible via the coastal road near Wushi Harbor, with nearby parking options. Facilities and support are practical in the surrounding area, including food options near the harbor and gear rental/repair availability nearby, but the specific segment is noted as having no lifeguards at the spot.
- Exposed rocky point break with hollow/barrel-like potential
- Offshore southwest winds improve wave cleanliness
- Rarely crowded compared to nearby main break areas
- Exposed point break with potentially hollow/barrel-like sections
- Offshore southwest winds tend to clean up conditions
- Rarely crowded for this type of point segment
- Rocky hazards and harbor-wall proximity increase risk during entry/exit
- Strong currents can occur near the harbor wall and point
- Overall conditions can be weather-dependent and can get heavy on larger swell
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- NE, E
- Offshore directions
- SW
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Provider notes list wind type as frontal (spot-level).
- Reliability
- medium
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Spot-level notes indicate moderate gustiness.
- Best Months
- October, November, December, January, February, March
- Shadow Zones
- Protected slightly by the harbor wall in some conditions.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves
- Beach
- Rocks — Rocky/rock bottom approach
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Spot-level notes describe medium wave size.
- Launch
- Medium — Rocky entry near the point or harbor wall
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Rocky entry near the point or harbor wall
Through the year
Rarely crowded compared to the nearby main beach break; local peaks possible during good swells.
Typhoon/major storm season typically peaks between July and September (regional context also notes June–October risk; spot-level notes typhoon season June–October).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Exposed point break at the harbor entrance with a rocky bottom. Waves can form hollow/barrel-like sections depending on swell angle and tide; rocky hazards require careful entry/exit.
- Wave Direction
- Left
- Optimal Swell
- NE, E, SE
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid — Spot-level notes specify a mid tide preference.
- Shelter
- Exposed — Exposed break; spot-level also notes semi-sheltered behavior near the harbor wall depending on conditions.
- Wind Effect
- Southwest winds are offshore and provide the cleanest conditions; winds described as offshore-from-southwest for better surfability.
- Bigger Swell
- Holds size well but can become heavy and dangerous near the rocks.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Spot-level notes describe good wave quality.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Spot-level rating as moderate wave power.
- Wave Shape
- Hollow — Performance wave with hollow sections.
- Peel Speed
- Fast — Spot-level notes describe fast walling/peeling.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Fast, walling rides can hollow depending on swell angle and tide.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Provides a fast, walling ride that can hollow out into barrels depending on the swell angle and tide.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Barrels in the full forecast view.
Barrels wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–17 ktsGusts 37 kts
- Direction
- N359°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 2417 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.9–3.7 m8s period
- Temperature
- 21–28 °C
Over the next 7 days, Barrels is forecast for daytime winds of 1–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 37 kts. The prevailing direction is N. Waves run 0.9–3.7 m with a period of about 8s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks
- Submerged reef
- Harbor wall proximity
- Strong currents
- Rocks (general hazard noted repeatedly for this break)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards at the spot (spot-level).
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional context indicates limited rescue coverage via nearby harbors/monitoring; spot-level notes list no rescue availability at this segment.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number 119 for medical services (Taiwan); 110 for police.
- Localism / Vibe
- None — Localism described as none/rarely crowded (spot-level), with additional notes indicating only mild localism.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; priority is typically given to those deeper on the point.
- Best surfed when the wind is from the southwest (offshore).
- Be cautious of the rocky entry and exit during low tide.
- The wave is more consistent during the winter monsoon months.
- Check conditions carefully near the harbor wall where currents can be stronger.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Yilan City
- Nearest Town
- Toucheng
- Nearest Airport
- Taipei Taoyuan International (TPE) and Songshan Airport (TSA)
- Parking
- Parking is available at nearby Wushi Harbor or Lanyang Museum parking lots.
- Public Transport
- Accessible via Taiwan Railways (TRA) with stations at Jiaoxi and Toucheng, plus frequent buses from Taipei.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous surf hostels and hotels in the Wai'ao and Toucheng areas.
- Food & Drink
- Local seafood restaurants and cafes near Wushi Harbor.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available at many surf shops in nearby Wai'ao Beach area (regional context also notes board/SUP rentals along the coastal road).
- Gear Storage
- Several local surf clubs and schools provide seasonal or daily gear storage lockers.
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard and wetsuit repair services available through local surf shops (Toucheng area).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
This Yilan coast area blends surfing conditions with hot-spring recovery and regional sightseeing. Water visibility can vary after heavy rainfall or typhoons, so trip planning typically follows forecast reliability.
Boat trips featuring dolphin watching and hiking on the volcanic Turtle Island.
Architecturally notable museum focusing on the history and ecology of Yilan County.
A public park with free foot soaks and traditional Japanese-style hot spring facilities.
A scenic hot-spring park with streams and fish spa experiences popular with families.
A busy market and restaurant area known for fresh daily catches.
A scenic park with hot spring streams and fish spas popular with families.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Barrels?
The best overall months at Barrels are October, November, March, April. The best wind months are October, November, December, January, February, March.
Which wind directions work at Barrels?
Barrels works with NE, E winds. Offshore directions are SW.
What skill level is Barrels suitable for?
Barrels suits these riding levels: Surfing: Intermediate to Advanced.