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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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 this spot

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
Great for
Surfing shortboard
What's great
  • 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
Heads up
  • 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
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Practical spot guide

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

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Best seasonOff-season
19–30 °C
Water Temperature
15–33 °C
Air Temperature
Wetsuit Guide
Nov–Mar: 3/2mmApr–Oct: 1mm top or rashguard
Crowds by Season

Rarely crowded compared to the nearby main beach break; local peaks possible during good swells.

Storm/Rain Season

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.

SurfingBest for this spotSkill Level

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.

Point break
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.
Forecast

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.

Nearby

Other spots in the area

Safety

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)
Ability Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Recommended Safety Gear
LeashWetsuitBoots

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.

Local Tips
  • 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
Amenities

What's on the beach

Parking
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).
Learn, rent & more

Schools & services

No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.

The area

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.

Best time to visit: October–November or March–April for a mix of more comfortable conditions and active water-sports weather.
Guishan Island Tours6km

Boat trips featuring dolphin watching and hiking on the volcanic Turtle Island.

Lanyang Museum5km

Architecturally notable museum focusing on the history and ecology of Yilan County.

Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park4km

A public park with free foot soaks and traditional Japanese-style hot spring facilities.

Tangweigou Hot Spring Park4km

A scenic hot-spring park with streams and fish spa experiences popular with families.

Wushi Harbor Seafood Market5km

A busy market and restaurant area known for fresh daily catches.

Tangweigou Hot Spring Park4km

A scenic park with hot spring streams and fish spas popular with families.

Reviews

From riders who've been here

Community observations

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.