Barview Beach
- Freeride, Shortboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Small waves, Medium waves, Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Barview Beach (north-side Barview Jetty) is an advanced, ocean-based launch area on the Oregon coast known for cold but generally clean water and strong jetty-influenced conditions. For wind sports, the working season is May through September, when northwest winds (N, NW, NNW) are reported as reliable. Typical wind is described as roughly 15–25 knots, with conditions generally steady. The jetty can also create minor turbulence or a wind shadow in the immediate lee if the wind shifts slightly more westerly. Safety is a key factor at this spot. Hazards include the mole/jetty area and jetty rocks, alongside strong tidal currents and rip currents, especially near the jetty and the mouth of Tillamook Bay. The outgoing tide can pull hard toward the ocean or into the bay mouth, so avoiding tight lines close to the jetty during peak tidal flow is advised, and tides should be checked because the beach area changes significantly with tide. Surf quality can be good, with a beach-break setup and peeling right-hand waves influenced by sandbars shaped by the jetty. The spot is described as semi-sheltered, but large winter swell can make conditions very heavy and dangerous. Overall, the spot is best approached by experienced riders who are comfortable managing ocean currents and navigating near jetty hazards.
- Jetty-enhanced wind and wave conditions
- Reliable northwest wind season from May through September
- Cold water year-round, typically lowest in winter
- Significant tides create strong currents near Tillamook Bay entrance
- Reliable summer northwest wind window (May through September).
- Clean water and a jetty-enhanced setup for wind and wave sports.
- Camping and facilities are available at the adjacent county park for multi-day trips.
- Cold water (around 9–14°C depending on month).
- Strong tidal currents and rip currents can be common near the jetty and Tillamook Bay mouth.
- Jetty rocks and the mole/jetty hazard require careful navigation and control.
- Surf/wave conditions can become very heavy and dangerous on large winter swells.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NW, NNW
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Sea breeze — Wind pattern described as a summer northwest gradient reinforced by coastal temperature gradients.
- Reliability
- Reliable for northwest winds during the summer season.
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Reported as steady.
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Small waves, Medium waves, Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — Wide sandy beach; beach expanse varies with tide.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Medium — Water conditions described as small-to-medium waves / medium waves.
- Launch
- Medium — Wide sandy beach north of the Tillamook Bay North Jetty; launch access is on the north side of the Barview Jetty and the beach expanse changes with tide.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch described as moderate difficulty.
Through the year
Can be busy with campers and beachgoers during summer weekends.
Winter months (November to March) are characterized by heavy rain and frequent storms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
A popular ocean spot for experienced riders. Plenty of room for launching, but the jetty and strong currents require good board control and upwind ability.
- Kite Sizes
- 7–12 m²
Suitable for wave sailing when northwest winds combine with summer swells.
- Sail Sizes
- 4.2–5.5 m²
Possible, though waves and shore break can make launching challenging; best for riders comfortable in ocean conditions.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil friendly reported.
- Min Depth
- 2 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 3–5 m²
Well-known jetty break that can be sensitive to swell direction and tide.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- W, NW
- Swell Height
- 1–2.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- Mid
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Some protection from the jetty compared with open coast exposure.
- Wind Effect
- Northwest winds are side-onshore for surfing, but the jetty provides some protection.
- Bigger Swell
- Can become very heavy and dangerous with large winter swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Waves can break along sandbars sculpted by the jetty.
- Wave Power
- Powerful
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium
- Ride Length Details
- Waves break along the sandbars sculpted by the jetty.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Barview Beach in the full forecast view.
Barview Beach wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–12 ktsGusts 27 kts
- Direction
- S188°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2512 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.0–2.6 m9s period
- Temperature
- 5–13 °C
Over the next 7 days, Barview Beach is forecast for daytime winds of 1–12 kts, peaking around 12 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 27 kts. The prevailing direction is S. Waves run 1.0–2.6 m with a period of about 9s. 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
- mole
- jetty rocks
- strong tidal currents
- rip currents
- cold water
- large swells
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported for the spot.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue is described as limited for the wider Barview Coast area; no specific spot-level rescue service was found.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest hospital: Tillamook Regional Medical Center in Tillamook. Dial 911 for emergencies.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism reported.
Rules of the spot
Follow standard right-of-way rules; be mindful of beachgoers and fishermen on the jetty.
- Launch is on the north side of the Barview Jetty.
- Avoid kiting too close to the jetty during peak tidal flow; the outgoing tide can create very strong currents pulling toward the ocean or into the bay mouth.
- Check tide charts because the beach size changes significantly with the tide.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tillamook
- Nearest Town
- Rockaway Beach
- Parking
- Parking is available at the Barview Jetty County Park, which may require a daily or seasonal fee.
- Access
- Turn off Highway 101 shortly after Garibaldi toward Barview Jetty Campground; drive slowly through the campground and take the first left towards the jetty. Launch is on the north side of the Barview Jetty.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Camping is available on-site at Barview Jetty County Park; additional vacation rentals are in nearby Rockaway Beach.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and cafes are located in Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi.
- Equipment Rental:
- No shops directly at the beach; rentals may be found in Tillamook or nearby coastal towns.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Barview Beach?
The best overall months at Barview Beach are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Barview Beach?
Barview Beach works with N, NW, NNW winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Barview Beach?
Recommended equipment sizes at Barview Beach: Kitesurfing: 7–12 m² · Windsurfing: 4.2–5.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 3–5 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Barview Beach suitable for?
Barview Beach suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Windsurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Advanced · Surfing: Advanced.