Hoko River (Kydaka)

Hoko River (Kydaka) is a remote river-mouth surf break near Clallam Bay on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s described as reasonably exposed but with unreliable wave quality overall—meaning you typically need the right swell and wind combination to get clean, surfable faces. For surfing, the spot is best when a West-to-northwest swell wraps into the strait, and southeast winds are favored because they tend to run offshore. In practice, clean surfable waves are reported most often in December, while other parts of winter can be more blown out. The break setup can shift with sandbar configuration and river flow. Expect medium rides on good days, with normal sessions reported around 50 to 150 meters and better days extending to roughly 150 to 300 meters. Wave shape is commonly described as peeling, but can turn messy and more hazardous during extreme storms. Safety is a major theme here: rocks are present around the river-mouth area, and strong river currents can occur—especially after heavy rainfall or around outgoing tides. Cold, wintry water temperatures are also emphasized, so a full winter wetsuit setup (including hood, gloves, and boots) is strongly recommended for comfort and warmth, and rescue support on-site is not reported.