Pine Point Beach (Scarborough)
- Freeride, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Flat, Shallow
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) is a sandy, tidal beach where conditions are shaped heavily by the tide—depth nearshore can change significantly due to sandbars. Water quality is generally described as clean, with small, soft surf that tends to be mushy/peeling rather than hollow, which can suit longboarders and beginners looking for mellow wave shapes. For kitesurfing, the spot is strongly associated with southerly flow, with SSW described as the money direction. The beach is described as massive at low tide, helping with setup and learning/self-launching. However, summer can be very crowded on weekends, and that crowding can make safe kite launching and landing difficult—planning sessions around less busy windows is important. Safety is a key factor here. There are strong tidal currents near the Scarborough River inlet/river mouth and rip-current risk is specifically mentioned. Avoiding the river mouth area unless you’re confident in handling strong currents is a consistent recommendation. The shore also includes navigation hazards such as sandbars/jetty features and boat/fishing activity, so situational awareness matters. Finally, there are seasonal wildlife restrictions. During Piping Plover nesting season (May through August), you must stay 650 feet away from nests and kite flying within 650 feet of marked nesting enclosures is prohibited. Combined with cold-water conditions (wetsuits required year-round), the best days for most riders tend to be shoulder seasons and managed warm-weather windows when wind and access are favorable.
- Massive sandy shoreline—especially at low tide—useful for learning and self-launching
- SSW/southerly winds support kitesurfing
- Soft, mushy/peeling surf suitable for beginners and longboarders
- Seasonal Piping Plover nesting zones restrict kite flying (May–August)
- Strong current risk near Scarborough River inlet/jetty area
- Beginner-friendly sandy beach with flat-to-soft waves and ample space at low tide
- SSW southerlies are a strong match for kitesurfing sessions
- Water quality generally described as clean
- Cold, year-round water—wetsuits needed for all but the warmest months
- Strong currents and rip-current risk near the Scarborough River inlet/river mouth
- Sandbars and tidal depth changes can affect launch and navigation
- Summer crowding can make kite launching/landing difficult on hot weekends
- Piping Plover nesting restrictions (May–August) limit kite access near enclosures
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- SSW, S, SW, SE, E, NE
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Wind can be influenced by frontal systems; spot-level sources also describe a thermal/sea-breeze component in summer.
- Reliability
- 4.7%
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gustiness is described as moderate; other sources also characterize gusts as steady.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, August, September, October, November
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–15 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Shallow
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy shoreline; sandbars and nearshore shallows are common.
- Beach Size
- Tidal
- Waves
- Small — Small surf; soft and mushy/peeling.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Chop is expected with onshore E/S winds for surfing and in choppier wind directions.
- Launch
- Big — Large expansive sandy launch area, especially at low tide.
Through the year
High during summer (June–early September), especially weekends; quieter in spring/fall.
Late autumn and winter (Nor’easters).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Premier Maine kite spot on a massive sandy beach at low tide. SSW winds are described as the money direction; conditions are often cross-onshore for SSW. Best for beginners and early intermediates when launched/landed on lower crowd windows and outside restricted bird-nesting zones.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–15 m²
Suitable for freeride and foil setups, though kitesurfing is more prevalent at this launch.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Good for learning due to sandy bottom, but riders must be mindful of tide heights to avoid sandbars. Foil-friendly once you’re past the nearshore sandbars at lower tides.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Foil friendly is explicitly stated.
- Min Depth
- Requires walking out past the sandbars at lower tides.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed sandy beach break with reasonably consistent, beginner-friendly surf. Waves are softer/mushier at higher tide and generally peel rather than becoming hollow.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- SE, NE, E
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.8 m
- Optimal Tide
- Low — Best 2 hours before to 2 hours after low tide; also described as low tide optimal.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — More sheltered than fully open coast breaks in some conditions, but still described as exposed beach break overall.
- Wind Effect
- Best with offshore NW/W winds for cleaner faces; onshore easterlies (E/S) tend to create choppy, blown-out conditions.
- Bigger Swell
- Generally holds up to head-high but can close out on very large swells; on massive days it may stay cleaner than nearby alternatives.
- Wave Quality
- Average — Wave quality described as average.
- Wave Power
- Soft — Soft/low energy waves are emphasized.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy — Described as mushing at higher tide; also characterized as peeling rather than hollow.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Also described as generally slow/soft and peeling.
- Ride Length
- Ride length described as medium; another source gives ~50–100 m.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Typical ride length described as medium; one source estimates 50–100 m. Cleaner than a nearby larger/day-heavy option on very large days; favored by longboarders.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) in the full forecast view.
Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–10 ktsGusts 22 kts
- Direction
- W264°
- Strongest day
- Fri, Oct 3010 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.4–0.9 m6s period
- Temperature
- 0–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) is forecast for daytime winds of 1–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Friday, October 30 with gusts to 22 kts. The prevailing direction is W. Waves run 0.4–0.9 m with a period of about 6s. 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
- Swimmers
- Strong currents near Scarborough River inlet/river mouth
- Rip currents
- Boat traffic
- Jetty rocks
- Sand bars
- Fishing activity
- Ships/jetskis
- Fishernets
- Rocks
- Pollution
- Cold water (winter/shoulder seasons)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Lifeguards described as seasonal at main beaches; none noted for this specific spot in one source.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability described as limited; primary emergency contact is Scarborough Fire & Rescue and year-round EMS/fire support exists for the region.
- Emergency Info
- Scarborough Fire & Rescue is the primary emergency contact. Scarborough Beach Manager: Todd Souza, 418 Payne Road, Scarborough, 207-730-4151, [email protected]
Rules of the spot
Piping Plover Protection Ordinance applies; stay 650 feet from nests, and do not kite-fly within 650 feet of marked nesting enclosures (May–August).
- No kite flying within 650 feet of marked Piping Plover nesting enclosures (May–August).
- Piping Plover nesting areas may be cordoned off.
- Seasonal parking fees and swimmer/seasonal beach-zone restrictions may apply.
- Strong current where the Scarborough River narrows entering Saco Bay—avoid the river mouth area unless you are confident in strong currents.
- Be mindful of rip currents, sand bars, rocks, and pollution for surfers.
- Summer weekends can be crowded, making it hard to safely launch/land a kite—avoid hot weekends for kiting when practical.
- Huge/expansive beach at low tide can make launching and self-navigation safer for beginners, but still watch for tidal depth over sandbars.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Scarborough
- Nearest Town
- Scarborough
- Nearest Airport
- Portland International Jetport (PWM)
- Parking
- Parking is $10 during peak summer times; usually free after 5:30 PM. Free, rarely full parking also described at the boat launch area about 0.25 miles NE at the end of King St.
- Public Transport
- Limited; regional bus service connects Old Orchard Beach to Portland with additional seasonal options.
- Access
- I-95 exit #42 (follow signs toward Pine Point/Scarborough Beach); follow the described road directions to the parking area and beach access.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- English
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various seasonal rentals and motels in the Pine Point and Old Orchard Beach area.
- Food & Drink
- Clam Bake restaurant and other seasonal seafood shacks are nearby; a restaurant is mentioned as an amenity in one source.
- Equipment Rental:
- Surf equipment rental is described as available via local surf shops; kite/wing gear rentals are described as limited.
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 Pine Point Beach (Scarborough)?
The best overall months at Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) are September, October, April, May, June, August. The best wind months are April, May, June, August, September, October, November.
Which wind directions work at Pine Point Beach (Scarborough)?
Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) works with SSW, S, SW, SE, E, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Pine Point Beach (Scarborough)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Pine Point Beach (Scarborough): Kitesurfing: 9–15 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) suitable for?
Pine Point Beach (Scarborough) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.