Rocky Point
Rocky Point is the North Shore's premier high-performance wave—shifty peaks over reef that offer both rippable faces and solid barrel sections. Strong currents keep the lineup constantly reshuffling, making it one of the more democratic waves on the Seven Mile Miracle.
Rocky Point surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NW (315°)
- Direction range
- 300° - 330°
- Size range
- 1.2m - 3m
- Ideal size
- 2m - 2.6m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- ESE (120°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 180°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Water temp
25°C
Wetsuit
Boardshorts / Rashguard
Bottom
Reef
Max wave face
4m+
Board
Shortboard
Consistency
7/10
Difficulty
7/10
Crowd level
8/10
Access: Beach access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Rocky Point?
Rocky Point is a reef break in North Shore, Oahu, USA, with peaks that run both left and right over a reef bottom. On its biggest days it can hold faces of around 4m. It's one of the more consistent spots around (7/10). A shortboard is the usual call.
What swell works best at Rocky Point?
Rocky Point picks up swell from the WNW round to the NNW, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NW. That's a tight window, so it needs the swell direction to line up. It starts working at around 1.2m and handles up to about 3m, with the sweet spot around 2 to 2.6m. Period matters too: aim for 14s or longer, as anything under 10s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Rocky Point?
An ESE wind is dead offshore at Rocky Point, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Rocky Point?
Rocky Point isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
When is the best time of year to surf Rocky Point?
The most reliable run of swell at Rocky Point comes Nov to Feb. There's a second window in Mar and Oct too. Nov-Feb peak. Shifty peaks, strong currents keep lineup mixed.
How cold is the water at Rocky Point?
The water at Rocky Point averages around 25°C, so boardshorts or a rashguard will do. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Rocky Point good for beginners?
Not really. It's rated 7/10 for difficulty and suits experienced surfers. It gets busy (crowd 8/10), so mind the pecking order. Shifty peaks with strong currents. Photographer magnet. Rippable faces plus solid barrels.
How do I get to Rocky Point?
The nearest airport on our list is HNL, then it's roughly a 55-minute drive. Beach access.
What other surf spots are near Rocky Point?
The closest breaks we track are Gas Chambers (0.2 km), Pupukea (0.2 km) and Off The Wall (0.3 km), handy when Rocky Point isn't working. We track 23 spots around North Shore, Oahu in total.
Best Season
Peak: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb
Secondary: Oct, Mar
Nov-Feb peak. Shifty peaks, strong currents keep lineup mixed.
Getting There
Nearby Spots
Gas Chambers
💀 Detonating barrels • Extremely shallow • Helmet recommended
Pupukea
🌊 Classic Hawaiian reef • Fun to demanding • Barrel potential
Off The Wall
💪 Pipeline's neighbor • Powerful rights • Regular footer's dream
Pipeline
🏆 The proving ground • Among the heaviest barrels on Earth • Experts only
Backdoor
🔥 Pipeline's evil twin • Right-hand deathpit • NNW swell specialist
Rockpile
🪨 Gap in the Road • 150-yard lefts • Uncrowded alternative
Plan a trip around Rocky Point
Compare this break with other destinations in these surf guides.