Yakutat
Yakutat represents the northern frontier of North American surfing—a remote Alaskan community where Gulf of Alaska storms produce powerful waves that break with glaciers visible in the distance. The setting is primal: rainforest meets ocean, bears wander the beach, and the water temperature hovers just above freezing year-round. The small but dedicated local community has carved out a surf scene in this unlikely location, proving that dedicated surfers will find waves anywhere. For those seeking the ultimate adventure surf experience, Yakutat delivers waves and wilderness in equal measure.
Today's Conditions
Find FlightsLocation & Conditions
Hourly Forecast, Tide & Strike Windows
Tide times today
Strike Score Breakdown
Plan Your Strike
Return flights to YAK, departing today with a 5-day trip window.
Search Flights on SkyscannerLocation & Conditions
Know when North America is about to fire
Get the best strike windows in North America — and worldwide — in your inbox every Monday & Thursday. Live Strike Scores, the swell behind them, zero fluff.
Get the full Yakutat trip window
Pro unlocks the 10-day forecast window, unlimited alerts, and custom spot tracking that help turn a good-looking surf report into a better travel decision.
10-day window
See the trip window before flights get expensive.
Unlimited alerts
Let the app watch your score threshold for you.
Custom spots
Track the breaks that actually matter to your travel plans.
Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- S (180°)
- Direction range
- 150° - 220°
- Size range
- 1m - 4m
- Ideal size
- 3.1m
- Height multiplier
- 0.97×
- Ideal period
- 14s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- N (0°)
- Offshore range
- 315° - 45°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
- Optimal range
- 0.5m - 2.5m
Water temp
7°C
Wetsuit
6/5mm + boots, gloves, hood
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
1/10
👥 Summer Break (Jun 15 – Aug 25) — expect extra crowds
Access: Fly into Yakutat. Short drive to beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Yakutat?
Yakutat works best on a mid tide, ideally between 0.5m and 2.5m on the local tide chart. The tide chart above shows today’s strike window.
What wind direction is offshore at Yakutat?
Offshore wind at Yakutat blows from the N (0°). Anything in the 315° to 45° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Yakutat?
Yakutat wants S swell (150° to 220°) between 1m and 4m, with a period of 14s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Yakutat?
The main season at Yakutat is Sep-Nov. A secondary window runs Aug, Dec. Fall is best. Winter too stormy. Gulf of Alaska swells.
How do I get to Yakutat?
Fly into YAK, then allow about 5 minutes by road. Fly into Yakutat. Short drive to beach.
What kind of wave is Yakutat?
Yakutat is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 6/10.
Best Season
Peak: Sep-Nov
Secondary: Aug, Dec
Fall is best. Winter too stormy. Gulf of Alaska swells.