Surf spot

Usal Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Usal Beach in USA, California, Mendocino. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Mendocino
Coordinates: 39.8307, -123.8501

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	1.3	1	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.2	0.6	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.9	1	1	0.8	1	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.6	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.6	1.8	1.6	1.5	1.5	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.2	1.1	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7
Wave direction	WNW	SW	SW	WNW	WNW	NW	NW	WNW	SW	SW	WNW	SW	WNW	SW	SW	SW	WNW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW
Wave period (s)	5.7	9.4	9.1	5.4	6.1	6	5.3	5	13.3	12.3	8.4	10.6	6.7	8.7	8.7	8.8	6.8	6.5	6.2	6.3	6.7	8.3	6.1	6	6	5.9	5.8	5.8	6.5	6.8	6.1	5.8	5.8	5.8	6	6	6	5.8	5.8	5.9	6	6.1	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.1	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Wave energy (kJ)	105	177	170	73	100	111	102	67	145	176	101	137	59	101	102	95	55	57	65	76	96	94	71	145	135	114	137	132	132	161	181	193	168	171	177	183	171	171	212	187	164	172	195	174	145	118	97	80	68	63	57	51	46	41	37	33
Wind speed (km/h)	4.6	5.9	5.6	9.1	9	5.4	5	4.7	2.3	4.5	2.9	11.2	16.4	15.2	9.2	9.9	11.3	10.7	9	11.8	17.7	15.5	14	12.3	12	10.2	8.2	9.4	13.8	10.7	8.9	9.9	7.6	5.7	3.7	8.8	8.8	5.7	4	5.7	6.2	3.6	2.9	8.8	8.5	5.5	5.4	4.3	1.9	2.8	3.2	10.4	9.4	6	2.6	3.6
Wind direction	NEGlassy	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	WCross-on	WCross-on	SWOnshore	ESECross	EGlassy	ENEGlassy	ENEGlassy	ENEGlassy	WCross-on	WNWCross	WNWCross	NNWCross-off	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NWCross	WNWCross	NWCross	NOffshore	NNEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	WNWCross	WCross-on	WNWCross	NNEOffshore	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	ENECross-off	EGlassy	WCross-on	WCross-on	WSWCross-on	EGlassy	NEOffshore	NEOffshore	EGlassy	EGlassy	WCross-on	WSWCross-on	WSWOnshore	SECross-on	SEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SEGlassy	SSEGlassy	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	WSWCross-on	NEGlassy	NEGlassy

Usal Beach, Mendocino County, California is a remote, rugged stretch of coastline on the far northern California coast. It’s known more for its wild setting than for dependable, user-friendly surf.

Surf character

Break type: Mostly a beach break, with shifting sandbars.
Wave quality: Can produce powerful, hollow waves when conditions line up, but it’s highly inconsistent.
Best conditions: Typically works best with a solid swell and favorable sand placement; some protection from the right wind direction helps a lot.
Skill level: Better suited to experienced surfers due to the remoteness, cold water, and often heavy conditions.

Setting

Scenery: Extremely scenic and undeveloped, with cliffs, forested hills, and a raw, isolated feel.
Crowds: Usually very light because access is difficult and the area is remote.
Access: Reaching Usal Beach can be challenging; roads may be rough, and conditions can vary depending on weather and season.

Conditions to expect

Water temperature: Cold year-round; a full wetsuit is generally necessary.
Hazards: Strong currents, unpredictable surf, rocky stretches, and limited services nearby.
Reliability: Not a go-to spot for everyday surfing, but worth checking when the swell is large and the sandbars are favorable.

Overall

Usal Beach is a wild, isolated, uncrowded surf destination that can deliver memorable waves under the right conditions, but it’s more of an adventure spot than a consistent surf break.