Point Arena

Point Arena's two main breaks offer distinctly different experiences. The left is a slabby reef producing steep, hollow takeoffs with a thick lip that peel off into a deep channel, rideable from chest-high up to 20 feet and considered one of Northern California's premier waves. The right is faster and more powerful, with a steep ledgy face that runs into either deeper water or a sharp rock shelf. Both work best on northwest swell with northeast offshore wind and perform optimally when the tide is rising near mid tide. Winter months, particularly September through December, provide the most consistent conditions.

The spot remained undiscovered until the winter of 1969-70, when a group of central California explorers including Paul Acklin, Mark Ricci, and Rick Carroll first paddled out at Arena Cove. The early local lineup through the 1970s—including Joe Hancock, Ron Vetterli from the Coast Guard station, and shaper Randy Vetterli—reportedly watched the rights for nearly a year before actually attempting them, eventually fabricating their own leashes out of necessity. The break has maintained a fiercely protective local crew ever since.

Arena Cove sits at the south end of Point Arena township, accessed by turning west on Iverson Avenue off Highway 1. A public fishing pier marks the center of the cove, with a large parking area, restrooms, showers, and nearby food vendors. The shoreline is predominantly rocky with minimal sandy beach, particularly at higher tides when access below the bluffs becomes unsafe.