Pistol River has no other spot on this map within 40 km of it. straight-line distance
When it fills in
Usually up by about 9 am and holding until nightfall, with the afternoon noticeably stronger than the morning.
The wind
locals call it South Oregon Coast summer thermal trough
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
thermal
fills in: Usually up by about 9 am and holding until nightfall, with the afternoon noticeably stronger than the morning.
Typical strength
25+ kt is a normal good day and it can go well past that. Mornings are lighter; the afternoon is when it turns nuclear.
The quiver, in words
No local kite quiver is published. Windsurfers here rig about 5.2 m in the morning and 3.7-4.7 m in the afternoon, which for a 75-85 kg kiter points at roughly 8-9 m early, 6-7 m once the north wind is properly on and a 5 m on the hardest days. Indicative, not measured.
Direction to shore
Northerly wind is the normal riding direction. Confirm it is side-shore or side-on rather than side-offshore before you rig.
Dominant direction
N, NNW and NW, with NW usually the cleanest of the three. The flow accelerates around Cape Sebastian before it reaches the beach.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan63
- Feb44
- Mar56
- Apr, riders' month47
- May, riders' month79
- Jun, riders' month75
- Jul, riders' month74
- Aug, riders' month65
- Sep, riders' month58
- Oct37
- Nov27
- Dec37
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 63%Jan11°
- 44%Feb11°
- 56%Mar10°
- 47%Apr11°
- 79%May11°
- 75%Jun11°
- 74%Jul13°
- 65%Aug14°
- 58%Sep13°
- 37%Oct12°
- 27%Nov12°
- 37%Dec11°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63% | 77% | 73% | 15.8 kt | S | 13:00 | 10.1°C | 11.1°C | 62 |
| Feb | 44% | 68% | 65% | 14.8 kt | N | 15:00 | 9.1°C | 10.6°C | 57 |
| Mar | 56% | 77% | 74% | 16 kt | N | 14:00 | 8.7°C | 10.3°C | 62 |
| Apr | 47% | 67% | 62% | 14.4 kt | N | 15:00 | 9.8°C | 10.6°C | 60 |
| May | 79% | 92% | 89% | 18.7 kt | N | 15:00 | 12.6°C | 11.3°C | 62 |
| Jun | 75% | 83% | 80% | 18.7 kt | N | 16:00 | 14.9°C | 11.2°C | 60 |
| Jul | 74% | 82% | 79% | 18.5 kt | N | 16:00 | 17.6°C | 12.5°C | 62 |
| Aug | 65% | 73% | 73% | 15.4 kt | N | 16:00 | 17.8°C | 13.5°C | 62 |
| Sep | 58% | 70% | 65% | 15.5 kt | N | 16:00 | 16.9°C | 13.1°C | 60 |
| Oct | 37% | 60% | 52% | 12.4 kt | N | 14:00 | 15.1°C | 12.2°C | 62 |
| Nov | 27% | 53% | 47% | 12.6 kt | N | 15:00 | 10.7°C | 11.8°C | 60 |
| Dec | 37% | 53% | 47% | 12.7 kt | S | 13:00 | 10.4°C | 11.2°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
ocean
Standing depth
No standing-depth area is on record on the ocean beach. A tide- and river-flow-dependent flatwater lagoon can form at the river mouth, but it can be shallow and it changes with conditions.
Tides
Pacific tidal beach; the nearby Port Orford station shows a diurnal range of about 7.28 ft. Depth and current at the river mouth follow the tide and the river flow.
Temperature
14°C summer · 10°C winter
Wetsuit
Pacific water runs about 50 F. A full 5 mm wetsuit or a drysuit is typical even in summer, with a 4/3 and boots the minimum near the summer peak and more neoprene on cold days with the wind up.
Currents
Open Pacific surf currents plus rips and undertow; the river-mouth lagoon can also have strong tide-dependent current.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
2 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: large
Somewhere else
No neighbour on record
No other spot in the atlas sits within reach of this one.
Rescue
Launch
The main launch is the ocean-side lot north of the river, off Highway 101; on the sand the marker is a large rock near Meyers Creek shaped like a loaf of bread. Three parking and launch options exist: the north lot, the bridge/lagoon option, and a southern lot with a dune walk.Moderately sloping sand with a lot of room, and big rocks upwind on the beach.
Space
large
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Check the South Coast forecasts and the nearest meters before driving out; there is no wind meter at Pistol River itself.
- Avoid the far northern sea-stack zone when the wind is swirly. Cleaner air is reportedly farther south.
- Launch downwind of the windsurfers at the north lot. They have been riding this beach longer than the kiters.
- Sort the shuttle between the three parking lots before you commit to a downwinder.
- Do not count on the river-mouth lagoon: check depth, tide, flow and current on site first.
- Wear a 5 mm or a drysuit, carry flotation, and assume any self-rescue is a cold swim in Pacific surf.
- Find the loaf-shaped rock near Meyers Creek: that is the launch marker off the north lot.
- Ride the afternoon if you want it big and the morning if you want it manageable; the wind is normally in by about 9 am.
- The June windsurfing contest fills the Gold Beach motels, so book ahead if you are travelling then.
Getting there
Airport
Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (North Bend/Coos Bay) and Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport are practical regional gateways; Portland International Airport is the larger but much farther hub.
Route
Drive U.S. Highway 101 to Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint, about 10 miles south of Gold Beach or 18 miles north of Brookings. A car is required for gear and downwinder/shuttle logistics.
Cost level
medium
Staying
Motels, vacation rentals and campgrounds in Gold Beach and Brookings, plus the Gold Beach Inn, Tu Tu' Tun Lodge and campgrounds near Gold Beach, Samuel H. Boardman and Harris Beach.
No-wind days
Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, Rogue River jet boats, hiking, birding at Pistol River, Brookings/Gold Beach sightseeing, paddling, fishing and South Coast road-trip stops.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite Pistol River?
April through September, driven by the persistent South Oregon Coast summer thermal trough.
Is it suitable for beginners?
No, it is an advanced-only spot; strong wind, large waves and cold, powerful water make it unsuitable for beginners or intermediates.
What is the wind like?
Northerly wind is normal, often sustained above 25 knots, and dies down around sunset; riders should confirm it is side-shore rather than side-offshore.
What hazards should riders know about?
Large surf and shore pound, rip currents and undertow, cold water year-round, driftwood, and a tide-dependent lagoon at the river mouth.
Last updated: August 2026