Alaska’s natural beauty is often characterized by its snow-peaked mountains, glaciers, and pristine wilderness. While surfing in Alaska might not be the first activity that comes to mind in this subarctic paradise, the dramatic landscapes and untouched coastline have created a surprisingly diverse range of surf breaks. The juxtaposition of a snowy shoreline and crashing waves creates a surreal and almost otherworldly experience for surfers.
This article will help all of you thrill-seekers find the best waves in Alaska. Alaska isn’t traditionally considered a surfing destination, but thanks to a few pioneering surfers and guides, the 49th state is becoming a new destination for die-hard surfers.
Surfing in Alaska Quick Facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Only Surf Shop in Alaska | Icy Waves, Yakutat |
| Board Rental | $35/day or $175/week |
| Best Surf Spots | Yakutat, Homer, Kodiak |
| Winter Surfing | Yes — near Juneau, waves pick up in cold months |
| Getting to the Waves | Multi-day trips — often requires chartered boats, planes, or helicopters |
| Surf Charters | Alaska Coastal Explorer Fishing Charters, Seward (Capt. Jason Mulloy) |
| Biggest Draw | Chance to surf breaks that have never been surfed before |
| Biggest Catch | Cost and logistics — getting there is harder than the surfing itself |
Discovering Surfing in Alaska
Surfing in Alaska is one phrase that doesn’t even make sense when people hear it. People’s perception of Alaska is more engrained with snowy mountains, brown bears, and dog sledding. In recent years, surfing has crept into the trove of outdoor activities visitors travel north for.
While shooting a show in Alaska a few years back, a coworker and friend showed up in a wetsuit carrying a surfboard on the beach. The scene looked wrong: the chilly water, the snow-dusted mountains, the ice chunks on the shore, and a man carrying a surfboard. After the incident, I saw the pictures of this fearless endeavor; it was brave and beautifully bazaar. This was the first time I thought of those two things coexisting in one place, like pineapple on a pizza. What once sounded like a bad combination became anything but. I haven’t stopped thinking about how much I want to try surfing in Alaska, like a midnight craving for a slice of Hawaiian pie.
Why Surf in Alaska?
Beyond the expense, I can’t think of another reason not to surf in Alaska. Everything about surfing in Alaska sounds incredible. If you don’t already know how to surf, it may even be worth learning so that you can go surfing in Alaska. Finding the waves is trickier and logistically more complicated (and expensive) than your traditional surf spots. Getting to the waves often requires multiday trips, including chartered boats and planes, or in some cases, helicopters.
The number one reason people say they want to surf Alaska is the opportunity to surf places no one has ever surfed. Each expedition can chart new territories that have never been surfed before. Pioneering surf locations, It’s pretty exciting stuff. Surfing in Alaska starkly contrasts the usual crowded, hot spots we traditionally think of for a surf vacation.
Icy Waves Surf Shop in Yakutat: Alaska’s Only Surf Shop
If you’re traveling to Yakutat Bay and don’t want to bring all your gear, then you’re in luck. Yakutat is home to the only surf shop in Alaska, Icy Waves. They rent surfboards ($35/Day or $175/week), wetsuits, and bodyboards. This small surf shop catering to the local surfing community was started by a husband and wife outfitting their seven children and a few neighbors who surfed the local waves.
Where to Surf in Alaska?
Most surfing outfitters are based in Seward, but that’s just the jumping-off point, the surfing itself happens up and down Alaska’s coastline, often far from where you’ll actually book your trip. Half of the Alaska surfing experience is finding the waves. Most outfitters run on a charter boat, though hiking and camping can also be part of the deal. If you’ve got the budget, heli-surfing is out there too, similar to heli-skiing, it’s a real option, just one mostly reserved for very deep pockets.
Yakutat is the closest thing Alaska has to an actual surf town, home to the state’s only surf shop and a genuine local surfing community. Kodiak has a solid, more accessible scene as well, and the Homer Spit is another spot worth knowing. And if you want a surf experience unlike anything else in the world, the Turnagain Arm Bore Tide outside Anchorage is worth building a trip around — time it to a full or new moon and you can watch (or ride) one of the largest bore tides on the planet from the coastal highway on your way to Seward.
Beyond those, most of Alaska’s best breaks are the kind of spots you’ll only find with a guide, remote river mouths and cold-water reefs scattered along the outer coast and Aleutians, many of them genuinely unsurfed before the outfitter that takes you there found them. That’s part of the appeal, and part of why the companies below exist.
Alaska Surfing Guides, Tours, and Cruises
So, the idea of surfing in Alaska is enticing, but it can also be very intimidating, and rightfully so. The frigid waters and remote locations, often isolated from emergency services, can potentially be a hazardous combination. Lucky for you, Alaska has a few outfitters passionate about surfing in their state. Here is a list of companies offering tours and charters to help you surf Alaska!
Alaska Surf Guides
Based out of Seward, Alaska Surf Guides offers guided surfing excursions on board one of two vessels. Owned by surfer Scott Reierson, Alaska Surf Guides attempts to get surfers to the backcountry surf breaks. They offer a real adventure on the 58’ MV Milo or the 50’ MV Aleutia. They offer multi-day excursions for up a week, exploring Alaska’s outer coast for waves. Both boats have a crew and hot meals served daily to warm you up after surfing in the cold water.
ADDRESS: 334 4th Ave, Seward, AK 99664 PHONE: (907) 519 0407 WEB: www.alaskasurfguides.com
Alaska Coastal Explorer
Alaska Coastal Explorer offers fishing, sightseeing, and private charters. They also offer surfing charters for $300/person. To charter their boat for a surfing expedition, you must have a minimum of 6 guests on board. Their surfing charters are limited to a single day (6 hours). If you’re interested in a multi-day trip, you can do a private charter, they will customize the charter to your specific needs.
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 3351 Seward, Alaska 99664 PHONE: (808) 757-4090 WEB: www.alaskacoastalexplorer.com
Fjords Adventure Alaska
Fjord Adventures Alaska offers 4-6 day excursions in Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak Island, and the Turnagain Arm Boretide. The 4-day surf trip is $1999/person, and the 6-day surf trip is $2999. Unlike the other multiday surfing outfitters, Fjords Adventure does not house you onboard their boat. They organize housing on land in either AirBnB or in a local inn.
ADDRESS: Seward Boat Harbor Seward, Alaska 99664 PHONE: (907) 769-1165 WEB: www.fjordsak.com
Pelorus: Epic Heli-surfing in Alaska
Pelorus offers a long list of high-end luxury vacations around the globe. One of their offerings is a very pricey heli-surfing trip in Alaska. It’s a 5-day surf trip costing $27,000/Per Person. That’s a considerable price tag, but undoubtedly, it would be an incredible experience. Using a helicopter, they will fly you and the other guests to remote surfing spots, unreachable by other modes of transportation. They advertise having “surf Pros” available for instruction on board their vessel and photographers/videographers to document your trip. Lastly, your vessel will have e-foils, jet skis, Seabobs, and SUPs.
PHONE: UK +44 203 848 5424 / US +1 800 659 0217 WEB: www.pelorusx.com
Surf Camp in Alaska?
One of the coolest things about writing for AlaskaExplored is learning about new places and communities I haven’t previously had any experiences with. There is so much to explore in Alaska! One such organization is the Yakutat Surf Club in Yakutat, Alaska. They have hosted a summer surfing camp since 2018, which looks amazing. As a kid who grew up in a landlocked location, this looks pretty cool. The Surf Camp has been growing over the last couple of years, it boasts over seventy participants, including the parents who often volunteer. They have a core group of 35 kids that they teach to surf and train in ocean safety and environmental stewardship.
The Yakutat Surf Club is doing amazing work and creating a new generation of local surfers. You can support these young surfers and the community they are building by donating to their surf camp.
Surfing the Bore Tide
When a super low tide and a super high tide crash into each other, it creates a Bore Tide, this phenomenon is perfect for surfing. There are bore tides worldwide, but only a few create the ideal situation to create large enough waves for surfing. Alaska happens to be home to one of the more famous bore tides. The phenomenon occurs in the Turnagain Arm, a waterway into the northwestern part of the Gulf of Alaska.
The Turnagain Arm Bore Tide is one of the largest in the world and is located outside Anchorage. You can see it from the coastal highway driving to Seward. To surf it, you’ll want to time your trip based on the full moon, ideally during the five-day window surrounding the new and full moons, so grab an Alaska tide book and go check it out.
What to Bring when Planning Your Surf Adventure?
Surfing in Alaska requires all the same gear needed in a warmer climate, plus a few extras. One of the great things about the sport is its minimal quality. You don’t need much to enjoy your time out on the water. But, when the water is in Alaska, you will want a thicker suit, hood, and other temperature-appropriate items. Check out our list of gear recommendations for when you’re surfing in Alaska.
- Cold-water Wax (Warm water hardens traditional wax in the chilly Alaska water.
- Booties and Gloves: 5mm booties, 3mm gloves
- 5/4 suit: A hood will help you stay out on the water longer
- Waterproof camera or a waterproof housing for your existing camera: Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of doing an epic adventure like surfing in Alaska is going to be the photos you take to show your friends back home, so be sure to have a waterproof camera to catch those moments, even if it’s just a GoPro.
- Rain Gear, Jackets, Boots: A lot of your time will be spent getting to and accessing good surf locations, so be prepared for the weather out of the water, too. We have a full guide on What to pack for Alaska
Get Off Your Ass and Have a Gnarly Alaska Adventure
If you’re an adventurous spirit seeking a surfing experience like no other, consider Alaska for your next surfing destination. With the help of dedicated local outfitters, you can ride the waves of the North Pacific while surrounded by the awe-inspiring beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Alaska’s unique surf promises an unforgettable adventure whether you’re a seasoned surfer or a beginner. So, grab your board and wetsuit and prepare to catch some waves while surfing in Alaska!
Surfing in Alaska FAQs
Do you need to be an expert to go surfing in Alaska?
No, but you should be comfortable in cold water and ideally already know how to surf before you go. Alaska’s surf breaks are remote, often unpatrolled, and far from help if something goes wrong, this isn’t the place to learn the basics.
Where’s the best place to go surfing in Alaska?
Yakutat is the closest thing Alaska has to a surf town, it’s home to Icy Waves, the only surf shop in the state. Homer and Kodiak also have solid breaks, and there’s even a winter surf scene near Juneau.
Do I need a wetsuit to go Surfing in Alaska?
Yes, always. Water temperatures in Alaska sit far below what most surfers are used to, even in summer. A proper cold-water wetsuit (often 5/4mm or thicker), boots, gloves, and a hood aren’t optional gear here, they’re the only thing making the sport possible.
How do you actually get to the waves?
This is the hard part. Many of Alaska’s best breaks aren’t accessible by road at all, reaching them often means multi-day trips involving chartered boats, planes, or even helicopters. Budget significant time and money beyond just the surf session itself.
Is surfing in Alaska expensive?
Yes, and it’s arguably the biggest barrier to entry. Between gear, cold-water wetsuits, and chartered transportation to remote breaks, this isn’t a budget activity. The upside is the payoff: a real shot at surfing breaks that have never been ridden before.
Can you surf in Alaska in winter?
Surprisingly, yes. Winter actually brings some of the best swell, with a known scene near Juneau. It’s a different level of commitment than summer surfing, but it’s real and it happens.
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