Freshwater Lagoon, United States
Also within 20 km of Orick
- redwood creek Surf spot · 2.8 km from Orick
- Stone Lagoon Surf spot · 5.6 km from Orick
- Dry Lagoon Surf spot · 8.1 km from Orick
- Gold Bluffs Beach Surf spot · 12.2 km from Orick
- Big Lagoon Surf spot · 14.4 km from Orick
- Patricks Point Surf spot · 19.5 km from Orick
Watch this spot We email you when Freshwater Lagoon is worth the trip.
About Freshwater Lagoon
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (280°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (100°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–8 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves gently: 10 m deep about 400 m out (1 in 40). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would crumble. The sea is about 10°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 14°C in August, its warmest (4/3 wetsuit and boots). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually August and September, with about 2 good days in 7; in January and February, about 0. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Orick, 4 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 2 surf spots.
Water about 12°C: 4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Saved: this link opens the same trip
The link holds the trip itself: nothing about you is kept. Check the forecast again before you book.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 10 h 35 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) to ACV, changing at Denver International Airport (DEN).
See flights MDW → ACV · Skyscanner from about £225 returnAdGetting there. 55 min from the airport to Freshwater Lagoon.
Accommodation.
Stay in OrickAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Orick (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Orick 7 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 4 places to stay · where Freshwater Lagoon stays
Places to stay in Orick · Booking.com AdTrinidad 41 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 14 places to stay
Places to stay in Trinidad · Booking.com AdKlamath 51 min by car · rooms from £100 a night · 7 places to stay
Places to stay in Klamath · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Orick · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Orick · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Freshwater Lagoon on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
Freshwater Lagoon does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 19Oct | 37, fair | 5 ft9 ssoft | 369kJ | wind from the north-north-east, 1 knot | 12°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft10 ssoft | 1,365kJ | wind from the south, 4 knots | 13°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 55, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 146kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 5 knots | 14°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 54, good | 4 ft5 smushy | 77kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 2 knots | 13°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 11, poor | 5 ft9 smushy | 359kJ | wind from the north-north-west, 12 knots | 12°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 40, fair | 4 ft8 smushy | 208kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 12 knots | 13°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 0, too big | 9 ft8 ssoft | 1,038kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 5 knots | 14°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 53, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 180kJ | wind from the north, 3 knots | 13°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 61, good | 4 ft7 smushy | 102kJ | offshorewind from the east, 2 knots, offshore | 15°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Tue 20 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Tue 20 OctTravel out
Fly MDW to ACV, changing at DEN, then 55 min by road. About 10h 35 door to door
- Wed 21 OctSurf Stone Lagoon
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 4 ft at 7 s, wind 3 kn (5 km/h).
- Thu 22 OctSurf Freshwater Lagoon
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 4 ft at 5 s, wind 2 kn (4 km/h).
- Fri 23 OctSurf Stone Lagoon
Best 17:00 to 20:00 local time: 5 ft at 9 s, wind 8 kn (16 km/h).
- Sat 24 OctSurf Stone Lagoon
Best 11:00 to 14:00 local time: 4 ft at 8 s, wind 11 kn (20 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 0 of 80.
- Mon 26 OctTravel home
Fly MDW to ACV, changing at DEN, then 55 min by road. About 10h 35 door to door
The plan picks the best of 4 spots near Orick each day: Dry Lagoon, Freshwater Lagoon, redwood creek, Stone Lagoon.
Rough cost
About £960–£1,750 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return MDW to ACV, estimated from distance and season, changing at DEN, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £225–£470 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £55–£90 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £270–£455 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £260–£480 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £115–£190 |
| Total | £960–£1,750 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Orick
- EdeBee's Snack ShackBurger · 0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
Book the trip
Where to stayAd
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