Red Tree Reef

Red Tree Reef sits as a solitary, west-facing reef peak just west of Sitka, where the open Pacific swells march straight in from the gulf. The wave breaks over a rugged, uneven reef bottom, creating a dynamic and sometimes treacherous playing field that rewards careful lineups and quick reflexes. Both lefts and rights are on the menu, peeling off the peak with a heavy, hollow tendency when conditions align. This is a spot that demands respect—best suited for experienced surfers who can read shifting peaks and handle shallow, exposed reef at lower tides.

Best Surf Season (October - March)

The North Pacific roars to life during October, and Red Tree Reef sees a sharp jump in average surf heights as a strengthening Aleutian Low sends long-period groundswell toward this west-facing reef. From October through March, average surf ranges from a solid 8ft (2.4m) to a deep 10ft (3.0m), with wave periods often sitting in the powerful 10-12 second range. Swell directions are most frequently WSW and SW, but the W and WNW energy is the real magic for this exposed west-facing break. Offshore winds from the ENE/E/ESE/SE quadrant are the key to clean conditions; when they align, the reef holds steep, grinding, barrelable winter waves. The core of the season is December through February, when water temps bottom out near 5-6°C (41-43°F) and heavy-duty rubber is essential.