Best Surf Beaches on the North Shore of Oahu - The Seven Mile Miracle
Hawaii is home to some of the biggest, baddest, most awe-inspiring waves on the planet. Period. We all know that from TV shows and movies portraying Hawaii's laid back surf culture over and over and over again. And no trip to Hawaii would be complete without trying surfing, or at least watching some of the pros rip those famous Hawaiian waves. So, where exactly are those famous Hawaiian waves? The North Shore of Oahu in a town called Haleiwa. That's where. In fact, the north shore surfing waves there are so good that that whole stretch of coastline has been dubbed "the Seven Mile Miracle" by locals and pros-alike. Now, seven miles may seem like a long stretch to follow if you're trying to scope out some of the most iconic and best surf beaches on the North Shore of Oahu. And it is, given that the best surf beaches on the North Shore aren't really marked. But, with a bit of research, you can easily figure out which beaches are best suited for your riding or spectating needs.
So, to make it easy, I've listed some of the best surf beaches on the North Shore of Oahu so that you can find the perfect wave for you to ride / watch, soak up the sun, and (of course) embrace that oh so famous Hawaiin surf culture. Then all you'll simply need to do is plug them into Google Maps on your iPhone, find a place to park and then go hang out on the beach all day. Keep in mind, however, that on big wave days the roads leading into the North Shore can get very busy. And I mean really busy. We sat in traffic for multiple hours trying to reach our AirBnB. If you listen to a local radio station during your trip, you'll probably find out when the waves are expected to be big. If they're going to be big on the day that you're going there (which they should be cause that's the whole point!), plan accordingly.
Lastly, just as a safety tip, do not go in the water along the north shore surfing beaches unless you are a very solid surfer. The currents are extreme. Even if you stand in the shallow white wash, the current can still trip you and pull you into the water (there's a reason the waves are so big and powerful here). There are active Lifeguards typically on duty at all of the beaches. Just make sure you know your limits though. I myself like to surf, but I know I don't have the skill level to be out there in those big waves, so I watched them from shore. And trust me, watching the pros rip those waves from shore is in and of itself one of the most epic things you'll do on your trip to Hawaii, so be honest with yourself and your ability level.
So, on that note, here are the four best beaches for North Shore surfing in Oahu - aka the Seven Mile Miracle - for you to check out on your trip there:
Haleiwa Beach
As your roll into the North Shore of Oahu, you'll most likely pass through its main town first, which is a town called Haleiwa. Haleiwa is filled with great little restaurants, bars and (you guessed it) surf shops. Pro tip - check out Vintage Island Coffee for a great pre or post surf Acai bowl. Before you even reach the town, however, you'll most likely get a taste of the waves that the North Shore surfing beaches have to offer, as Haleiwa Beach pops up on the skyline as soon as you start to approach the North Shore's epic coast.
Massive waves chug towards shore, large palm trees sway above the mist, and monstrous green mountains linger on the horizon. When we pulled up after our hour-long drive from Waikiki, a surf competition was happening on the beach. We stopped for a bit and watched the massive waves roll through. And I mean massive. The waves rolling in that day must have been 20+ feet. So, if you need to stretch your legs after driving to the North Shore, I'd recommend stopping at Haleiwa Beach and getting a glimpse of the North Shore surf. The views are epic, and it'll give you a good taste of what's to come along the Seven Mile Miracle.
Waimea Bay
You'll know you've reached Waimea Bay when the road starts to curve uphill towards the land, large cliffs tower overhead and green foliage drapes off of the rocks. As you roll around this curve, you'll start to see a beautiful beach down below, massive waves, and, if you look closely, a group of surfers out in the water. Hanging out on the beach itself is really rad, as the bay's shape provides almost a framed-in view of Hawaii's classic green, rocky, and rugged coastline.
On the day we were here, the surf waves were breaking fairly far out on one of the bay's point breaks. There were also some monstrous waves breaking literally right at shore. There were tons of boogy boarders riding those waves, so that's a possibility if you're feeling brave enough. If you, like us, are more interested in just seeing some of these waves up close, grab a spot on the beach and watch as the waves crash right up onto the shoreline. You'll quickly see why Waimea Bay is one of the best beaches on the North Shore, and also get a glimpse of the inside of those perfect barrels (without mustering up the courage to actually catch one)!
Banzai Pipeline
No trip in search of the best beaches on the North Shore would ever be complete without visiting Banzai Pipeline. Why? Because it's not only one of the most famous surf breaks in all of Hawaii, but it's also one of the most famous surf beaches anywhere in the world. That's because Pipeline is famous for making picture perfect barrels (or pipes) that surfers dream about. These perfect barrels / waves are due to the shallow reef that sits below the waterline here, forcing the waves to pop up in beautiful, hollow form as they roll into the shore.
Banzaii Pipeline is also home to some of the world's biggest surf competitions, drawing in pros from all over the world annually. The biggest competition of them all, however, is the Billabong Pipe Masters, which is typically the last event on the World Surf League schedule. It usually happens at the end of December (conditions permitting).
If you can't make it to the Banzai Pipeline for any of the big events, it's still worth checking out. Tons of pros live in the area, and lots of other pros fly into Hawaii to ride the big waves here, so chances are you'll see some top quality surfing no matter the day. And the vibe on the beach itself is super chill and fun. Tons of spectators sit and cheer on the surfers as they ride the monstrous waves that have made the Banzai Pipeline famous and so ubiquitous with surfing.
Sunset Beach
Last but not least is the aptly named Sunset Beach. It's sort of the last main beach with big waves along the Seven Mile Miracle. And it doesn't disappoint. The sands here are clean and pristine, palm trees sway overhead, and the waves are massive. There are also less crowds than some of the other beaches along the Seven Mile Miracle in Haleiwa. This means that you can take in the waves and, when you get bored, have a little nap on the sand. It is paradise after all.
The best part about Sunset Beach (in my opinion) is the Sunrise Shack, which sells smoothie bowls and coffees. It's located right across the street from the beach. The shack itself is indeed a yellow shack that truly plays out the sunrise theme, making it a super cool, fun and inviting place to hangout pre or post surf. If you check out their Instagram, you'll see that it is one of the coolest little spots on the island, and that I'm not the only one who thinks that! So, when you've checked out all of the beaches on this list, go grab an Acai Bowl and a coffee from them. It may end up being one of the best bowls you have while you're in Hawaii.
So, if you're planning on heading to the North Shore of Oahu on your next trip there, consider checking out these four surf beaches along the Seven Mile Miracle. The sands are pristine, the mountain and jungle views are surreal, and the waves are, in true Hawaiian fashion, massive. Just make sure to stay on dry land if you're not ready to take on those mammoths.
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