Surf spot guide · NYC Tri-State, United States
Open Amagansett beachbreak with shifting sandbars that occasionally fires on winter S swells.
Indian Wells is an open, sand-bottom beachbreak on the South Fork of Long Island in Amagansett, with peaks that shift constantly along the bare stretch of beach. Waves are slopey, crumbly and medium-paced, well-covered rather than hollow, and break with the odd steeper takeoff section when a clean sandbar lines up. With no rocks or jetties to lock the banks in place, every winter swell rearranges the bottom contours, so the working peak moves week to week. The spot wakes up on a low to mid incoming tide with a S swell, ideally in the colder months when offshore NW winds groom the faces. It handles size from chest-high up to a few metres before closing out. Access is straightforward off Indian Wells Highway with paid parking at the beach lot in season and a lifeguarded swim zone in summer. Expect a moderate crowd of locals and Hamptons regulars on the better days, but plenty of room to walk down the beach and find a quieter peak.
Sandbars that rearrange every winter, peaks that migrate week to week.
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Crowds are moderate when the wave is on, with locals, weekenders from NYC and Hamptons regulars sharing the lineup. The wide beach lets surfers spread out along whichever bar is working.
Open Hamptons beachbreak
NYC Tri-State
South Fork jetty beachbreak in East Hampton with steep, sand-bottom rights when the bars line up.
NYC Tri-State
Forgiving sand-bottom beachbreak fronting Hither Hills State Park campground in Montauk, the easy summer pick on Long Island's South Fork.
NYC Tri-State
Boulder-sprinkled Montauk beachbreak with shifting peaks that work best low to mid tide.
+5 MORE →Best on a low incoming tide with a S swell pushing in
Walk the beach to find the sandbar working that day rather than paddling out at the access point
Winter delivers the cleanest swell and offshore NW wind alignment
Beach parking is paid and fills up fast in season, so arrive early or surf outside the lifeguarded zone hours
Sandbars rebuild through summer, so quality usually improves into autumn
HAZARDS · KNOW BEFORE YOU PADDLE
Drive-in access via Indian Wells Highway in Amagansett to a beach lot at the end of the road. Parking is paid in season with permit restrictions; roadside parking is also possible. Lifeguarded in summer.
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