Washout
Southeast Surf Spots
Surf Guide
With a number of jetties and varied coastline, Folly Beach has a number of different spots. All of Folly is lined with jetties. They've done a questionable job of protecting the beach, but they've produced lots of different peaks. The best spot at Folly is called the Washout. It's a long stretch of jettied beachbreak that can break with a tremendous amount of power on northeasterly swells or on hurricane swells. Beware of jetty rocks, underwater debris and current on larger swells. Take Highway 17 south of Charleston, then take Highway 171 to McKevlin's surf shop. Buy wax, head East onto East Ashley. Park along the beach.
Ability Level
All Abilities
Beginner to advanced.
Local Vibe
Doable
Not much localism, but if you can't surf, you might want to surf elsewhere if it's good.
Crowd Factor
Moderate
Can be heavy, but usually manageable
Spot Rating
Fun
Fun scattered peaks, ideal for all types surfers most days. Can turn into proper draining barrels under the right scenario.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Hard NE and SW winds can produce strong currents, but generally pretty mellow.
Water Quality
Clean
Some runoff pollution after heavy rains.
Ideal Surf Conditions
Swell Direction
South, southeast and east
Wind
N, NW
Surf Height
waist-overhead high
Tide
mid to high