Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolinas, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 3: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and fair by then.
Mon, May 4: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Expect 4-5ft all day on W swell at 14s with light winds out of the E — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 5: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on W swell at 13s — light SW winds.
Wed, May 6: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 12s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 7: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 12s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Bolinas is one of the few mellow surf spots in NorCal, sheltered by the jetty at the entrance to Bolinas Lagoon. The west side produces lefts while the east side (Sea Drift) offers rights when sandbars cooperate. The town is famously reclusive — locals have historically torn down road signs — but the in-water vibe is generally friendly. One of the more approachable waves in the region for intermediate surfers comfortable with cold water and shark country.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolinas is 3-4ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is W at 3mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.8ft W primary swell at 11s, a 1.4ft W secondary swell at 18s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 13s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Bolinas is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 14.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolinas works best with a SW swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Bolinas. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Bolinas is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bolinas is one of the few mellow surf spots in NorCal, sheltered by the jetty at the entrance to Bolinas Lagoon. The west side produces lefts while the east side (Sea Drift) offers rights when sandbars cooperate. The town is famously reclusive — locals have historically torn down road signs — but the in-water vibe is generally friendly. One of the more approachable waves in the region for intermediate surfers comfortable with cold water and shark country.
The prime season at Bolinas is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Bolinas include sharks, cold water, rip currents, localism, rocks near jetty. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolinas forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
