Northern California
Best window·Tuesday 5PM–8PM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 11s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 6mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Morning kicks off with 3-4ft on W swell at 10s.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 9s with 10mph S winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 7mph from the S. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
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 2-3ft with a 10.8s swell period. Wind is S at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas is 2-3ft, produced by a 3ft W primary swell at 11s, a 1.1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Tuesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 10.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
