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.
Sat, May 16: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Very Good. Should be a good one — 7-8ft on WSW swell at 14s with strong NNW wind at 13mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 12s period, rated Very Good. Fun day ahead — expect 7-8ft waves on W swell at 12s with moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Very Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on W swell at 11s with strong N wind at 14mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair - Good. Skip the dawn patrol — 5-6ft and fair early on. Later in the day looks more promising — 4-5ft and fair - good.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 13s with light S winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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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 6-8ft with a 8.95s swell period. Wind is NNW at 11mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas is 6-8ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 7.5ft WNW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 9ft waves, a 8.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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.
