Northern California
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 1-2ft.
Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 1-2ft.
Best window·Sunday 12PM–3PM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolinas Jetty, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 1-2ft. The breeze eases and things smooth out to poor by PM.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle WNW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor - fair with moderate WNW wind around 7mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 10mph from the WNW, fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 14s — light winds out of the NW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Bolinas Jetty turns Good.
Check Bolinas Jetty from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 1-2ft with a 8.2s swell period. Wind is S at 11mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.4ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2.1ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.4ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Jetty is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolinas Jetty 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 Jetty. 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 Jetty is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
The prime season at Bolinas Jetty is winter, 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 Jetty include strong currents near jetty, shifting sandbars, rocks near jetty structure, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolinas Jetty 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
