Washington
Best window·Wednesday 8AM–11AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 5-6ft and poor - fair conditions with gentle NNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 9s with gentle NNW breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 7s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 5mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Cape Disappointment offers powerful beach breaks along Washington's dramatic southwestern coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The spot faces east and catches consistent west-moving swells that wrap around the cape, creating fun, rolling waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to avoid crowds. The dynamic interplay between ocean swells and river currents creates unique wave patterns and a raw, rugged atmosphere perfect for those seeking authentic Pacific Northwest surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Disappointment State Park is 4-5ft with a 9.1s swell period. Wind is NNW at 13mph 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 Cape Disappointment State Park is 4-5ft, produced by a 6.8ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.4ft SW tertiary swell at 20s. 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 Cape Disappointment State Park is Wednesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Disappointment State Park works best with a W swell and E 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 Cape Disappointment State Park. 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.
Cape Disappointment State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cape Disappointment offers powerful beach breaks along Washington's dramatic southwestern coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The spot faces east and catches consistent west-moving swells that wrap around the cape, creating fun, rolling waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to avoid crowds. The dynamic interplay between ocean swells and river currents creates unique wave patterns and a raw, rugged atmosphere perfect for those seeking authentic Pacific Northwest surf.
The prime season at Cape Disappointment State Park 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 Cape Disappointment State Park include strong currents, dangerous river mouth conditions, rocks, cold water, changeable weather. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cape Disappointment State Park 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.
