Washington
Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4ft waves.
Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4ft waves.
Best window·Thursday 11AM–2PM·3-4ft·Fair - Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only very poor at 3-4ft. Winds back off through the day and conditions clean up to poor - fair by PM.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on WNW swell at 9s with light NE winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 8s with gentle NE breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SE. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Cape Disappointment State Park turns Good.
Check Cape Disappointment State Park from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 3-4ft with a 10.7s swell period. Wind is SSE at 22mph. Conditions are rated Poor. 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 3-4ft, produced by a 6.3ft W primary swell at 11s, a 4.1ft SSW wind swell swell at 7s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 4ft waves, a 10.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. 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).
