Swell Intel

Cape Kiwanda Surf Forecast, Oregon

Oregon

Cape Lookout1-2ftOceanside Beach2-3ftLincoln City2-3ft
Cape Kiwanda surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor - Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
12.8s
Wind
13mph
SW / Gusts 20mph
Conditions
Poor - Fair
Active Swells
Primary
2.2ft @ 7sNW
Secondary
1.3ft @ 13sWNW
Tertiary
0.6ft @ 10sWNW
Wind Swell
1.4ft @ 3sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 313-4ft
Fair

Expect 3-4ft all day on NW swell at 8s with gentle SE breeze — nothing amazing but surfable.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|7mph SE
Wed, Apr 14-5ft
Poor

Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 7s and strong SSW wind at 16mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s NW|16-19mph S
Thu, Apr 28-9ft
Poor - Fair

Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 10s with 9mph from the SW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s WSW|7-9mph WNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Cape Kiwanda Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
NW
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

Cape Kiwanda is a stunning Oregon surf destination nestled along the Pacific City coastline, where a dramatic sandstone headland shelters the break and helps shape rideable waves even on stormy days. The spot produces punchy beach break peaks that work best on northwest swells, offering fun lefts and rights across a sandy bottom. What makes Cape Kiwanda truly unique in Oregon is the iconic dory boat launch scene and the towering golden cape that frames the lineup, creating one of the most visually spectacular surfing environments on the Pacific Northwest coast.

Strong currentsDory boat trafficShore dumpCold waterSneaker wavesRocks near headland

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Cape Kiwanda Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Cape Kiwanda?
The current wave height at Cape Kiwanda is 2-3ft with a 12.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 13mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair.
How accurate is the Cape Kiwanda surf forecast?
Our Cape Kiwanda 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Cape Kiwanda?
The current breaking wave height at Cape Kiwanda is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.2ft NW primary swell at 7s, a 1.3ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.6ft WNW tertiary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Cape Kiwanda?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Cape Kiwanda is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 11s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.