Oregon
Skip the dawn patrol — 6-7ft and poor early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 6-7ft and poor early on.
Best window·Thursday 10AM–1PM·6-7ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Kiwanda, Oregon. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 4-6ft. Wind drops off and the surface cleans up — poor by afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s with gentle ESE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light E winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 8s with light winds out of the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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 Cape Kiwanda turns Good.
Check Cape Kiwanda from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Kiwanda is 6-7ft with a 10.9s swell period. Wind is S at 29mph. 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 Cape Kiwanda is 6-7ft, produced by a 9.4ft WNW primary swell at 11s, a 5.8ft SSW wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 1.1ft NW tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Kiwanda is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 6ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Kiwanda works best with a NW 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 Kiwanda. 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 Kiwanda is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Cape Kiwanda 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 Kiwanda include strong currents, dory boat traffic, shore dump, cold water, sneaker waves, rocks near headland. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. 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).
