Swell Intel

Caspar Headlands Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Caspar Beach1-2ftJug Handle State Reserve1-2+ftPoint Cabrillo1-2ft
Caspar Headlands surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
6mph
SSW / Gusts 7mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.4ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.2ft @ 14sWNW
Tertiary
1.0ft @ 12sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Very Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with gentle WNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|3-11mph SW
Thu, Apr 25-6ft
Poor - Fair

Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4ft and poor early on. Size picks up through the day, hitting 5-6ft with fair - good conditions by late afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s WNW|7-18mph NNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Caspar Headlands Surf Spot Guide

Break
Point
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

Caspar Headlands is a dramatic rocky point break located on the rugged Mendocino County coastline, offering consistent, well-shaped waves that peel along the headland's contours. The break works best during fall and winter swells when Pacific groundswell wraps around the point, creating long, rideable walls perfect for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves. The isolated location and rocky terrain keep crowds minimal, making it an ideal spot for those willing to navigate the coastal access and respect the powerful ocean dynamics of Northern California's wild coast.

RocksStrong currentsLimited accessCold water

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

Caspar Headlands Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Caspar Headlands?
The current wave height at Caspar Headlands is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is SSW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Caspar Headlands surf forecast?
Our Caspar Headlands 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 Caspar Headlands?
The current breaking wave height at Caspar Headlands is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.4ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1.2ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Caspar Headlands?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Caspar Headlands is Thursday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.