Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 8AM–11AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Caspar Headlands, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 21mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 5-6ft with strong N wind at 14mph. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 9s with gentle NNW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on NW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on NW swell at 7s with light winds out of the NNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Caspar Headlands is 4-5ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Caspar Headlands is 4-5ft, produced by a 7.9ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Caspar Headlands is Wednesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Caspar Headlands 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 Caspar Headlands. 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.
Caspar Headlands is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Caspar Headlands 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 Caspar Headlands include rocks, strong currents, limited access, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
