Northern California
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with light SW winds.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with light SW winds.
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·2-3+ft·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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light SW winds and poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on NW swell at 11s and light winds out of the S. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on NW swell at 9s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on NW swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
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 Caspar Headlands turns Good.
Check Caspar Headlands from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Caspar Headlands is 2-3ft, produced by a 4.6ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.4ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1ft SSW 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 Caspar Headlands is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 10.6s 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. 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).
