Swell Intel

College Cove Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Trinidad State Beach2-3ftMoonstone beach2-3ftLittle River State Beach1-2ft
College Cove surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.25s
Wind
3mph
NW / Gusts 3mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.6ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
0.9ft @ 13sWNW
Tertiary
0.9ft @ 14sWNW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Poor

Skip the dawn patrol — 0-1ft and poor early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|6-17mph S
Thu, Apr 26-7ft
Poor - Fair

Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 5-6ft. Wind drops off and the surface cleans up — fair by afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s WNW|9-14mph WNW
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Sat
3ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair

8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

College Cove Surf Spot Guide

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

College Cove is a sheltered sandy cove near Trinidad in Humboldt County, offering some of the more forgiving conditions in the area thanks to its protected geometry. NW swells wrap into the cove and produce mellow, workable peaks over a sandy bottom. While gentler than the exposed coast, the standard NorCal cold water and remote environment require intermediate experience.

Cold waterSharksRip currentsRocks near cove edges

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

College Cove Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for College Cove?
The current wave height at College Cove is 1-2ft with a 14.25s swell period. Wind is NW at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the College Cove surf forecast?
Our College Cove 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 College Cove?
The current breaking wave height at College Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.6ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 0.9ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft WNW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 College Cove?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf College Cove is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 11s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.