Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 1PM–4PM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at DeHaven Creek, 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: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 4-5ft and poor - fair with light NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 20mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 4-5ft waves with moderate NNW wind around 10mph and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Consistent 3-4ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 2-3ft waves. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at fair.
DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at DeHaven Creek is 4-5ft with a 9.45s swell period. Wind is NNW at 12mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at DeHaven Creek is 4-5ft, produced by a 6.3ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft 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 DeHaven Creek is Wednesday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 4ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
DeHaven Creek works best with a NW swell and SE 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 DeHaven Creek. 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.
DeHaven Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
The prime season at DeHaven Creek is winter, 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 DeHaven Creek include rip currents, rocks near creek mouth, changing sandbars, occasional logs. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our DeHaven Creek 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.
