Northern California
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with light winds out of the SSW.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with light winds out of the SSW.
Best window·Thursday 10AM–1PM·3-4ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with gentle SSW breeze and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on WNW swell at 11s with light winds out of the SE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light ENE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 5s with light ESE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check DeHaven Creek from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 3-4ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at DeHaven Creek is 3-4ft, produced by a 5.2ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1.3ft 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf DeHaven Creek is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.2s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. 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).
