Swell Intel

El Capitan State Beach Surf Forecast, Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, California

Beavers/HazardsFlatRefugio State BeachFlatTajiguasFlat
El Capitan State Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
1mph
ENE / Gusts 3mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.5ft @ 14sSW
Secondary
0.5ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.2ft @ 8sWSW
Wind Swell
0.8ft @ 2sSE

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Wed, Apr 10-1ft
Very Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the NW.

6am9am12pm3pm
14s SW|5-7mph WNW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with strong NNW wind at 16mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
13s SW|16-22mph NNW
Fri, Apr 31-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 8mph from the NNE.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s W|4-8mph NNE
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Sun

Forecast Charts

El Capitan State Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
NW
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

El Capitan State Beach offers mellow, rolling beach breaks along a sandy shoreline backed by coastal bluffs and state park facilities. This accessible spot works best during autumn swells when northwest-facing beachbreaks pick up consistent waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The protected, family-friendly setting makes it an ideal destination for those seeking uncrowded waves without technical challenges.

ShorebreakRip currents

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

El Capitan State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for El Capitan State Beach?
The current wave height at El Capitan State Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is ENE at 1mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the El Capitan State Beach surf forecast?
Our El Capitan State Beach 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 El Capitan State Beach?
The current breaking wave height at El Capitan State Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.5ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.2ft WSW tertiary swell at 8s, a 0.8ft SE wind swell swell at 2s. 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 El Capitan State Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf El Capitan State Beach is Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 3ft waves, a 5.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.