Swell Intel

Klamath River Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Wilson Creek Beach1-2ftFern Canyon Beach1-2+ftGold Bluffs Beach1-2+ft
Klamath River surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
7.6s
Wind
3mph
WSW / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.6ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.0ft @ 13sWNW
Tertiary
0.8ft @ 14sWNW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s NW|5-13mph S
Thu, Apr 26-7ft
Poor - Fair

Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 5-6ft. The breeze eases and things smooth out to fair by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s W|5-12mph WSW
Fri, Apr 35-6ft
Fair - Good

Consistent 5-6ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 12s with gentle E breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s WNW|4-6mph E
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Sun
3ft
Swell building Sun, Apr 5Fair

13s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Klamath River Surf Spot Guide

Break
Rivermouth
Bottom
Sand
Level
Advanced
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
NW
Best Wind
SE
Season
Fall

The Klamath River mouth is a regional classic that can produce long, barreling rides of 150-300 meters when sandbars align with incoming NW swell. The constantly shifting sandbars from the river outflow create unpredictable but rewarding conditions for experienced surfers. However, the salmon runs attract seals, which attract great white sharks — multiple shark attacks have been documented here, making it one of the higher-risk spots on the California coast.

Great white sharksStrong currentsShifting sandbarsCold waterIsolationRiver debris

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

Klamath River Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Klamath River?
The current wave height at Klamath River is 1-2ft with a 7.6s swell period. Wind is WSW at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Klamath River surf forecast?
Our Klamath River 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 Klamath River?
The current breaking wave height at Klamath River is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.6ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.8ft 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 Klamath River?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Klamath River is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 7ft waves, a 11.55s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.