Swell Intel

Little River State Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Moonstone beach2-3ftTrinidad State Beach2-3ftCollege Cove1-2ft
Little River State Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
14.25s
Wind
4mph
WNW / Gusts 4mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.6ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
0.9ft @ 13sWNW
Tertiary
0.9ft @ 14sWNW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 312-3ft
Fair
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 13-4ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|4-11mph SSW
Thu, Apr 29-10ft
Poor - Fair

Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 7-8ft. Swell fills in and gets up to 9-10ft by PM — fair conditions.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s WNW|7-15mph WSW
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat
4ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Good

8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

Sign up free to track it

Forecast Charts

Little River State Beach Surf Spot Guide

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

Little River State Beach sits along the rugged Northern California coastline near Eureka, where the Little River meets the Pacific at around 41°N latitude. This beach break offers punchy, powerful waves shaped by the consistent Northwest swells that roll down from the North Pacific, producing short but hollow peaks along a scenic stretch of dark sand. The remote character of this Northern California gem means crowds are rarely an issue, though the cold water, powerful surf, and unpredictable conditions demand respect and experience.

Cold waterStrong currentsRiver mouth currentsRip currentsShore breakSharksIsolated locationSneaker waves

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

Little River State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Little River State Beach?
The current wave height at Little River State Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.25s swell period. Wind is WNW at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Little River State Beach surf forecast?
Our Little River 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 Little River State Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Little River State Beach 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 Little River State Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Little River State Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 11.1s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.