Northern California
The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light SW winds, fair conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light SW winds, fair conditions.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Little River State Beach, 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, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the SSW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on NW swell at 10s with 7mph S winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3+ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft 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 - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 9s and light SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the E. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Little River State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Little River State Beach is 3-4ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Little River State Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 6.2ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 1.3ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.3ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.3ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, 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 Little River State Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.5s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Little River State Beach works best with a NW swell and E 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 Little River State Beach. 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.
Little River State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Little River State Beach is fall, 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 Little River State Beach include cold water, strong currents, river mouth currents, rip currents, shore break, sharks, isolated location, sneaker waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. 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).
