Orange County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and 8mph from the SE.
Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and 8mph from the SE.
Best window·Sunday 11AM–2PM·7-8ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salt Creek, Orange County, 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: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and 8mph SE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 18s and gentle ENE breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–6ft, 15s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on SSE swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to fair - good.
Sun, Sep 6: 7–8ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Afternoon is the play — morning is only fair - good at 6-8ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 7-8ft at fair - good.
Mon, Sep 7: 5–7ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 5-7ft waves on S swell at 13s and 8mph NW winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very 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 Salt Creek from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salt Creek is 2-3ft with a 5.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 8mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Salt Creek is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.9ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Salt Creek is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 7ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salt Creek works best with a S swell and NE 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 Salt 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.
Salt Creek is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
The prime season at Salt Creek is summer, 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 Salt Creek include rocks, crowds, competitive lineup, strong currents, shallow reef. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salt 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).
