Swell Intel

Salt Creek Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

Orange County, California

Strands Point1-2ftDoheny State Beach1-2ftAliso Creek1-2ft
Salt Creek surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
11s
Wind
9mph
S / Gusts 14mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.9ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 10sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light SE winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|5-7mph WNW
Thu, Apr 24-5ft
Fair - Good

The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light winds out of the NNW, fair - good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s S|6-7mph NNW
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Sat
2ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair

19s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Salt Creek Surf Spot Guide

Break
Point
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Summer

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.

RocksCrowdsCompetitive lineupStrong currentsShallow reef

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

Salt Creek Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Salt Creek?
The current wave height at Salt Creek is 1-2ft with a 11s swell period. Wind is S at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Salt Creek surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Salt Creek?
The current breaking wave height at Salt Creek is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.9ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Salt Creek?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Salt Creek is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 5ft waves, a 14.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.