Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tolowa Dunes State Park, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and 9mph from the NNE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 27mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 7–8ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 8-9ft on WNW swell at 12s with 10mph from the NNE. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 28mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the ENE. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 7–8ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 15s with light ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 20: 7–8ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 12s and gentle ENE breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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Tolowa Dunes State Park is a vast wilderness preserve primarily known for birding and wetlands, with a remote beach that occasionally produces surfable waves. The exposed coastline faces west and picks up W and NW swells, but the lack of any surf community, cold water, and complete absence of safety infrastructure make this a spot only for self-sufficient intermediate-plus surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tolowa Dunes State Park is 5-6ft with a 13.5s swell period. Wind is NNE at 5mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Tolowa Dunes State Park is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.9ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 3.4ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 14.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tolowa Dunes State Park works best with a W 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park. 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.
Tolowa Dunes State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Tolowa Dunes State Park is a vast wilderness preserve primarily known for birding and wetlands, with a remote beach that occasionally produces surfable waves. The exposed coastline faces west and picks up W and NW swells, but the lack of any surf community, cold water, and complete absence of safety infrastructure make this a spot only for self-sufficient intermediate-plus surfers.
The prime season at Tolowa Dunes State Park 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park include extreme isolation, cold water, sharks, strong currents, no lifeguards. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tolowa Dunes State Park 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
