Northern California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 4-5ft and mostly very poor with light N winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 32mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 4–5ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 4-5ft and very poor conditions with 17mph out of the N. Expect the wind to bump up to around 32mph by PM.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the ENE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 8s and calm winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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 3-4ft with a 8.7s swell period. Wind is N at 17mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. 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 3-4ft, produced by a 0.9ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 20s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 7ft NW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 7.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
