Orange County, California
Best window·Wednesday 11AM–2PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Trails, Orange County, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 2-3ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4ft and poor - fair.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Trails is a mellow beach break located along Orange County's central coast, offering forgiving sand-bottom waves ideal for developing surfers and those looking for a relaxed session. The break faces northeast but receives best performance from south-southwest swells, which wrap around the Southern California coastline and peel across the sandy bottom with consistent shape. Protected by offshore westerly winds, this accessible spot provides a fun introduction to coastal Orange County surfing with amenities and parking nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Trails is 2ft with a 14.05s swell period. Wind is SSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Trails is 2ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft WSW secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Trails is Wednesday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 3ft waves, a 16.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Trails 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 Trails. 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.
Trails is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Trails is a mellow beach break located along Orange County's central coast, offering forgiving sand-bottom waves ideal for developing surfers and those looking for a relaxed session. The break faces northeast but receives best performance from south-southwest swells, which wrap around the Southern California coastline and peel across the sandy bottom with consistent shape. Protected by offshore westerly winds, this accessible spot provides a fun introduction to coastal Orange County surfing with amenities and parking nearby.
The prime season at Trails 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 Trails include moderate shore break, rip currents during larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Trails 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.
