Northern California
Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4+ft and fair early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4+ft and fair early on.
Best window·Friday 9AM–12PM·5-7ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Trinidad State Beach, Northern 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: 7–8ft, 11s period, rated Fair - Good. Patience pays off today — morning is fair with 4-5ft. Size picks up through the day, hitting 7-8ft with fair - good conditions by late afternoon.
Fri, Sep 4: 5–7ft, 11s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-7ft waves on NW swell at 10s with gentle SSE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light winds out of the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 9s and light SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with light winds out of the NW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Trinidad State Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Trinidad State Beach offers consistent surf beneath dramatic coastal cliffs in Humboldt County. The beach receives NW Pacific swells and produces mellow, workable waves across a wide sandy stretch. While more accessible than many NorCal spots, the cold water, occasional powerful surf, and shark presence require intermediate-level experience. One of the more scenic surf settings in the region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Trinidad State Beach is 3-4+ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is S at 2mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Trinidad State Beach is 3-4+ft, produced by a 6.1ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 2.8ft SW wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Trinidad State Beach is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 6ft waves, a 10.2s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Trinidad State Beach works best with a NW swell and SE 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 Trinidad State Beach. 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.
Trinidad State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Trinidad State Beach offers consistent surf beneath dramatic coastal cliffs in Humboldt County. The beach receives NW Pacific swells and produces mellow, workable waves across a wide sandy stretch. While more accessible than many NorCal spots, the cold water, occasional powerful surf, and shark presence require intermediate-level experience. One of the more scenic surf settings in the region.
The prime season at Trinidad State Beach 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 Trinidad State Beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, rocks at beach edges, strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Trinidad State Beach 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).
