Northern California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 6-7ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 21mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 6-7ft and mostly poor with strong NNE wind at 15mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 22mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Steady 5-6ft waves on offer on NW swell at 8s — glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
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 5-6ft with a 8.75s swell period. Wind is N at 19mph 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 Trinidad State Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 7.3ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
