Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wilson Creek Beach, 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: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 8s with 10mph from the N. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 21mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 6-7ft waves, 13mph NNE winds, fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 8s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 7s with gentle NE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on NW swell at 8s with gentle NE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Wilson Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Del Norte County coast, offering fun peaks when W and NW swells push through. The isolation, cold water, and lack of facilities or other surfers make this unsuitable for beginners. A rewarding find for experienced surfers seeking solitude in the wild NorCal landscape.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wilson Creek Beach is 5-6ft with a 13.6s swell period. Wind is N at 7mph 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 Wilson Creek Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.3ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2.9ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft 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 Wilson Creek Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 15.1s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wilson Creek Beach 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 Wilson Creek 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.
Wilson Creek Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wilson Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Del Norte County coast, offering fun peaks when W and NW swells push through. The isolation, cold water, and lack of facilities or other surfers make this unsuitable for beginners. A rewarding find for experienced surfers seeking solitude in the wild NorCal landscape.
The prime season at Wilson Creek 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 Wilson Creek Beach include cold water, strong currents, sharks, extreme isolation, no services. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wilson Creek 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
