Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolinas, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 19s period, rated Fair - Good. Patience pays off today — morning is fair - good with 3-4ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and fair conditions.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 9s with gentle SSE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 12s with gentle SSW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 12s with light SW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Bolinas is one of the few mellow surf spots in NorCal, sheltered by the jetty at the entrance to Bolinas Lagoon. The west side produces lefts while the east side (Sea Drift) offers rights when sandbars cooperate. The town is famously reclusive — locals have historically torn down road signs — but the in-water vibe is generally friendly. One of the more approachable waves in the region for intermediate surfers comfortable with cold water and shark country.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolinas is 3-4ft with a 11.05s swell period. Wind is WNW at 13mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas is 3-4ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 19s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.5ft W tertiary swell at 13s, a 3.4ft W wind swell swell at 11s. 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 Bolinas is Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 11.05s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolinas works best with a SW 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 Bolinas. 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.
Bolinas is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bolinas is one of the few mellow surf spots in NorCal, sheltered by the jetty at the entrance to Bolinas Lagoon. The west side produces lefts while the east side (Sea Drift) offers rights when sandbars cooperate. The town is famously reclusive — locals have historically torn down road signs — but the in-water vibe is generally friendly. One of the more approachable waves in the region for intermediate surfers comfortable with cold water and shark country.
The prime season at Bolinas 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 Bolinas include sharks, cold water, rip currents, localism, rocks near jetty. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolinas 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.
