Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Bolinas for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–2ft, 19s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with gentle S breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate NW wind around 10mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with 12mph WNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 16mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on W swell at 8s with light winds out of the NE. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor - fair by then.
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 1ft with a 17.35s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas is 1ft, produced by a 1.4ft SW primary swell at 17s, a 1.4ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft W tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.4ft W wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.25s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
