Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Caspar Headlands for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Caspar Headlands, 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, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the NNE.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with light winds out of the NNW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly very poor with 17mph out of the NW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 24mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 30mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Caspar Headlands is a dramatic rocky point break located on the rugged Mendocino County coastline, offering consistent, well-shaped waves that peel along the headland's contours. The break works best during fall and winter swells when Pacific groundswell wraps around the point, creating long, rideable walls perfect for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves. The isolated location and rocky terrain keep crowds minimal, making it an ideal spot for those willing to navigate the coastal access and respect the powerful ocean dynamics of Northern California's wild coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Caspar Headlands is 1-2ft with a 17.6s swell period. Wind is WNW at 4mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Caspar Headlands is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.1ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 Caspar Headlands is Monday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 8.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Caspar Headlands 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 Caspar Headlands. 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.
Caspar Headlands is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Caspar Headlands is a dramatic rocky point break located on the rugged Mendocino County coastline, offering consistent, well-shaped waves that peel along the headland's contours. The break works best during fall and winter swells when Pacific groundswell wraps around the point, creating long, rideable walls perfect for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves. The isolated location and rocky terrain keep crowds minimal, making it an ideal spot for those willing to navigate the coastal access and respect the powerful ocean dynamics of Northern California's wild coast.
The prime season at Caspar Headlands 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 Caspar Headlands include rocks, strong currents, limited access, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Caspar Headlands 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.
