Northern California
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at College Cove, 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, 7s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on NW swell at 7s.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on NW swell at 7s and light N winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on W swell at 5s.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on WNW swell at 8s with light NNW winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and poor by then.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
College Cove is a sheltered sandy cove near Trinidad in Humboldt County, offering some of the more forgiving conditions in the area thanks to its protected geometry. NW swells wrap into the cove and produce mellow, workable peaks over a sandy bottom. While gentler than the exposed coast, the standard NorCal cold water and remote environment require intermediate experience.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at College Cove is 1-2ft with a 6.7s swell period. Wind is NNW at 5mph 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 College Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.1ft NW primary swell at 7s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft 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 College Cove is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
College Cove works best with a NW 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 College Cove. 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.
College Cove is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. College Cove is a sheltered sandy cove near Trinidad in Humboldt County, offering some of the more forgiving conditions in the area thanks to its protected geometry. NW swells wrap into the cove and produce mellow, workable peaks over a sandy bottom. While gentler than the exposed coast, the standard NorCal cold water and remote environment require intermediate experience.
The prime season at College Cove 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 College Cove include cold water, sharks, rip currents, rocks near cove edges. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our College Cove 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.
