Northern California
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at DeHaven Creek, 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: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light NNW winds.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 8s with light NW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, Jun 28: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 9s with light NNE winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at DeHaven Creek is 2ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is W 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 DeHaven Creek is 2ft, produced by a 2.4ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SSW 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 DeHaven Creek is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
DeHaven Creek works best with a NW swell and SE 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 DeHaven Creek. 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.
DeHaven Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
The prime season at DeHaven Creek is winter, 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 DeHaven Creek include rip currents, rocks near creek mouth, changing sandbars, occasional logs. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our DeHaven Creek 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.
