Northern California
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Little River State Beach, 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. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft 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 calm winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. 1ft waves to start the day on W swell at 5s. The WNW wind builds to around 7mph by afternoon.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, light winds out of the NW, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Sun, Jun 28: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and gentle ENE breeze. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Little River State Beach sits along the rugged Northern California coastline near Eureka, where the Little River meets the Pacific at around 41°N latitude. This beach break offers punchy, powerful waves shaped by the consistent Northwest swells that roll down from the North Pacific, producing short but hollow peaks along a scenic stretch of dark sand. The remote character of this Northern California gem means crowds are rarely an issue, though the cold water, powerful surf, and unpredictable conditions demand respect and experience.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Little River State Beach is 1-2ft with a 6.7s 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 Little River State Beach 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 Little River State Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Little River State Beach 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 Little River State Beach. 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.
Little River State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Little River State Beach sits along the rugged Northern California coastline near Eureka, where the Little River meets the Pacific at around 41°N latitude. This beach break offers punchy, powerful waves shaped by the consistent Northwest swells that roll down from the North Pacific, producing short but hollow peaks along a scenic stretch of dark sand. The remote character of this Northern California gem means crowds are rarely an issue, though the cold water, powerful surf, and unpredictable conditions demand respect and experience.
The prime season at Little River State Beach 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 Little River State Beach include cold water, strong currents, river mouth currents, rip currents, shore break, sharks, isolated location, sneaker waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Little River State Beach 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.
