Orange County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salt Creek, Orange County, 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: 4–6ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-6ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jun 25: 4–6ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6ft on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 6mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-5ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 6s with 9mph SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-5ft on W swell at 6s with 10mph SSE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salt Creek is 4-6+ft with a 16.9s swell period. Wind is WNW at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Salt Creek is 4-6+ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.5ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft WSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Salt Creek is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 15.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salt Creek works best with a S 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 Salt 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.
Salt Creek is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
The prime season at Salt Creek is summer, 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 Salt Creek include rocks, crowds, competitive lineup, strong currents, shallow reef. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salt 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.
