Santa Cruz County, California
Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 3-4+ft.
Best window·Thursday 9AM–12PM·2-3+ft·Fair
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Scott Creek turns Good.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jul 22: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 3-4+ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4+ft and fair - good.
Thu, Jul 23: 2–3+ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on SSW swell at 14s with 9mph NW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 24: 2–3+ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on S swell at 13s with 12mph NW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Jul 25: 2–3ft, 22s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 12s and 7mph NNW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Jul 26: 2–3+ft, 20s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with moderate N wind around 7mph. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor by then.
Check Scott Creek from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Scott Creek is a remote North Coast beach break tucked between headlands about fourteen miles north of Santa Cruz. It picks up any W to NW swell and can produce hollow, playful peaks at the creek-mouth sandbar, but exposure to NW wind and a notoriously sharky reputation keep crowds thin. Best on a clean morning after a solid swell fills in.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Scott Creek is 3-4+ft with a 8.4s swell period. Wind is ESE 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 Scott Creek is 3-4+ft, produced by a 4.7ft SSW primary swell at 8s, a 2.3ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.1ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft NW wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Scott Creek is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Scott Creek works best with a WNW 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 Scott 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.
Scott Creek is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Scott Creek is a remote North Coast beach break tucked between headlands about fourteen miles north of Santa Cruz. It picks up any W to NW swell and can produce hollow, playful peaks at the creek-mouth sandbar, but exposure to NW wind and a notoriously sharky reputation keep crowds thin. Best on a clean morning after a solid swell fills in.
The prime season at Scott Creek 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 Scott Creek include rip currents, cold water, sharks, strong winds, limited access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Scott 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
