Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tolowa Dunes State Park, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 6-7ft waves and poor conditions with 20mph NNW winds.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on W swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on W swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 6mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Tolowa Dunes State Park is a vast wilderness preserve primarily known for birding and wetlands, with a remote beach that occasionally produces surfable waves. The exposed coastline faces west and picks up W and NW swells, but the lack of any surf community, cold water, and complete absence of safety infrastructure make this a spot only for self-sufficient intermediate-plus surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tolowa Dunes State Park is 5-7ft with a 10.6s swell period. Wind is NNW at 19mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Tolowa Dunes State Park is 5-7ft, produced by a 4.1ft W primary swell at 11s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.8ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 3.9ft NW wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 10.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tolowa Dunes State Park works best with a W 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park. 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.
Tolowa Dunes State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Tolowa Dunes State Park is a vast wilderness preserve primarily known for birding and wetlands, with a remote beach that occasionally produces surfable waves. The exposed coastline faces west and picks up W and NW swells, but the lack of any surf community, cold water, and complete absence of safety infrastructure make this a spot only for self-sufficient intermediate-plus surfers.
The prime season at Tolowa Dunes State Park 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park include extreme isolation, cold water, sharks, strong currents, no lifeguards. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tolowa Dunes State Park 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
