Northern California
Best window·Monday 8AM–11AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with glassy conditions.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on NW swell at 6s with calm winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor - fair with light SSW winds.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with calm winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and gentle NE breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor by then.
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 2ft with a 6.55s swell period. Wind is SSW 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 Tolowa Dunes State Park is 2ft, produced by a 1.1ft SW primary swell at 15s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.7ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 4.9ft NW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
