Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Virgin Creek, 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, 12s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 6-7ft and poor with 18mph NNW winds.
Mon, May 11: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and glassy conditions. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 12: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 11s with 9mph SE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with gentle SSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Virgin Creek is a scenic rivermouth break along the rugged Lost Coast of Northern California, where consistent Pacific swells meet the creek's freshwater outflow to create peeling waves on shifting sandbars. The break works best during fall and winter when larger swells push through, and the east-facing orientation captures westerly ground swell while being protected from onshore winds. This remote, less-crowded spot offers an excellent escape for intermediate surfers seeking natural beauty and uncrowded waves in one of California's most pristine coastal regions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Virgin Creek is 5-7ft with a 11.55s swell period. Wind is NNW at 18mph 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 Virgin Creek is 5-7ft, produced by a 4.1ft W primary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 4.7ft 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 Virgin Creek is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 10.95s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Virgin Creek 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 Virgin 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.
Virgin Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Virgin Creek is a scenic rivermouth break along the rugged Lost Coast of Northern California, where consistent Pacific swells meet the creek's freshwater outflow to create peeling waves on shifting sandbars. The break works best during fall and winter when larger swells push through, and the east-facing orientation captures westerly ground swell while being protected from onshore winds. This remote, less-crowded spot offers an excellent escape for intermediate surfers seeking natural beauty and uncrowded waves in one of California's most pristine coastal regions.
The prime season at Virgin 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 Virgin Creek include rivermouth currents, shifting sandbars, remote location, limited access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Virgin 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
