Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wilson Creek Beach, 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: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 13mph from the NNW.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s and light winds out of the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Wilson Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Del Norte County coast, offering fun peaks when W and NW swells push through. The isolation, cold water, and lack of facilities or other surfers make this unsuitable for beginners. A rewarding find for experienced surfers seeking solitude in the wild NorCal landscape.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wilson Creek Beach is 5-6ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is NNW at 12mph 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 Wilson Creek Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.7ft W primary swell at 11s, a 0.8ft WSW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 2.3ft 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 Wilson Creek Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.65s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wilson Creek Beach 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 Wilson Creek Beach. 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.
Wilson Creek Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wilson Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Del Norte County coast, offering fun peaks when W and NW swells push through. The isolation, cold water, and lack of facilities or other surfers make this unsuitable for beginners. A rewarding find for experienced surfers seeking solitude in the wild NorCal landscape.
The prime season at Wilson Creek Beach 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 Wilson Creek Beach include cold water, strong currents, sharks, extreme isolation, no services. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wilson Creek Beach 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.
