Chadbourne Gulch Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a long look at what's on the table for Chadbourne Gulch over the next couple of weeks. I'll be straight with you—this isn't a run where you can just show up any time and expect firing waves. There are some definite quality gaps, but we've got a couple of windows that are worth circling on the calendar.

We start off with a solid, clean punch on the morning of Sunday the 9th, but that session gets a knock for marginal conditions. Still, there’s a 8ft NW swell rolling in with an 8-second period and a combined wave energy of 1002, which is strong. Water temp is 59°, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The wind is light though, so it’s not completely blown out.

The real standout in the first week is Tuesday afternoon, the 11th of August. That's when we get glassy conditions with a 6ft NW swell and a combined energy of 713. The wind goes nearly calm, offshore from the WNW at just 3 mph. The wave comment calls it "very good surf conditions." That's the session to aim for—clean, manageable size for a confident beginner, and no crowd worries beyond the "sometimes" tag at Chadbourne. The swell has a moderate 9-second period, so it'll have a bit of shape without being too unruly.

As we move into the second week, things drop off significantly. From Friday the 14th onward, we're looking at much smaller swells, mostly from the SSW, with combined energy values dropping into the 300-500 range. The surf gets skinny—around 2ft to 3ft—and cross-onshore breezes start creeping in. There are days where the wave comments say "poor surf conditions" or "light cross-onshore with small wind ripples," which is code for messy and weak. Not really worth paddling for.

But hold on—Wednesday afternoon the 19th of August is a hidden gem. Glassy conditions again, with a 3ft SSW groundswell at a long 15-second period and combined energy of 641. Even though the size is small, that glassy wind and long-period energy will make for some clean, tidy lines. The wave comment says "very good surf conditions," and I’d back that for a mellow afternoon session.

The second week also has a brief resurgence around Saturday the 22nd and Sunday the 23rd, with 4ft NW swells and glassy or cross-off winds, but the energy is low (around 300-400) and the period is short (7 seconds), so it'll be a bit weak and peaky, less punch. Still, for a summer session it's better than flat.

To be clear, Chadbourne Gulch is fairly consistent but rarely a world-beater. The beginning of the period has the biggest swell, but the Tuesday afternoon (11th) and Wednesday afternoon (19th) are the true standouts for quality. If you're a beginner, stay away from the 8ft on the 9th—it's a bit much, but the rest of the first week and the glassy afternoons in the second week are fine for your level.

There's a real dry spell from around Friday the 14th through Monday the 17th, where the surf is too small and cross-onshore. Not worth the drive unless you're desperate for a paddle.

Rusty.

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