Horse Trails Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 18.45° E

Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 7 am 28 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
13.2°C
2.3° 

Horse Trails surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Horse Trails surf forecast from 28 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 8,437 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period with WSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Horse Trails this week:

The surf forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 3.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Fri 28th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s
Best Surf 2AM (Wed 2nd Sep)10ft (3.0m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep)11ft (3.5m) 18s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let me tell you how it’s looking for Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks. I’ve been watching this one, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, so listen up.

First thing you gotta know – the water is much colder than normal right now, coming in at 56°F. That’s about 4°F below what you’d expect for this time of year. So bring a thick wetsuit, yeah?

The opening act kicks off Friday morning, 28 August. You won’t believe it – dead glassy conditions with a 3ft groundswell from the WSW, period a solid 16 seconds. Combined energy is sitting at 644 (moderate). For a sandbar like this, that long period can make things a little straight, but with no wind, I’d paddle out early for some clean, peeling lines. If you can get on it, this is a proper standout for the whole run. Just be aware, it *sometimes* gets crowded here.

Friday afternoon turns a bit cloudy, wind swings S at 6 mph and goes cross-on. The swell builds to 4ft (14 second period) but the wave quality drops. It’s marginal, touch and go.

Saturday the 29th, morning is clean with a cross-off SE breeze at 9 mph and swell 5ft (14 sec). It’s still workable but nothing special as the energy bumps to 778 (moderate). Afternoon gets messy – S wind ramps to 16 mph, sideshore, and the wave height hits 6ft with a cross-chop. Bit of a write-off unless you’re after a fight.

Sunday the 30th, we get a pulse of 8ft SW swell (13 sec) but it’s crossed up with a 16 mph SSE wind making for rough, choppy conditions. The combined energy jumps to 2265 (strong). This is big for Horse Trails – definitely too big for beginners, and with that wind, it’s only going to appeal to the hardcore experts. By afternoon, it’s just poor.

Monday the 31st, the swell hangs around 7ft but the wind is light and cross-on in the morning. Still marginal. Afternoon gets worse as the wind shifts.

Tuesday 1 September is where my eyebrow raises. We’ve got an offshore wind kicking in from the WSW, 6 mph in the morning, glassing up a solid 8ft SW swell with a 14-second period. Energy is 2223 (strong). That is a proper clean window for Horse Trails. This is the other real standout – the wind is right, the swell has size and direction (SW – which is the optimum for this break), and it’s going to hold shape. If you can sneak away Tuesday morning, I reckon that’s the best call of the whole forecast.

But don’t get too comfy. Wednesday 2 September is a monster. We see a 15ft SW swell (16 sec) rolling in, but it’s crossed up with a fresh 22 mph SSE wind. Combined energy? 9840 (very strong). That is pure grunt. The forecast even says it’s too big for this break. Unless you’re a big-wave charger, sit this one out. Thursday and Friday (3-4 September) stay oversized with brutal 28-31 mph winds. All the swell is in the 7-10ft range, but the wind just ruins it. I’d honestly say those days look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

We hit a real lull from Saturday 5 September through to Monday morning 7 September. Swell drops to 2ft – 5ft, winds are all over the place (cross, cross-on), and the energy is weak again (under 729). Nothing worth rushing for.

Tuesday 8 September to Friday 11 September is slim pickings. Small swell (2ft to 3ft), short or moderate periods, and mostly onshore or sideshore winds. Don’t bother.

Saturday 12 September sees a bit of a pulse – 6ft to 7ft SW groundswell (14 sec), but unfortunately, we’ve got a fresh NW breeze up to 19 mph making it choppy and lumpy. Energy is back up to 1532-1676 (strong), but the conditions are poor. Another one for the kite crew, not the shortboard.

So, to boil it down: if you’re serious, your two best windows are Friday morning 28 August (glassy, small, clean) and Tuesday morning 1 September (offshore wind, solid 8ft SW swell). The rest is either too big with bad wind, or too small and scrappy. Get out there for those two sessions and you’ll be smiling.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
2
2
0
3
2
2
3
1
0
2
2
1
!
!
!
!
3
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WSW
16
1.2
WSW
14
1.2
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
14
1.4
WSW
14
1.7
WSW
13
2.5
SW
12
2.5
SW
12
2.3
SW
12
1.9
SW
11
1.9
SW
11
2.1
SW
11
2.5
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
3
SW
13
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
14
3.5
SW
13
2.2
SW
12
2.2
S
11
3
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
280
519
454
724
756
936
2010
1742
1488
961
821
990
2000
2031
2651
7127
5582
3975
1486
1148
1528
Wind (km/h)
5
NNE
10
SSW
0
SSW
15
ESE
25
S
15
S
25
S
25
S
15
S
10
S
20
SSW
5
SSE
15
SW
15
SW
25
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
10
ESE
15
SE
55
SE
45
SSE
Wind State
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
High Tide
3:32PM1.59m
3:44AM1.50m
4:01PM1.63m
4:16AM1.50m
4:31PM1.63m
4:48AM1.47m
5:03PM1.59m
5:23AM1.41m
5:38PM1.52m
6:02AM1.31m
6:19PM1.41m
6:49AM1.20m
7:11PM1.27m
Low Tide
9:21AM0.09m
9:44PM0.10m
9:49AM0.07m
10:14PM0.07m
10:18AM0.07m
10:45PM0.07m
10:48AM0.11m
11:18PM0.11m
11:22AM0.18m
11:55PM0.19m
11:59AM0.28m
00:39AM0.29m
12:46PM0.40m
1:38AM0.41m
clear
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:09
7:09
7:07
7:05
7:05
7:03
7:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:24
6:24
6:25
6:27
6:27
6:28
6:29
 mm
Temp °C
18
18
17
18
16
14
14
14
12
13
14
13
14
15
15
15
19
17
16
16
16
Feels °C
17
16
16
15
12
10
8
9
6
10
10
10
12
12
13
12
16
14
13
7
8
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Horse Trails Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Horse Trails provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Horse Trails can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Horse Trails surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Horse Trails) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Horse Trails may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Horse Trails is 8 km (5 miles) from the very large city of Robben Island. If you plan a holiday in Cape Town, look for hotels and other accommodation in Robben Island. Robben Island has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as cheap car hire and transport links.

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