
Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 2 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 9 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SSW swell with 3,949 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 3 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 12s period with SW 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 (Jul 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 3.0m 15s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 09) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Friday (Jul 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 3rd Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
Updates in hr min s Forecast update imminent
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Horse Trails.
For a while there, it’s a bit of a slow start. Friday and Saturday are on the small side, with a lot of crosswind mess. We’ve got some weak energy in the water, and it’s just not worth paddling out for. You’re better off waiting.
Sunday the 5th is where things start to look up a little. That morning, the wind is light and clean, coming from the north. You’re looking at a small but workable 3ft SW groundswell with a nice 13-second period. It’s not going to be the session of the year, but it’s clean and there’s enough push for a cruiser on a log. The combined swell energy is moderate (470).
Now, the standout is Monday morning the 6th of July. The swell jumps up to a solid 8ft from the WSW, with an 11-second period. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the SE, keeping the face clean. The combined energy is pumping hard at 1977 – that’s proper juice. This one’s got excellent conditions for experienced surfers. It’s big enough that beginners should sit this one out, but for the crew that knows what they’re doing, this is the pick of the first week.
Tuesday the 7th morning also looks beautiful. The wind goes glassy from the ESE with 6ft SW swell at 12 seconds. It will be clean and lined up, a really pleasant session.
Then things get weird. Wednesday the 8th and Thursday the 9th see the swell pumping hard (3119 to 3638 combined energy) hitting 10ft from the SSW. The wind is favorable, the faces are clean, but at that size, this break is going to be a washing machine for most. It’s expert-only territory.
Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th settle back into a manageable 6ft to 7ft range with clean cross-offshore winds. Good, solid surfing for the confident intermediate.
Looking further out, Sunday the 12th of July morning is another cracker. A 7ft SSW swell with a 16-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell. The combined energy is strong at 2103. Light north winds keeping it clean. That long period means the sets will be better shaped but with longer waits between them. This is a top-tier option for point breaks and reefs, but at a sandbar like this, be aware it might throw some closeout sections.
After the 12th, the wind goes bonkers. Monday and Tuesday (13th and 14th of July) are write-offs with strong onshore winds and poor surf. Not worth a look.
Then Wednesday the 15th through Thursday the 16th of July, the swell goes absolutely mental. We’re talking 13ft of SW swell. The conditions are clean and glassy, but the combined energy is off the charts (over 7000). It’s a massive, dangerous swell. This is strictly for the elite.
Finally, Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th of July, it calms down. Friday morning delivers a clean 8ft SSW swell with a light offshore breeze. That’s still a big wave for most, but it’s lined up. Saturday the 18th morning is the real sleeper: a 6ft SSW groundswell with zero wind and a glassy ocean. The combined energy is moderate at 1197. It doesn’t get much cleaner than that for a fun session.
So, to sum it up: Monday morning the 6th of July is your top pick for proper, powerful waves, and Sunday morning the 12th of July is the other gem for that long-period groundswell. Don’t sleep on that glassy Saturday the 18th either. Crowds are possible here at Horse Trails, especially when it’s good, so get out early.
Stay safe out there.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu night, light winds from the WNW by Sun afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 15°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 3 | Saturday 4 | Sunday 5 | Monday 6 | Tuesday 7 | Wednesday 8 | Thu 9 | |||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SW 13 | WSW 9 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
476 | 459 | 333 | 224 | 129 | 264 | 301 | 215 | 232 | 1422 | 1355 | 628 | 836 | 869 | 840 | 2125 | 2012 | 2012 | 3939 | 3361 | 2229 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 5:02AM1.33m | 5:31PM1.40m | 5:37AM1.30m | 6:06PM1.39m | 6:15AM1.25m | 6:44PM1.37m | 6:59AM1.20m | 7:27PM1.34m | 7:53AM1.14m | 8:20PM1.31m | 9:01AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.29m | 10:21AM1.10m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:03PM0.32m | 11:12AM0.21m | 11:39PM0.33m | 11:44AM0.24m | 00:16AM0.35m | 12:19PM0.29m | 00:58AM0.37m | 12:59PM0.35m | 1:48AM0.38m | 1:49PM0.41m | 2:50AM0.40m | 2:52PM0.47m | 4:03AM0.39m | 4:12PM0.49m | |||||||
— | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | |
5:47 | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:49 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 12 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 13 | 16 |
Feels °C | 6 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 8 | SW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | W 8 | WSW 9 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | W 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 |
476 | 459 | 332 | 173 | 72 | 217 | 300 | 161 | 232 | 1422 | 1355 | 617 | 836 | 869 | 840 | 2125 | 2012 | 2012 | 3939 | 3361 | 2229 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | WSW 11 | S 9 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 18 | W 11 | SW 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | S 8 |
292 | 40 | 23 | 224 | 71 | 232 | 301 | 215 | 196 | 31 | 617 | 628 | 344 | 282 | 182 | 92 | 1061 | 1078 | — | — | 160 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | SSE 8 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 10 | S 9 | WSW 10 | SW 19 | SE 12 | SE 12 | — | — | SW 23 | SW 22 | SW 20 | W 10 | — | — | — | — |
81 | 13 | 57 | 111 | 129 | 63 | 6 | 94 | 14 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 21 | 73 | 190 | 46 | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | WNW 8 | W 8 | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 |
56 | 348 | 333 | — | 126 | 264 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 289 | 277 | 217 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 38 | 31 | 4 | 38 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











