Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. We’ve got a decent run of swell coming through at Horse Trails, but it’s a tale of two halves on this 16-day stretch. The first week is looking solid, but there’s a bit of a wind hiccup in the middle, and then the second week gets a bit wild with some big, heavy swell.

### First Week: The Good Stuff

The forecast kicks off Saturday morning, July 25th, with a clean 7ft SW groundswell (period 13 seconds) and a light cross-offshore breeze. The water is sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll want a decent spring suit. The combined energy is moderate at 1961, so there’s some push. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers, not a beginner's wave. The swell will be a bit too big for learners.

Sunday morning, July 26th, is looking like the standout of the first week. The swell drops slightly to 7ft from the SW, but the wind swings to a glassy ESE cross-offshore breeze at just 3 mph. The energy is still strong at 1398, and the conditions are clean. This is the one to circle in your calendar – it’s going to be a ripper of a morning, with the period at 12 seconds meaning good shape, but expect longer waits between sets.

Tuesday, July 28th, is another solid option. The morning starts with a 8ft SW swell (15 seconds) and a clean ESE cross-offshore breeze, energy is strong at 2877. The afternoon holds up just as well with a 8ft swell and clean conditions. Still too big for beginners, but for intermediates and above, it’s a goer.

### The Mid-Week Blip

Monday, July 27th, is a write-off. The wind picks up from the SSE at 16-22 mph, creating a lumpy cross-chop. The swell is still 8ft with a 16-second period, but the wind is going to ruin it. The energy is very strong (3634-4294), but it’s just messy. This is more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing one.

Wednesday, July 29th, has a nice morning window with a 6ft SW swell and a clean offshore easterly breeze. The energy drops to 1067, but it’s a fun, manageable size. The afternoon is a write-off as the wind swings onshore.

Thursday, July 30th, is interesting. The morning is clean with a 5ft swell, but the real highlight is the afternoon: glassy conditions with a 5ft SW swell (13 seconds) and zero wind. This is a chance for some smooth, clean lines, but the energy is low (700). Worth a paddle if you’re after a cruisy session.

### The Gap

After Friday, July 31st, the swell drops to 4-4ft and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-on. Saturday, August 1st, and Sunday, August 2nd, are pretty flat and not worth your time. There’s a 3-4 day gap here with no real recommendations.

### Second Week: The Big Swell & The Promise

Monday, August 3rd, is a welcome return. The morning is glassy with a 6ft SW swell (13 seconds) – clean, low energy (976), but a fun option. The afternoon turns onshore, so get in early.

The standout of the second week is Wednesday, August 5th. The morning is glassy with a 8ft swell from the WSW, period 13 seconds, and the energy is very strong at 2288. This is excellent, but only for experienced surfers. The afternoon is a no-go as the swell hits 10ft, which is too big for this break.

Thursday, August 6th, is just massive. We’re looking at 10ft SW swell all day with very strong energy (2715-3245). This is for experts only, and even then, it might be too much for the sandbar. The wind is light, but the size is the story.

Friday, August 7th, sees the wind pick up again from the SSE at 16 mph, making a mess of the 8ft swell. The afternoon is better with a cross-offshore breeze, but it’s still a bit lumpy.

Saturday, August 8th, finishes the run strong. The morning is clean with a 6ft SW swell (12 seconds) and a light offshore breeze. The afternoon is glassy with a 7ft swell (13 seconds) – energy at 1879. This is a solid, clean option to wrap up the forecast.

Sunday, August 9th, has a glassy morning with a 7ft SW swell, but the afternoon turns to a cross-shore mess.

Overall, the best of the best is Sunday morning, July 26th, for its glassy cleanliness and solid swell. For the second week, lock in Saturday morning, August 8th, for a clean, fun session. Don’t get caught out on Monday the 27th or when the swell hits 10ft – that’s a whole different game.

Rusty.

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