Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surf is on the menu at Horse Trails, but it’s a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. Let’s break it down.

First off, the water’s sitting at 56° – that’s 4° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a thicker wetsuit if you’re paddling out. The next few days are nothing to write home about. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th have some swell but the conditions are just marginal with cross-shore breezes messing things up. The wave energy is moderate at best, with values around 1674 on Sunday and dropping through the week.

There’s a bit of a gap here with no real standouts until Wednesday the 26th. That morning, we get a clean window with a light cross-offshore breeze from the ESE, and 4ft of WSW swell. The energy is moderate (930) and the period is a solid 13 seconds – that’s a nice groundswell for a sandbar break. It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean and fun for an intermediate. Crowds are sometimes an issue here, so keep that in mind.

The real standout, though, is shaping up for Sunday the 30th. Early morning, we’ve got glassy conditions with a light north breeze and a solid 10ft swell from the WSW. The energy is strong (2798). But here’s the catch – 10ft surf is getting into expert-only territory for a sandbar. It’s likely too big for beginners, and even for intermediates, it’ll be a handful. The period is a shorter 10 seconds, so it’s a bit wind-swell-ish, but still powerful. If you’re experienced and hungry, that’s your window.

After that, Monday the 31st and Tuesday the 1st of September bring more solid 8ft SW swells, but the winds are a bit messy. Tuesday morning on the 1st looks clean with a cross-offshore breeze and a solid 8ft SW swell, energy around 1537 – that’s a good call for experienced surfers. The period is 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell.

Then things get wild. Thursday the 3rd of September, we’re looking at a massive 26ft WSW swell with a very long 16-second period. The energy is off the charts at 33636. That is absolutely not for paddle surfing – it’s huge, dangerous, and likely closing out. If you’ve got a kite, this setup might be more your thing, but for a board, give it a wide berth. That big swell hangs around into Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th.

Saturday the 5th of September is a redemption day. Early morning, glassy conditions, 8ft of S swell with a 14-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell that will wrap in nicely. The energy is strong (3774), and it’s clean. For a sandbar break, that long period might make it a bit walled, but if the tide’s right, it’ll be excellent for experienced surfers. Crowds are possible, so get there early.

The second week is less certain, but keep an eye on Sunday the 7th of September afternoon – clean cross-offshore winds, 8ft SW swell, 12-second period, and good energy (2020). That could be another solid session if the forecast holds.

So, if you’re asking me, the best on offer is the glassy morning of Sunday the 30th of August – but only if you’re an expert. For the rest of us, the clean windows on Wednesday the 26th of August and Tuesday the 1st of September morning are your best bets. Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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