Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 3,268 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 16 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s 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 Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 3.0m 14s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey, Rusty here breaking down Horse Trails.
Right now, it’s ugly. Fresh cross-shore wind and lumpy chop have the place looking like a washing machine. Water temp is 55°F, and that’s a solid 5°F colder than normal—so you’ll be shivering in the lineup.
You get a sniff of hope on Thursday the 17th, but it’s still marginal. A 7ft southwest swell with a 12-second period rolls in, and the wind turns cross-offshore to clean things up. The wave energy is solid, around 1710 (strong), but the quality is still just "marginal." Not a day to get too excited.
Your first real bet is Saturday the 19th, especially the morning. Clean conditions, a 5ft southwest swell, and a 12-second period with light offshore wind. The combined energy reads 1475, and the setup is tidy. It’s the best look in the first week.
But the real standout is further out—Tuesday the 29th. The morning session shows a light offshore breeze, a clean 4ft southwest swell with a nice 12-second pulse, and the combined swell energy sits at 623. The call is "good surf conditions." That’s the one to circle on your calendar.
Just remember, Horse Trails is a sandbar, and it’s fairly consistent. When it’s good, it gets busy, so expect some company.
Hang in there. It starts rough, but it shapes up nicely.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 18mm), heaviest on Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon morning, min 12°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 12°C on Thu morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Thu afternoon, light winds from the S by Sat afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 430 | 272 | 221 | 165 | 813 | 3108 | 2719 | 919 | 1619 | 1271 | 990 | 626 | 589 | 834 | 891 | 667 | 549 | 535 | 919 | 932 | 647 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:59PM1.52m | 5:18AM1.35m | 5:29PM1.40m | 5:49AM1.24m | 6:00PM1.27m | 6:24AM1.13m | 6:36PM1.13m | 7:10AM1.01m | 7:30PM1.00m | 8:48AM0.92m | 9:37PM0.93m | 11:20AM0.96m | 11:39PM0.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:49AM0.16m | 11:15PM0.17m | 11:18AM0.26m | 11:44PM0.28m | 11:48AM0.38m | 00:15AM0.41m | 12:20PM0.51m | 00:53AM0.53m | 1:03PM0.63m | 2:02AM0.64m | 2:56PM0.73m | 4:47AM0.65m | 5:47PM0.67m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:47 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — |
 | — | 6:36 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — |
mm | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
Feels °C | 13 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 12 | 10 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 |
| kJ | 430 | 272 | 220 | 165 | 813 | 3108 | 2719 | 919 | 1619 | 1271 | 990 | 626 | 589 | 834 | 891 | 667 | 549 | 535 | 919 | 932 | 647 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSE 13 | SE 13 | SW 18 | — | WNW 8 | SW 14 | WSW 13 | W 13 | W 12 | — | S 10 | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 15 | — | — | — | WSW 18 |
| kJ | — | 16 | 7 | 152 | — | 178 | 534 | 901 | 389 | 144 | — | 50 | — | — | — | 346 | 171 | — | — | — | 31 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 6 | WNW 7 | — | — | S 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 7 | SSE 7 | S 6 | S 6 | S 5 | SSW 6 |
| kJ | 60 | 221 | 221 | 141 | 431 | — | — | 239 | 293 | 295 | 332 | 227 | 190 | 292 | 402 | 462 | 459 | 137 | 89 | 59 | 53 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 81 | 38 | 233 | 233 | 127 | 341 | 161 | 57 | 57 | 219 | 164 | 164 | 1408 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 161 | 419 | 59 |
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.
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