Horse Trails Surf Break

Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Lat Long: 33.78° S 18.45° E

Issued: 7 pm 02 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
13.1° C

2.5°C colder than average for this time of year

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 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 TypeTime (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 Forecast

Mostly 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 Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
4
4
2
3
3
2
4
3
3
!
!
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.9
W
8
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
12
0.9
SW
12
0.5
SW
16
1.4
WNW
8
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
1.2
WSW
9
2.3
WSW
12
2.3
WSW
11
1.6
SW
12
1.8
SW
11
1.8
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
2.3
SW
14
2.4
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
3
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.4
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
476
459
333
224
129
264
301
215
232
1422
1355
628
836
869
840
2125
2012
2012
3939
3361
2229
Wind (km/h)
30
N
20
NNW
15
NW
15
NNE
20
NNE
15
NW
10
NNE
10
N
5
WNW
5
NE
5
SE
10
SW
5
E
5
ESE
10
SSW
5
NE
5
SW
15
S
20
SE
20
SE
15
SSE
Wind State
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
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
7:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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)
1.9
W
8
1.2
SW
13
1.1
SW
12
1.2
W
8
0.7
SW
8
1.3
W
8
1.5
WSW
8
1.1
W
8
1.2
WSW
9
2.3
WSW
12
2.3
WSW
11
1.6
W
11
1.8
SW
11
1.8
SW
12
1.8
SW
12
2.3
SW
14
2.4
SW
13
2.4
SW
13
3
SSW
15
3
SSW
14
2.4
SW
14
Energy kJ
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)
1.1
SW
11
0.4
WSW
11
0.4
S
9
0.9
SW
12
0.6
SW
11
0.7
SW
15
0.9
SW
14
0.8
SW
13
0.8
SW
13
0.2
WSW
18
1.6
W
11
1.6
SW
12
1.2
W
11
1.1
W
11
0.9
W
11
0.7
W
10
1.4
SW
17
1.4
SW
16
1.2
S
8
Energy kJ
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)
0.5
WSW
12
0.3
SSE
8
0.3
SW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SW
16
0.6
SW
10
0.2
S
9
0.7
WSW
10
0.1
SW
19
0.1
SE
12
0.1
SE
12
0.1
SW
23
0.3
SW
22
0.5
SW
20
0.5
W
10
Energy kJ
81
13
57
111
129
63
6
94
14
6
5
21
73
190
46
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
NNW
5
1.7
WNW
8
1.6
W
8
1
WNW
8
1.4
WNW
8
1.9
SSE
6
1.7
SSE
7
1.5
SSE
7
Energy kJ
56
348
333
126
264
289
277
217
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
3
1
2
2
2
2
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
4
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
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa
Rating
(10 max)
4
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
5
5
5
5
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
5
9
5
5
6
5
9
7
5
8
9
8
6
8
9
6
9
5
5
9
  • 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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