Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 18s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 17s period, WSW swell with 2,998 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 18s 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. 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 2.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 5s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Wed 12th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line.
We’ve got a solid run of quality southwest groundswell heading our way, starting Wednesday morning and running for over a week. The water is sitting at 55°, which is 5° colder than normal for this time of year – that’s way colder than usual, so a thick 5/4 and hood are non-negotiable if you’re paddling out at Horse Trails.
The standout session without doubt is Wednesday the 12th of August first light. We’re looking at a clean 6ft swell from the southwest with a very long 18-second period, and a glassy offshore breeze from the ENE. The combined energy reading is a massive 2215, meaning there’s plenty of push behind these sets. This is groundswell territory, and with that period, it’ll be better shaped but with longer waits between sets. It’s a sandbar set-up, so expect those long-period lines to stand up and offer some proper walls. This is excellent surf, but the size and power means it’s for intermediate crew and above – beginners, sit this one out.
Thursday the 13th of August keeps the momentum with a 7ft WSW groundswell in the morning (combined energy of 2998) and cross-off winds. That’s pushing into expert-only territory. The afternoon turns a bit lumpy as it goes cross-on. Then Friday the 14th of August morning is still good at 6ft with clean cross-off breezes, and by Friday afternoon, the wind goes glass – dead flat water with a fading 6ft swell. Saturday the 15th of August morning also shows glassy conditions and 6ft surf. After that, the winds start messing with things through the weekend, becoming cross-shore or onshore, but there’s still a fun pulse around.
Tuesday the 18th of August is another beauty – glassy conditions again, a clean 7ft WSW swell, and a combined energy of 1582. This one will be clean and powerful but rideable for skilled surfers. After that, the wind picks up and the quality drops for a couple of days.
We hit a lull around the 20th and 21st of August where the swell drops under 4ft and winds get messy. Then Saturday the 22nd of August morning picks up again with a clean 5ft SW swell and light offshore breezes. Sunday the 23rd of August morning is also clean with 6ft from the southwest.
The very end of the run has a glassy morning on Thursday the 27th of August with a 6ft WSW swell and combined energy of 1068 – a nice sleeper session if you can make it.
That Wednesday morning (12th of August) is the pick of the whole window. Don’t sleep on it.
Keep in mind, this is a sandbar, and with these long-period swells, it can sometimes close out or run a bit straight, so pick your bank. Crowds are a possibility here at times, but with the cold water, it might thin out.
Stay stoked.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Thu afternoon, min 13°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Sat afternoon, min 13°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1922 | 1952 | 1809 | 2998 | 2262 | 1663 | 1358 | 1257 | 1059 | 1144 | 1179 | 1161 | 1207 | 1484 | 2313 | 2245 | 1725 | 1504 | 1163 | 936 | 383 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:13PM1.62m | 3:29AM1.57m | 3:52PM1.68m | 4:09AM1.56m | 4:29PM1.69m | 4:46AM1.51m | 5:05PM1.64m | 5:22AM1.43m | 5:39PM1.55m | 5:57AM1.33m | 6:13PM1.43m | 6:32AM1.21m | 6:48PM1.29m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:01AM0.02m | 9:27PM0.05m | 9:40AM-0.01m | 10:07PM0.02m | 10:16AM-0.00m | 10:45PM0.03m | 10:51AM0.05m | 11:22PM0.09m | 11:24AM0.14m | 11:57PM0.19m | 11:57AM0.25m | 00:31AM0.30m | 12:30PM0.38m | 1:08AM0.42m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — |
 | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 27 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 |
Feels °C | 12 | 18 | 16 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | WSW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 |
| kJ | 1922 | 1952 | 1809 | 2998 | 2262 | 1663 | 1358 | 1257 | 1059 | 1144 | 1179 | 1161 | 1207 | 1484 | 2313 | 2245 | 1725 | 1504 | 1163 | 936 | 383 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | NW 5 | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 13 | SW 12 | — | SW 12 |
| kJ | 187 | 116 | 898 | 18 | — | — | — | 11 | 13 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 205 | 416 | — | 349 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | SSE 5 | — | — |
| kJ | 106 | 65 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 26 | 3 | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | ESE 3 | — | NNW 5 | — | NW 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 5 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 9 | — | 33 | — | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 6 | 31 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 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.
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