Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s period, WSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 15s period, SW swell with 2,487 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 11s period with SSW 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 (Aug 21) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 11s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 6s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 2.3m 15s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's talk about Horse Trails. We're looking at a bit of a mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The water is sitting at 56°, which is a full 4° colder than usual for this time of year. That's a proper chill, so you'll want a good steamer.
The first real standout is Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. We've got a clean 8ft SW groundswell rolling in with a solid 14-second period, and light cross-offshore winds from the SE. The combined energy is strong at 2267, and the conditions are set up for excellent surf. This one is for experienced surfers, as the size will be pushing it. It's a solid call.
Sunday the 23rd also has some potential. The morning sees a 8ft WSW swell with a 13-second period and light cross-shore breezes, but energy is a bit more chaotic. The afternoon picks up a stronger breeze, so the morning is your window.
Looking further out, we hit a big one. The forecast for Wednesday, the 2nd of September, is showing a massive 12ft WSW swell with a 15-second period. The combined energy reads 5245, which is enormous. However, and this is a big however, the wave comment is clear: this is too big for Horse Trails. It's strictly for experts, and even then, it's a maybe. The same goes for Thursday the 3rd, with a 15ft swell. That's in the realm of 'watch from the cliff' territory.
The end of the first week into the second sees a drop-off. Friday the 4th of September morning has a cleaner 7ft SW swell, with cross-offshore winds. It's a good option for experienced surfers, but the consistency is fair. The following week has some smaller, cleaner windows, like the 5th of September morning with a 5ft SSE swell, but nothing that screams 'all-time'.
So, for the best bet, lock in Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. It's the cleanest, most powerful window that's actually rideable. Just be ready for that cold water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | |||||||||||||||
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 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 14 | S 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1092 | 860 | 388 | 443 | 528 | 625 | 1674 | 1532 | 1215 | 974 | 376 | 2487 | 2284 | 1553 | 915 | 484 | 361 | 338 | 233 | 257 | 626 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 9:49AM0.92m | 10:25PM0.98m | 11:54AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.04m | 12:58PM1.07m | 1:01AM1.13m | 1:36PM1.19m | 1:40AM1.24m | 2:08PM1.31m | 2:13AM1.33m | 2:36PM1.42m | 2:44AM1.41m | 3:04PM1.52m | 3:14AM1.47m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:53PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:08PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | 7:59AM0.30m | 8:17PM0.34m | 8:27AM0.21m | 8:46PM0.24m | 8:54AM0.14m | 9:15PM0.16m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 19 | 19 |
Feels °C | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 11 | SW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WSW 14 | S 8 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 14 |
| kJ | 1092 | 860 | 388 | 443 | 528 | 625 | 1674 | 1532 | 1215 | 974 | 376 | 2487 | 2284 | 1553 | 428 | 484 | 361 | 338 | 233 | 233 | 626 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 10 | SSW 11 | — | — | SSW 13 | SW 11 | W 11 | — | — | WSW 13 | S 8 | SSW 11 | WSW 12 | WSW 12 | S 14 | WSW 11 |
| kJ | — | — | 317 | 214 | 71 | 389 | 46 | — | — | 68 | 224 | 151 | — | — | 915 | 137 | 214 | 226 | 222 | 257 | 140 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSW 14 | — | WSW 17 | WSW 14 | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | — | — | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSE 8 | SSW 15 | S 14 | WSW 12 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | — | — | 77 | — | 27 | 501 | — | — | — | — | 129 | — | — | — | 36 | 176 | 92 | 21 | 146 | 156 | 252 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 5 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | S 3 | — | SSE 4 | S 5 | SSE 5 | SSE 6 | S 7 | SE 7 | — | — | — | N 3 | NW 3 | — |
| kJ | 39 | 535 | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | 11 | 87 | 54 | 130 | 399 | 375 | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 93 | 0 | 2 | 401 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 0 |
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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