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, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, WSW swell with 3,929 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 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.7m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 19) at 8AM.
| 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 | 2AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. We’re looking at Horse Trails and it’s a bit of a rough patch. Water temp is sitting at 55°F, which is about 5°F colder than average for this time of year – that’s a noticeable chill, so bring the rubber.
We start off Monday the 14th with lumpy, cross-shore slop and no surf worth paddling for. The wind is up and messy, and the wave energy is weak (563). Not much to get excited about.
The first real glimmer is Thursday the 17th. The morning session shows a 7ft swell from the SW with a 12-second period – energy is solid (1629) – and the wind goes cross-offshore so it cleans right up. That swell is a little too big for beginners, but intermediates should find some decent walls. The wind turns cross in the afternoon though, so don’t sleep in.
Friday the 18th is a repeat. Clean in the morning, 6ft from the SW, period dropping to 11 seconds, energy down (828). Still a decent clean morning with cross-off breezes.
The real standout is Monday the 21st morning. Light SE breeze – cross-off, nearly glassy – and a clean 4ft SW swell. Nothing huge, but it’ll be fun on a longboard. Energy is modest (528), but with light crowds (listed as "sometimes" busy) and the poor run leading up, you might score it empty.
Then Tuesday the 22nd morning looks even better. Same light cross-off wind, swell 4ft from the SW with a long 13-second period, and the energy jumps (901). The forecast calls for "very good surf conditions" – that’s your best session. Clean, lined-up waves on the sandbar.
After that it’s a slow slide back into cross-shore wind and lumpy surf from Wednesday the 23rd. There’s another chance on Monday the 28th morning – a 3ft SW groundswell with a very long 16-second period, light offshore wind from the WSW, clean conditions. It’s promising but it’s over a week away, so keep an eye on it. That long period might make the beach a little straight, so pick your spot.
Overall, the first week is mostly a bust. Tuesday the 22nd morning is the one to aim for. Monday the 28th morning could be a bonus if it holds.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 21mm), heaviest during Tue night. Very mild (max 17°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 6 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 275 | 227 | 175 | 813 | 3929 | 878 | 1011 | 2345 | 1276 | 990 | 685 | 701 | 976 | 946 | 455 | 558 | 535 | 796 | 1080 | 689 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off |
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 | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  |  |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 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 | — | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 15 |
Feels °C | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 272 | 220 | 165 | 813 | 3929 | 878 | 1011 | 2345 | 1276 | 990 | 685 | 701 | 976 | 946 | 455 | 558 | 535 | 796 | 1080 | 689 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 13 | SE 13 | SW 18 | — | NW 7 | SW 14 | SW 13 | W 13 | W 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | — | — | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 15 | — | — | — | W 19 |
| kJ | 16 | 7 | 152 | — | 156 | 596 | 905 | 389 | 106 | 222 | 34 | — | — | 203 | 301 | 171 | — | — | — | 7 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 6 | WNW 7 | — | SW 9 | S 6 | SE 6 | S 7 | S 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | SSE 6 | S 6 | S 6 | S 6 |
| kJ | 275 | 227 | 175 | 405 | — | 853 | 193 | 118 | 247 | 297 | 188 | 127 | 252 | 143 | 233 | 269 | 205 | 139 | 157 | 89 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 81 | 38 | 233 | 193 | 127 | 341 | 161 | 57 | 164 | 401 | 59 | 5 | 1409 | 2 | 127 | 401 | 457 | 161 | 862 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)- Wind Speed (km/h)
FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website
The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Horse Trails surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.
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.
Nearest