Horse Trails Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 18.45° E

Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
13.6° C
1.8° 

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 30 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 5 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 15s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 5 Aug, 2PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with 4,275 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 13s 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be offshore 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 (Aug 05) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 5AM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Thu 30th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 13s
Best Surf 8AM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 15s
Most Powerful 2PM (Wed 5th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 14s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, let’s break it down.

Those first few days at Horse Trails are underwhelming. Swell shows up, but the conditions aren't cooperating. Thursday the 30th kicks off with some 5ft SW groundswell, decent energy (802), and clean morning wind, but it’s just not firing right – probably a tide issue. The afternoon goes sideways with a cross-on wind. Friday and Saturday are smaller, mornings clean but nothing special.

Then Sunday the 2nd of August delivers. Flat calm, glassy water, and 4ft of clean SW swell. That’s your morning for a longboard or funboard. Just a mellow, clean session. Crowds can pop up now and then, so get in early.

Monday the 3rd is the real gem. Still a solid 5ft SW swell, but the wind is dead calm – completely glassy. The combined energy is strong (700). That’s your best session of the first week, no question.

Tuesday the 4th and Wednesday the 5th have glassy starts, but Wednesday goes wild. Swell jumps to 8ft with a 16-second period – that’s a heavy groundswell. The energy is massive (3337). That’s expert-only. The afternoon hits 12ft, but it’s too much for this break, and the wind turns cross-shore – more of a beatdown than a ride.

From the 6th through the 10th, it’s huge. Swells over 10ft, sometimes over 20ft. Energy numbers are insane (over 5000, then over 16000 on August 9th). Too big for paddle surfing here – that’s kite territory.

Things chill out nicely from the 11th. Tuesday the 11th has a clean 6ft S swell with light offshore winds – great for experienced surfers. The mornings of the 12th and 13th stay clean, with chest-to-head high waves and glassy or cross-off winds. The 13th afternoon is totally glassy with 5ft WSW swell and a 14-second period – long, clean lines. That’s a standout of the second week.

The 14th morning brings a big 10ft swell again, but the wind is clean. That’s for the bold ones only.

So my top call is Monday the 3rd of August – that glassy 5ft SW swell with clean conditions and solid energy. Second best is Tuesday the 11th and Thursday the 13th afternoon for that glassy, long-period glass.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 14°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light.

Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
Sunday
2
Monday
3
Tuesday
4
Wednesday
5
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
2
3
2
1
2
!
!
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.6
SW
13
1.4
SW
13
1.3
SW
13
1.2
SW
12
1.1
SW
12
0.7
WSW
16
1.2
SW
14
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
13
1.2
SW
12
1.3
SW
13
1.5
WSW
13
1.4
WSW
13
1.7
WSW
12
1.5
SW
11
1.3
WSW
11
1.1
SW
15
3
SW
15
3
WSW
14
3
WSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
796
669
545
416
355
215
581
494
486
479
435
581
808
669
769
534
382
492
4235
3978
3582
Wind (km/h)
5
E
10
SSW
10
E
10
ESE
5
SSW
10
E
5
E
10
SW
10
ENE
5
N
5
WNW
10
N
0
WNW
10
SW
0
ENE
5
WNW
10
SW
10
NNW
20
NNW
20
NW
15
NNE
Wind State
cross-off
cross-on
off
cross-off
glassy
off
off
on
off
cross-off
cross-on
cross-off
glassy
cross-on
glassy
glassy
on
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
4:03PM1.49m
4:09AM1.43m
4:33PM1.52m
4:41AM1.42m
5:03PM1.53m
5:13AM1.39m
5:34PM1.52m
5:48AM1.34m
6:08PM1.47m
6:28AM1.27m
6:48PM1.41m
7:15AM1.19m
7:38PM1.32m
Low Tide
9:50AM0.13m
10:11PM0.22m
10:18AM0.12m
10:42PM0.20m
10:47AM0.13m
11:13PM0.20m
11:16AM0.16m
11:47PM0.21m
11:48AM0.21m
00:24AM0.25m
12:25PM0.29m
1:09AM0.31m
1:11PM0.39m
2:07AM0.39m
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:39
7:39
7:37
7:37
7:37
7:35
7:35
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
6:05
6:05
6:06
6:07
6:07
6:07
6:08
 mm
Temp °C
15
18
17
18
22
21
20
24
21
18
20
15
14
16
14
14
15
13
13
15
15
Feels °C
13
16
15
15
19
18
17
22
18
15
17
14
13
14
12
12
13
12
10
12
12
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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