Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 6,967 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 24 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s 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 24) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.0m and 16s period. 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 24) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Fri 24th Jul) | 13ft (4.0m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. This is Rusty, and I’ve got the goods on Horse Trails. It’s a sandbar setup, fairly exposed to a SW swell, and we’ve got a wild ride ahead across the next two weeks.
The immediate window is pumping—this Friday morning, July 24th, we’re looking at a solid 12 ft SW groundswell with a 14-second period. That’s a lot of juice, with the combined energy sitting at a heavy 4362. It’s glassy with a light SE wind. This is big. For experienced surfers only, this is going to be a standout: powerful, clean, and very long lines due to that period. Friday afternoon still has size at 10 ft SW, but the wind shifts cross-onshore, so the morning is the clear winner.
Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th mornings are also top-tier. Saturday morning drops to a still-chunky 7 ft SW (1928 energy) with clean cross-off winds, and Sunday morning is 7 ft SW (1340) with glassy conditions. Both mornings will offer excellent, clean waves for the more experienced crew.
It gets messy Monday July 27th. Strong southerly winds at 25 mph will chop up a solid 8 ft to 10 ft SW swell. That’s a write-off. The entire week is a mixed bag, with Tuesday cleaning up under cross-off winds, but those 8 ft to 10 ft swells are still heaving.
Look, the next true standout comes on Wednesday morning, August 5th. The swell builds back to 8 ft from the SW with a very long 13-second period, and the energy is strong at 2013. The wind is light and cross-off, so the surf will be clean and powerful. This is another morning for experienced surfers only.
The period ends on a high note. Saturday morning, August 8th, delivers a clean, glassy 6 ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period. The energy is 1003, and with offshore winds, the shape should be really good. After a week of ups and downs, this is a solid, rewarding finish.
Remember, at 8 ft and above, this break is for the experienced lot. Over the entire run, the best of the best are Friday July 24th morning and Wednesday August 5th morning.
Keep your eye on the horizon, and don’t get caught out by that Monday chop. This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue afternoon, min 10°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SSE on Mon afternoon, light winds from the SSE by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 8075 | 4362 | 3536 | 2281 | 1429 | 1591 | 1539 | 1022 | 1042 | 558 | 2913 | 3326 | 3102 | 3093 | 3408 | 1918 | 1162 | 976 | 700 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off |
High Tide | 11:05PM1.08m | 12:11PM1.02m | 00:19AM1.11m | 1:10PM1.09m | 1:14AM1.17m | 1:53PM1.18m | 1:56AM1.25m | 2:29PM1.27m | 2:33AM1.32m | 3:02PM1.36m | 3:06AM1.38m | 3:33PM1.43m | 3:38AM1.41m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:57AM0.53m | 6:16PM0.61m | 6:58AM0.46m | 7:16PM0.54m | 7:43AM0.38m | 7:59PM0.45m | 8:20AM0.30m | 8:36PM0.38m | 8:52AM0.23m | 9:09PM0.31m | 9:22AM0.17m | 9:40PM0.25m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — | 7:41 | — | — |
 | 6:00 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 13 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 17 | 16 |
Feels °C | 11 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 13 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 8075 | 4362 | 3536 | 2281 | 1429 | 1591 | 1539 | 1022 | 1042 | 558 | 2913 | 3326 | 3102 | 3093 | 3408 | 1918 | 1162 | 976 | 700 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 16 | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | WSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | — | — | — | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 499 | 25 | — | 318 | 217 | 462 | 727 | 996 | — | — | — | 116 | 41 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 11 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 306 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | SSE 4 | — | — | — | — | S 5 | S 6 | SSE 7 | S 8 | SSE 8 | SSE 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 75 | 191 | 394 | 464 | 316 | 372 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 282 | 161 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Cape Town | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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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