Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 10 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 17s period, WSW swell with 3,378 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 13s 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 Tuesday (Aug 11) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.4m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. 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 2.4m 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 0.5m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk Horse Trails in feet and miles per hour.
The pattern kicks off Tuesday, August 11th, with a clean 7 ft SSW swell. Wind is a cross-off ESE at 9 mph, so the morning is tidy. The afternoon cleans up, dropping to 5 ft with a light offshore E wind at 6 mph. Nice little start.
Wednesday the 12th is the real deal. Morning sees a 6 ft SW groundswell, period stretching to 18 seconds, and a gentle offshore E wind at 9 mph. That’s long, powerful lines. The afternoon holds at 6 ft, still clean. This is a standout.
Thursday the 13th peaks at 8 ft from the WSW in the morning – expert territory. Wind is cross-off NE at 12 mph. The afternoon drops to 7 ft but gets cross-on.
Friday the 14th is another gem. Morning glass with a 6 ft WSW swell, near-calm N wind at 3 mph. The afternoon goes completely glassy – zero wind, pristine. That’s a session to remember.
Saturday the 15th starts clean, but the afternoon turns onshore. Sunday the 16th is a morning-only play: glassy, 5 ft swell.
Monday the 17th brings a big 8 ft WSW swell, but the wind is cross-shore and quality is marginal. Experts only.
Tuesday the 18th is a monster. 10 ft SW swell in the morning – too big for this break. The afternoon is a write-off with 22 mph cross-shore winds. That’s kite-surfing weather.
We get a lull from the 19th to the 21st – small, weak, and mostly poor. Waves under 4 ft.
Then Saturday the 22nd, we’re back. Morning glass, 6 ft WSW swell, 15-second period. Clean and fun.
Sunday the 23rd is another standout for the big-wave crew: 8 ft WSW swell, 15-second period, light cross-off wind. Get it early.
After that, the swell fades into the 24th and 25th, with a glimmer on the 26th – 6 ft SW swell and clean wind, but it’s a long way out.
The best of the best is Wednesday the 12th and Friday the 14th. Two true standouts. Sunday the 23rd for the experts.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 14°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 2088 | 1140 | 730 | 1850 | 1922 | 1952 | 2160 | 3378 | 2450 | 1743 | 1337 | 1393 | 1286 | 1196 | 1144 | 1028 | 1047 | 1299 | 2310 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:00AM1.45m | 2:32PM1.51m | 2:47AM1.53m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:19AM0.10m | 8:44PM0.13m | 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 | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — |
 | 6:12 | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:14 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 11 | 13 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 6 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 21 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | WSW 17 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 |
| kJ | 2088 | 1140 | 730 | 1850 | 1922 | 1952 | 2160 | 3378 | 2450 | 1743 | 1337 | 1393 | 1286 | 1196 | 1144 | 1028 | 1047 | 1299 | 2310 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 24 | SSW 11 | S 10 | SSW 10 | SW 21 | — | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 18 |
| kJ | 76 | 21 | 381 | 207 | 216 | 106 | 1167 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 104 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 26 | WSW 10 | SSE 9 | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 27 | 19 | 116 | 106 | 64 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SE 8 | — | — | — | SE 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 255 | — | — | — | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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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