Horse Trails Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.78° S 18.45° E

Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 1 am 19 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Horse Trails sea temperature is
14.5° C
0.9° 

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 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 23 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Thursday 23 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 13ft (4.0m), 16s period, SW swell with 8,913 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m 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 4.0m 16s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 23) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 2PM.

Wave TypeTime (SAST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Sun 19th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 12s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 23rd Jul)13ft (4.0m) 17s
Most Powerful11PM (Thu 23rd Jul)13ft (4.0m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks. It’s going to be a tale of two halves, with some absolute magic in the middle.

The overall pattern shows a slow start, then a real spike of powerful, long-period groundswell setting up some of the best waves we’ve seen in a while. The water temp is sitting right around 58° right now, which is about 2° cooler than usual for this time of year – nothing too crazy, just a touch of winter bite.

We’ve got a bit of a wait, though. The first few days are a write-off. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are offering small, weak, messy waves with poor wind. The combined energy is weak, under 1000 (419–807), and the period is short. Not worth getting wet for.

Then it all changes. Tuesday the 21st morning is your first real standout. The swell jumps to 7ft from the SW, with a proper 14-second period. The energy is 1715 – that’s a solid, moderate wave. But the real kicker is the wind: glassy, dead calm. This is going to be clean, lined-up, and powerful. It’s a bit much for beginners at 7ft, but for the intermediate crew, this is the session to circle. The crowd factor is something to be aware of here – it’s a spot that can get busy, so get in early.

Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd hold in that 7ft to 7ft range, but the wind gets a bit messy. Thursday afternoon, however, is a real sleeper. The swell is 8ft, period is 16 seconds – that’s very long period groundswell – and the energy is a massive 3520. The wind goes glassy again. This is going to be a freight train. The long period means it’ll be better on the takeoff, but at a sandbar, watch for it to straighten out a bit. This is expert territory at this size.

Now, Friday the 24th is a warning. The swell is predicted to be 12ft in the morning, with energy at 4362. That’s huge. This break is going to be too big for most, maybe even dangerous. If you’re a paddle surfer, you might want to sit this one out; the setup looks like it could be more for the kite crew.

The following Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th drop back to a more manageable 8ft and 5ft, with clean conditions in the mornings. The swell shifts a touch to the WSW, which is still good.

The second week, from the 27th of July onwards, is less certain. The sizes are still decent – mostly 6ft to 8ft – but the wind is a bit more onshore or cross-shore, making things choppier. There’s a glimmer on the 31st of July morning, with a 7ft SSE swell and glassy conditions again. And then the 1st of August has a clean 7ft swell with cross-offshore winds. But by the 2nd and 3rd of August, the energy drops right off to under 400, and the surf turns small and weak again.

So, to sum it up: the standout is Tuesday the 21st of July morning for the glassy, clean, powerful SW groundswell. And if you’re an expert looking for a big one, Thursday the 23rd afternoon is your heavyweight session. Get on it.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Sun afternoon. Very mild (max 15°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
Saturday
25
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
2
3
1
1
2
4
2
4
3
1
2
3
4
!
!
!
!
4
3
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.5
SW
12
2.1
SW
11
2.3
SW
10
1.7
SW
9
1.4
SW
8
0.8
SSW
16
2.1
SW
14
2.5
SW
14
2.4
SW
13
2.1
SW
12
2
SW
12
1.9
SW
12
2.1
SW
11
2.5
SW
16
4
SW
16
3.5
SW
14
3
SW
14
3
SW
13
2.5
SW
13
2.3
SW
13
1.9
WSW
12
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
625
945
1069
481
279
322
1664
2205
1828
1341
1207
977
1103
3021
8075
4362
3278
2975
2474
1751
1073
Wind (km/h)
15
N
10
WSW
5
NNE
5
NNW
10
W
5
ENE
5
SE
10
SSW
0
ESE
10
W
15
WNW
20
NNE
5
N
5
WSW
5
SE
5
SE
15
SSE
15
SE
10
SSE
15
SSE
10
E
Wind State
cross-off
on
glassy
cross
on
glassy
glassy
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
High Tide
7:01PM1.42m
7:23AM1.17m
7:45PM1.31m
8:15AM1.07m
8:37PM1.19m
9:22AM1.00m
9:43PM1.11m
10:48AM0.98m
11:05PM1.08m
12:11PM1.02m
00:19AM1.11m
1:10PM1.09m
1:14AM1.17m
Low Tide
12:39PM0.27m
1:24AM0.33m
1:21PM0.39m
2:14AM0.43m
2:09PM0.51m
3:14AM0.51m
3:14PM0.60m
4:34AM0.55m
4:48PM0.64m
5:57AM0.53m
6:16PM0.61m
6:58AM0.46m
7:16PM0.54m
cloud
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:47
7:46
7:46
7:45
7:45
7:43
7:43
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
5:57
5:58
5:59
5:59
6:00
6:00
6:00
 mm
1
Temp °C
14
14
14
14
15
14
13
15
13
13
14
14
13
15
14
14
16
14
15
18
17
Feels °C
12
12
13
13
13
14
12
13
11
12
11
11
12
14
14
13
14
12
13
15
15
  • 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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