Horse Trails Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on the cards for Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks. First thing you gotta know: the ocean is running colder than normal here right now. The water’s sitting at 54.9°F with a 4.9°F anomaly below average, so that’s more than three degrees cooler than usual for this time of year – that’s a proper chilly dip, so suit up if you’re heading out.

The Overall Picture

We’ve got a slow start, but there’s a real standout window coming up. The first few days are offering some waves, but the wind is messy and the conditions are marginal. The best bet for a clean session this far out is actually on Saturday the 15th and then again on Monday the 17th, but that Monday session is for the experienced crew only. After that, it gets blown out and lumpy midweek before we see a return of cleaner, smaller fun waves late in the second week. There are no major gaps with zero surf – just some poor quality days.

Let’s break it down.

Thursday 13th & Friday 14th: The Struggle is Real

Honestly, these first couple of days are not our time. Thursday morning has a 7.2ft swell out of the WSW with a very long 17-second period, so the energy is massive (2998). It’s cross-offshore and the forecast says marginal. The long period means Horse Trails, being a sandbar, could get fat and straight. Thursday afternoon and all of Friday are cross-onshore or cross-shore with moderate wind, making for a choppy, messy surface. Friday is a write-off.

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th: A Glimmer of Clean

Saturday morning on the 15th is where it gets interesting. The swell drops to 5.9ft from the WSW with a 14-second period, and the wind goes *glass* – light southerly at 3 mph. That’s flat calm. “Glassy” is the word, and the wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” The energy is still moderate (1186), meaning there’s some push. This is a solid session for an intermediate – clean, lined-up waves that won’t beat you up. Crowds can be an issue here sometimes, so get in early. Sunday is a step back with cross-shore breezes pushing things around, so Saturday morning is the clear winner of the first week.

Monday 17th: Big, Clean, and For Experts Only

Monday morning the 17th is a ripper for the groms and pros. Swell jumps to 8.2ft from the WSW with a 13-second period, and we get glassy winds again (3 mph from the NW). The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” That 8.2ft mark means it’s pushing the limits for most people, and with a long period, these will be heavy, powerful lines. Combined energy is 2187 – strong wave energy. If you’re not comfortable on a bigger board in solid swell, sit this one out.

Midweek Lull (Tuesday 19th – Thursday 20th): Kite Weather

From Tuesday through to Thursday, the stars do not align. Strong south winds ramping up to 18.6 mph, cross-shore, lumpy, and poor conditions. The swell drops and gets short period (11-12 seconds). Honestly, with these winds and the beach/sandbar setup, this looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle folk. Don’t bother with a surfboard unless you like getting blown sideways.

Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd: Late Week Clean-Up

Things turn around on Friday the 21st. Swell is smaller at 5.2ft from the SW, but the wind goes light NNE cross-off in the morning, then light WSW glassy in the afternoon. Both sessions are described as “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s a fun, clean, user-friendly day. Saturday the 22nd sees a bump in size to 8.2ft from the SW again, but the wind is cross-shore and picks up, making it a more challenging, bumpy option.

Sunday 23rd – Tuesday 25th: The Second Week Standout

Sunday the 23rd morning is the real hidden gem of this outlook. The swell is 5.9ft from the SW, 12-second period, with a light SE cross-offshore breeze at 6.2 mph. The wave comment says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” This is clean, lined-up, and with moderate energy (1514). It’s almost as clean as the Saturday before but with a touch more wind. It’s the best bet for the second week, but keep in mind it’s 10 days out, so a little less certain than the earlier glassy sessions. Monday and Tuesday mornings look clean and smaller (4.6ft – 5.2

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