Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 11ft (3.5m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 2 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 19s period, SW swell with 15,724 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 11s 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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 4.5m 19s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 11s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 11ft (3.5m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 15ft (4.5m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let's look at what's cookin' at Horse Trails over the next couple of weeks.
First thing, the water is sitting at 56°F, which is about 4°F colder than normal for this time of year. That's a significant chill, so you'll want a good wetsuit.
The outlook starts off a bit flat and messy. Thursday the 27th has some small swell (5ft, 667 combined energy) but with a light onshore wind, it's not going to be anything to write home about. Friday morning the 28th is where the first real glimmer of hope shows up. We've got a 3ft groundswell from the WSW with a long 16-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy is moderate at 644. That's clean, but tiny. Saturday the 29th is a write-off with strong cross/onshore winds and a building, choppy swell. Sunday the 30th is similar, with an 8ft SW swell and messy cross-shore wind, the combined energy climbing to 2117, but it's not surfable in any fun way.
Now, Monday the 31st morning is the first real standout. It's glassy again, with a clean 7ft WSW groundswell (12-second period) and the combined energy at a solid 1009. That's going to be powerful and clean for the more intermediate crew. After that, Tuesday the 1st of September holds size at 8ft but the wind swings cross-shore, making it lumpy. By Wednesday the 2nd, things get serious. The morning shows a massive 20ft SW swell with an 18-second period. The combined energy is a massive 21377. That is colossal, but the finder warns it's too big for the break. This is strictly for the experts, if anyone, and the cross-onshore wind won't help. That trend continues into Thursday the 3rd with an 12ft swell but strong cross-shore winds (4952 combined energy), making it a kite-surfing show more than a paddle session. Friday the 4th settles down to a 6ft SSE swell, but the winds are still strong from the SE, keeping it clean but blown out.
We then hit a quiet stretch from around the 5th to the 10th of September. There are a few small, clean windows (like Sunday the 6th morning with a 4ft, 17-second groundswell and glassy conditions – combined energy 925) but mostly it's small, weak, or onshore. Tuesday the 8th morning is glassy but only 3ft.
The best bet in the whole run, though, is the window on Monday the 31st of August morning. Glassy offshore NW wind, a solid 7ft groundswell from the WSW, and moderate energy. That's your pick. For the longer range, the morning of Sunday the 6th of September is promising but less certain, with a very long period groundswell (17 seconds) and glassy conditions, offering 4ft of clean potential.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri morning, min 13°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Mon morning, min 11°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (calm on Mon morning, fresh winds from the SSE by Wed afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 11 | WSW 16 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 351 | 280 | 519 | 454 | 724 | 1247 | 793 | 2145 | 1742 | 1346 | 923 | 757 | 866 | 1915 | 1778 | 2212 | 14212 | 8479 | 4623 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 3:14AM1.47m | 3:32PM1.59m | 3:44AM1.50m | 4:01PM1.63m | 4:16AM1.50m | 4:31PM1.63m | 4:48AM1.47m | 5:03PM1.59m | 5:23AM1.41m | 5:38PM1.52m | 6:02AM1.31m | 6:19PM1.41m | |||||||
Low Tide | 9:15PM0.16m | 9:21AM0.09m | 9:44PM0.10m | 9:49AM0.07m | 10:14PM0.07m | 10:18AM0.07m | 10:45PM0.07m | 10:48AM0.11m | 11:18PM0.11m | 11:22AM0.18m | 11:55PM0.19m | 11:59AM0.28m | 00:39AM0.29m | ||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — |
 | 6:23 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:27 | — | — | 6:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 11 |
Feels °C | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 3 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | WSW 14 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 15 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 351 | 231 | 519 | 454 | 724 | 1247 | 793 | 2145 | 1742 | 1346 | 923 | 757 | 866 | 1915 | 1778 | 2212 | 14212 | 8479 | 4623 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | SSE 10 | — | SE 10 | — | — | — | WSW 11 | — | — | SW 24 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 135 | 133 | 171 | 71 | 55 | — | 21 | — | 4 | — | — | — | 206 | — | — | 22 | — | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 15 | WSW 16 | SSE 13 | S 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 126 | 280 | 57 | 51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | SSW 3 | S 4 | SSW 11 | SW 8 | SSE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SE 6 |
| kJ | — | — | — | 3 | 9 | 206 | 545 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 120 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 41 | 15 | 120 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 31 | 31 | 2 | 41 | 457 | 2 |
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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