Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 8 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 9 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 14s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 8 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 16s period, SW swell with 3,142 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 8 Jul, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 13s 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 Wednesday (Jul 08) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.2m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 1.1m and 18s. 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 2.5m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Jul 08) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 09) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Wed 8th Jul) | 7ft (2.2m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 9th Jul) | 10ft (3.0m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 8th Jul) | 8ft (2.5m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here again, looking at the same stretch but in feet and miles per hour. Horse Trails has a solid couple of weeks ahead, but you gotta pick your moments.
Kicking off Wednesday the 8th, the morning is a gem. Glassy, no wind, and a solid 7ft SW groundswell with a 13-second period. Water temp is 57°, a bit cooler than usual. The combined energy is strong at 2316. This is clean, powerful stuff for experienced surfers. The afternoon gets a cross-shore wind at 12 mph, so the morning is the move.
Thursday the 9th: swell holds around 8ft from the SSW, period up to 14 seconds, but winds are cross-shore and gusty at 12 mph. It’ll be choppy and hard to love.
Friday morning the 10th is the one to circle. Light offshore winds from the SE at 9 mph clean up that 8ft SSW swell (13 seconds, energy 2302). It’s going to be lined up and beautiful. Intermediate to expert level.
Saturday the 11th morning stays clean with a 7ft SSW swell (12 seconds) and lighter winds. Excellent, just a bit smaller.
Sunday the 12th drops to 5ft, still clean but weaker. By Monday and Tuesday, it’s tiny—down to 3ft to 3ft, glassy but weak. Not much to get excited about.
Wednesday the 15th is a mess with strong winds and rain. Thursday the 16th hits hard with onshore wind and a big 10ft to 12ft SW swell—too big and messy for most. Friday the 17th morning cleans up with light winds and 10ft swell, but it’s still heavy.
Looking into the second week, Wednesday morning the 22nd is a big-wave standout: glassy calm, 10ft SW groundswell with a 15-second period, energy at 3353. This is long-period, powerful stuff. Only for the experienced, and it’s gonna be clean but heavy.
Thursday the 23rd brings a more friendly 6ft with clean cross-off winds—a good way to finish.
Bottom line: Friday the 10th morning gives you the best mix of size and quality. For the big-wave crew, Wednesday the 22nd morning is the one to watch, but it’s a long ways out.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 11°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 8 | Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1535 | 1325 | 3093 | 2734 | 1972 | 2176 | 2230 | 2088 | 1258 | 1220 | 1000 | 691 | 423 | 331 | 218 | 163 | 120 | 125 | 111 | 87 | 78 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 9:01AM1.10m | 9:26PM1.29m | 10:21AM1.10m | 10:42PM1.29m | 11:40AM1.15m | 11:57PM1.34m | 12:49PM1.25m | 1:03AM1.41m | 1:48PM1.36m | 2:02AM1.49m | 2:40PM1.47m | 2:54AM1.55m | 3:27PM1.56m | 3:42AM1.56m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:52PM0.47m | 4:03AM0.39m | 4:12PM0.49m | 5:22AM0.34m | 5:37PM0.45m | 6:34AM0.26m | 6:51PM0.37m | 7:34AM0.17m | 7:53PM0.26m | 8:26AM0.08m | 8:48PM0.17m | 9:14AM0.02m | 9:38PM0.10m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — | 7:48 | — | — |
 | — | 5:51 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:53 | — | — | 5:53 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 10 | W 9 |
| kJ | 1535 | 1325 | 3093 | 2734 | 1972 | 2176 | 2230 | 2088 | 1258 | 1220 | 1000 | 691 | 423 | 331 | 218 | 163 | 120 | 125 | 111 | 87 | 78 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 14 | — | — | SW 13 | W 14 | W 13 | S 7 | W 11 | W 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 11 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 781 | 1039 | 15 | — | — | 796 | 37 | 82 | 100 | 152 | 214 | 214 | 149 | 146 | 96 | 68 | 119 | 96 | 66 | 58 | 72 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 12 | W 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | S 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 136 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 41 | 37 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 61 | 59 | 73 | 38 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | S 11 | — | S 6 | S 5 | — | — | SSE 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 116 | — | 119 | 69 | — | — | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 72 | 15 | 2 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 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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