Surf Forecasts:
Horse Trails surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, SW swell with 3,318 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 13s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Horse Trails in the next 16 days are 3.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 6s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (SAST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Horse Trails over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, breaking down the next 16 days at Horse Trails. This is a sandbar break that’s fairly consistent, but the water temp is 13°, which is 3° colder than average – that’s a serious cold snap, so bring the thick rubber.
The first few days are a mess. Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th have swell around 8ft from the SW, but the wind is cross or cross-on, and the energy is high (2413 to 1866). It’s just chopped-up, marginal surf. Not worth it.
Thursday the 20th morning brings a big pulse – 10ft from the SW with a 13-second period, and the energy is cranking at 3078. The wind is light and cross from the SSE, so it’s clean, but 10ft at a sandbar is only for experts. The afternoon stays big with a moderate cross-shore.
Friday the 21st drops to 7ft, but the wind is cross-on, and the surf is mediocre. Saturday the 22nd morning is a total loss with rain showers, wind, and a weak 3ft swell. Saturday afternoon, the swell jumps back to 10ft from the SW with 1875 energy – again, too big for this break, but the wind is offshore, so it’s a kite surfer’s paradise.
Sunday the 23rd morning is another 10ft pulse with light cross wind and 2329 energy – same deal, too big. The rest of the week from Monday the 24th to Wednesday the 26th is a mix of 4ft to 7ft swells, with cross or cross-on wind. Nothing fires.
The standout is Wednesday the 26th morning. The swell is 6ft from the WSW with a 12-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy. Energy is moderate at 1083, and the conditions are perfect. That’s your best session. The afternoon stays clean but gets a light onshore.
Thursday the 27th and Friday the 28th are poor. Friday the 28th has a solid 8ft swell from the SW with a 15-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell, but the wind is cross, and the energy is high (2967). It’ll be tough to catch at a sandbar.
Saturday the 29th morning is another glassy window – 6ft from the WSW, 13-second period, light WNW wind, glassy, and 1196 energy. That’s your second-best call. Sunday the 30th throws a monster 8ft to 10ft swell with a 16-second period – huge energy (3920 to 3585), but the wind is light onshore, so it’s an expert-only beast.
The following week, Monday the 31st through Wednesday the 2nd of September, is all big, powerful swell (8ft to 12ft) with moderate cross or cross-on wind. Energy is strong (1791 to 4035), but it’s too big for clean fun at this sandbar.
Bottom line: Wednesday the 26th morning and Saturday the 29th morning are your best shots – both have glassy conditions and a manageable 6ft swell. Everything else is either too big or too messy.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Tue afternoon, min 12°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sat morning. Very mild (max 17°C on Fri afternoon, min 11°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 1735 | 2345 | 2379 | 1866 | 1638 | 1565 | 3078 | 2369 | 1513 | 969 | 866 | 366 | 229 | 1800 | 1991 | 2329 | 1888 | 1372 | 658 | 430 | 753 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | on | cross | cross | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:48PM1.29m | 7:12AM1.10m | 7:29PM1.15m | 8:07AM0.99m | 8:32PM1.04m | 9:49AM0.92m | 10:25PM0.98m | 11:54AM0.96m | 00:06AM1.04m | 12:58PM1.07m | 1:01AM1.13m | 1:36PM1.19m | 1:40AM1.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:30PM0.38m | 1:08AM0.42m | 1:06PM0.51m | 1:55AM0.54m | 1:57PM0.63m | 3:19AM0.62m | 3:53PM0.70m | 5:32AM0.61m | 6:08PM0.66m | 6:46AM0.52m | 7:07PM0.56m | 7:27AM0.41m | 7:45PM0.45m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |
 | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — |
 | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 11 | SW 14 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | SW 12 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 1735 | 2345 | 2379 | 1866 | 1638 | 1565 | 3078 | 2369 | 1513 | 969 | 866 | 366 | 229 | 1800 | 1991 | 2329 | 1888 | 1372 | 658 | 430 | 753 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | SSW 10 | WSW 6 | SW 17 | SW 10 | — | — | — | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | WSW 11 |
| kJ | 678 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 379 | 298 | 57 | 75 | 1082 | — | — | — | 356 | 226 | 245 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WSW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 14 | SW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 143 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 70 | 170 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 5 | — | — | N 4 | — | — | — | S 3 | — | — | S 4 | S 5 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 37 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 22 | 87 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 2 | 53 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 41 | 0 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 31 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 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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