🇺🇸 HALF MOON BAY, CALIFORNIA

Mavericks

Northern California's legendary big wave

SMALL

Live Conditions

Conditions Summary

Solid 8ft swell — but short 9s period indicates wind swell, expect choppy conditions — hitting at the ideal angle — cross-onshore wind affecting quality — Note: this is outside the peak season for this spot

HIGH CONFIDENCEFresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Why it's SMALL

Swell Direction

Primary swell is 307° — matches the ideal 315° window for this spot

Swell Period

6s — this is wind chop, not groundswell. Waves will be weak and disorganized.

Wind

13mph cross-shore — not ideal but surfable if wind is light

Tide

Rising tide — workable window

Season

July is off-season — rare for this spot to get quality waves

Data Confidence

Fresh buoy data with calibrated coastal transformation

At the Break

8.1ft

HIGH CONFIDENCE

Fresh buoy data + calibrated transformation

Period

✗ Wind swell

Wind

13mph

CROSS-SHORE

Water

58°F

3/2 wetsuit

Live Buoy 46012

5.9ft

85 min ago

Tide

MID-TIDE · RISING

1.5ft

Next high: in 3 hr 53 min

Swell Direction

100%

Wind Direction

45%

Primary Swell

4.9ft @ 5.1s

NW 307°

Secondary Swell

2.2ft @ 14.8s

S 187°

10 Day Outlook

5.9ft

TODAY

Jul 28

(18s)

6.0ft

TMRW

Jul 29

(17s)

5.9ft

THU

Jul 30

(16s)

5.8ft

FRI

Jul 31

(14s)

7.5ft

SAT

Aug 1

(14s)

7.4ft

SUN

Aug 2

(9s)

6.1ft

MON

Aug 3

(10s)

4.1ft

TUE

Aug 4

(9s)

3.7ft

WED

Aug 5

(10s)

5.4ft

THU

Aug 6

(10s)

Best this week: SAT Aug 1 — 7.5ft

Best next week: THU Aug 6 — 5.4ft

Incoming Swell Events

Today

moderate

Swell building to 5.9ft @ 18s

Model Breakdown

ECMWF (45%)6.0ft

ICON (35%)5.7ft

GFS (20%)4.7ft

Model confidence65%

Updated every 30 mins · Open-Meteo ECMWF + ICON + GFS

About

Mavericks is one of the most famous big wave spots in the world, breaking off Pillar Point in Half Moon Bay just south of San Francisco. Cold water, giant peaks, and a heavy hold-down make this a spot that commands serious respect.

The Break

The main Mavericks peak — outer bowl for the biggest sets, the channel for safety.

Ideal Conditions

NW swell 15ft+, light NE offshore winds, mid tide

Best Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Best months highlighted · Current: Jul

Trip Planner

NorCal Weekend

Weekend · 3 Days

Friday

Fly into SFO. Drive down to Half Moon Bay — 45min. Stay at the Half Moon Bay Inn. Dungeness crab dinner at Barbara's Fishtrap.

Saturday

Dawn patrol at Mavericks — watch from the cliff path if it is massive. Surf the beachbreak at Francis Beach if you want to get in the water. Drive up to San Francisco for the afternoon.

Sunday

Explore the coast — Pacifica beachbreak, Fort Funston. Fly home from SFO.

Northern California Coast Week

Full Week · 7 Days

Day 1

Arrive SFO, drive to Half Moon Bay.

Day 2

Mavericks watch or surf depending on your level. The view from the cliff is incredible regardless.

Day 3

Drive north — Ocean Beach SF, a punishing beachbreak for experienced surfers.

Day 4

Continue north — Bolinas, Stinson Beach. More mellow surf, beautiful scenery.

Day 5

Day in San Francisco — Golden Gate, Mission burritos, Tartine bakery.

Day 6

Drive south — Santa Cruz, Steamer Lane. Classic California pointbreak.

Day 7

Final session, drive back to SFO, fly home.

Local Knowledge

Mavericks is experts only — it is a life-threatening wave. Watch from the cliff path if in doubt.

The water is cold year round — 5/4mm wetsuit, boots, gloves, and hood in winter.

Half Moon Bay is a beautiful small town — great base for the NorCal coast.

The Mavericks surf contest (when it runs) draws the best big wave surfers in the world.

Parking at the trailhead fills up fast on good swell days — get there early.

Barbara's Fishtrap in Princeton-by-the-Sea is the best seafood in the area.