Surf spot

Whaler Island

Forecast conditions and map view for Whaler Island in USA, California, Del Norte. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Del Norte
Coordinates: 41.7392, -124.1839

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	1	1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.9	1	1.1	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	0.8	1	1.5	1.8	1.7	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.8	1.7	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1.2	1.1	1.4
Wave direction	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW
Wave period (s)	6.8	6.9	7	7	6.9	7.8	6.7	6.4	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.3	6.4	6.5	6.4	6.3	6	5.8	5.7	6	6.2	6.8	6	5.6	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.7	6.3	6.3	5.8	5.6	5.5	5.6	5.7	5.7	5.8	5.9	6	6.1	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.3	6	4.8	5.5
Wave energy (kJ)	100	99	98	89	84	89	72	72	79	91	103	122	138	138	130	114	99	98	92	92	49	98	166	208	167	140	146	133	98	107	167	232	181	146	130	122	110	107	111	114	118	116	109	102	105	116	128	128	120	112	112	108	101	99	59	128
Wind speed (km/h)	4.6	5.8	1.6	8.8	8.7	10.8	6.3	7.5	7.6	4.6	4.4	8.3	14.2	12.7	3.9	5.4	5.5	7.4	7.5	8	12.6	7.1	7.1	2.8	3.3	6.2	5.5	7.8	11.1	6.6	5.1	4.3	4	6.8	6.3	7.1	9.2	6.4	4.6	7.1	8.3	5.5	2.6	8.4	11	8.9	6.4	4.2	4.1	3.6	4.3	7.2	8.6	7.6	3.3	6.1
Wind direction	ESEGlassy	ECross-on	ENEGlassy	WSWCross	SWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SSEOnshore	SEGlassy	EGlassy	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	NWOffshore	ENEGlassy	ECross-on	ENECross	ENECross	NECross	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	SEOnshore	SEGlassy	ENEGlassy	ENECross	ECross	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWCross-off	SEOnshore	SSEGlassy	EGlassy	ENECross	ENECross	WSWCross	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SEGlassy	SSEOnshore	SEOnshore	ESECross-on	ESEGlassy	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SEOnshore	ESEGlassy	ESEGlassy	EGlassy	EGlassy	WSWCross	WCross-off	WCross-off	NEGlassy	NECross-off

Whaler Island is a remote Northern California surf spot in Del Norte County, near the rugged coast around Crescent City. It’s known for being wild, powerful, and exposed to North Pacific swell, with cold water, heavy surf, and a very undeveloped feel.

Quick description

Location: Del Norte County, California, USA
Coast type: Exposed rocky Northern California coastline
Wave character: Powerful beachbreak/reef setup depending on exact section, often fast and heavy
Best conditions: Strong NW to WNW swell with light offshore winds
Crowd level: Usually very low due to remoteness and challenging conditions
Skill level: Best suited for experienced surfers only

What to expect

Cold water year-round — a thick wetsuit is essential
Rough surf — waves can be hollow, powerful, and unforgiving
Remote access — conditions and entry points may be tricky
Scenery: Dramatic cliffs, rocky headlands, and a raw Northern California coastal vibe

Notes

Because it’s in a rugged and less-traveled area, surf conditions at Whaler Island can change quickly with swell direction, tide, and wind. Local knowledge is especially important.