Surf spot

Gray Whale Cove

Forecast conditions and map view for Gray Whale Cove in USA, California, San Mateo. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, San Mateo
Coordinates: 37.5653, -122.5154

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)	0.8	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.1	0.8	0.9	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.9	1.4	1.7	1.8	1.9	1.9	1.8	1.8	2	2.1	2	1.9	1.9	1.8	1.7	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.1	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6
Wave direction	SSW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	NW	SW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW
Wave period (s)	13.5	5	5.5	5.6	5.5	5.5	5.4	5.3	5.2	5.1	5.1	5.1	5	4.9	5.3	4.7	7.5	8.1	5	4.8	4.8	5.3	6.7	5.8	6	6.1	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.2	6.1	6.2	6.2	6.1	6	6	6.1	6.1	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.2	6	6	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.8	7.9
Wave energy (kJ)	222	71	104	103	101	87	81	92	86	83	83	80	71	56	34	33	38	41	17	22	20	19	75	133	212	247	283	270	248	256	295	334	315	285	273	241	214	192	167	152	143	146	146	144	136	124	103	95	79	65	55	48	41	37	33	51
Wind speed (km/h)	10.9	8	8.1	10.6	13.1	13.1	9	9.4	11.3	11.2	13	14.2	24.5	25.8	26.9	22	22.7	18.6	12.5	11.2	18.5	21.4	19.7	13.9	7.2	4.6	4.7	7.9	14.8	21.1	17.2	13.7	11.7	7.6	6.7	8.3	14.6	11.1	7.9	6.8	7.4	6.5	5.9	9.6	14.9	14	8	6	4.7	3.7	4.1	8.4	13.7	11.9	9.7	7.7
Wind direction	WOnshore	WOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NNWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	NWCross-on	WNWCross-on	WOnshore	WNWGlassy	WSWGlassy	WSWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWOnshore	WNWCross-on	WNWOnshore	WOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	SWCross-on	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WGlassy	WGlassy	WNWGlassy	WOnshore	WOnshore	WOnshore	WNWCross-on	NWCross-on

Gray Whale Cove is a scenic surf spot on the San Mateo County coast in California, just south of Pacifica along Highway 1. It sits beneath steep coastal bluffs in a small, tucked-away cove that’s part of Gray Whale Cove State Beach, giving it a more secluded feel than many nearby breaks.

Surf character

Type: Beach break with some rock influence
Wave quality: Can be fun and punchy when conditions line up, but it’s not the most consistent spot
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, especially those comfortable with variable conditions and coastal exposure
Wave direction: Works on swells that wrap into the cove; can handle a range of swell directions depending on size

Conditions

Best wind: Light offshore or calm conditions
Best swell: Northwest and west swells are the most common productive setups in the region
Tides: Tide sensitivity can matter; some days are better mid-tide, while very high or very low tides may reduce quality
Consistency: Moderate to low compared with more exposed North Coast breaks

Hazards

Rocks and reefy sections: Be mindful of submerged rocks near the cove
Strong currents: Rip currents and sweep can be an issue
Cold water: Expect cold Pacific temperatures year-round
Access/cliffs: The beach is below bluffs, so access is limited and can require a short walk or descent

Atmosphere

Gray Whale Cove is known for its dramatic scenery: steep cliffs, ocean views, and a quieter, more hidden setting. It can feel less crowded than major nearby breaks, but the limited surfable area means it can still get competitive on good days.