Surf spot

Bolinas

Forecast conditions and map view for Bolinas in USA, California, SF Marin. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, SF Marin
Coordinates: 37.9038, -122.6837

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)	0.7	1	1.1	1.2	1	0.9	1	1.1	0.8	0.7	0.9	0.5	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.4	1	1.3	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.3	1.1	1.3	1.7	1.6	1.6	1.5	1.4	1.3	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.2	1.1	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.9	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	SSW	NW	WNW	WNW	WNW	WNW	NW	NW	NW	NW	NW	WNW	NW	NW	SSW	SW	SSW	SSW	SSW	SSW	WNW	SSW	W	W	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	WNW	WNW	S
Wave period (s)	14.3	5.5	5.5	5.3	7.3	7.3	5.5	5.5	5.8	6	5.7	6.2	5.5	7.1	12.2	11.8	11.7	9.4	11.8	11.8	10.2	9.4	5.7	5.7	5.9	5.9	5.9	6	6.5	6.9	6.8	6.1	5.9	5.9	5.8	5.8	5.8	5.9	5.8	5.7	5.7	5.8	6	5.8	6	5.8	5.8	5.7	5.6	5.8	7.3	5.5	7.5	10.4	10.3	13.2
Wave energy (kJ)	179	63	75	74	108	91	67	75	44	38	49	22	32	39	80	70	63	41	64	54	48	38	13	62	114	140	161	151	136	124	166	205	187	169	160	137	123	114	97	90	90	91	90	81	77	66	60	48	40	34	50	26	41	68	62	73
Wind speed (km/h)	15.9	14.2	11.8	12	17.2	20.2	17.3	14.3	16.3	13.9	15.1	15.8	24.8	24.9	21.4	16.6	19.7	7.5	4.3	3.6	13.9	21.5	14.3	5.9	2.8	2.1	3.5	8.5	13.3	20.4	15.8	9.8	6.5	7.4	8.7	10.5	15.5	16.9	11.5	10.2	12.2	11.4	9.5	14.2	18.1	17.1	12.8	10.5	10.5	9.4	7	7.9	14.4	17.5	12.3	9.9
Wind direction	WCross-off	WCross-off	WSWCross-off	SWCross	WSWCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	NWOffshore	NWOffshore	NGlassy	SGlassy	WCross-off	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	NWOffshore	SEGlassy	ESEGlassy	SSWGlassy	SSWCross-on	WSWCross	WCross-off	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore	WCross-off	SSWCross-on	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSWCross-on	SWCross	WSWCross-off	SWCross	SWCross	SWCross	SSWCross-on	SSWCross-on	SWCross	WSWCross	WSWCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WCross-off	WNWCross-off	WSWCross	SWCross	WSWCross-off	WNWOffshore	WNWOffshore

Bolinas, California (Marin County, near San Francisco) is a well-known Northern California surf spot with a laid-back, local vibe and a scenic setting at the mouth of Bolinas Lagoon.

Spot description

Type: Beach break with shifting sandbars
Location: Bolinas, Marin County, north of San Francisco
Exposure: Open to northwest and west swells
Best for: Intermediate to advanced surfers, depending on conditions
Wave quality: Can be fun and rippable when the sandbars line up, but often inconsistent and changeable

Conditions

Swells: Works best with NW to W swell
Wind: Offshore easterlies are ideal; onshore winds can quickly make it choppy
Tides: Tidal influence is important — certain sandbars and sections work better at mid to lower tides
Consistency: Fairly inconsistent compared with more exposed breaks, but can offer good sessions when storms build the right swell

Crowd and vibe

Crowd: Can be crowded when it’s breaking well, especially with locals
Vibe: Quiet, small-town, and local-conscious. Respect is important in the lineup
Access: Beach access can be more limited and often depends on parking and walking conditions

Hazards

Shifting sandbars and currents
Potentially strong rips
Cold Pacific water year-round
Sensitive local etiquette and possible access limitations

Overall

Bolinas is a classic Marin County surf spot: scenic, mellow in town atmosphere, but capable of producing quality waves when the sandbars, swell, and wind all align. It’s best approached with patience, local awareness, and the right conditions.