United States ยท North America
Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Bolinas. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Enough swell for a fun paddle. Nothing heroic, but enjoyable. Long-period groundswell delivering clean, organised lines. Breezy. Some surface chop to deal with. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
Bolinas is a sheltered beach and point break located in Marin County, California, just north of San Francisco. The seafloor is composed of a very gentle, sloping mix of sand and smooth cobblestones, which systematically absorbs the raw energy of the Pacific Ocean. Because the spot is tucked behind a pronounced headland, it requires a distinct southerly swell to wrap into the bay, or a massive westerly swell that heavily diffracts around the point. A north-easterly wind blows directly offshore, providing optimal face tension. The combination of the sheltered location and the flat bathymetric gradient produces exceptionally soft, slow-peeling waves that crumble rather than plunge. This highly forgiving wave architecture makes Bolinas a premier destination for beginner surfers and longboarders. The waves provide lengthy, stable platforms for mastering basic trim and footwork without the stress of steep drops or heavy impact zones. However, it rarely offers the speed or steepness required by advanced shortboarders.
Looking clean - lifeguarded, sandy bottom.
The air here is 75% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Significantly cleaner air than a typical city. Ideal for outdoor exercise with minimal respiratory strain.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:00
Reduced water clarity: ~2m visibility
Elevated phytoplankton detected, possible algal bloom
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Bolinas
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
Create a free profile and let employers in Bolinas find you.
Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Bolinas is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Bolinas is a sheltered beach and point break tucked behind a headland in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. The town has a famously reclusive character, with residents repeatedly tearing down road signs to discourage visitors. The wave matches the atmosphere: gentle, unhurried, and understated. Soft, slow-peeling walls crumble across a sandy and cobblestone bottom, making this one of the Bay Area's most forgiving spots. The backdrop of Bolinas Lagoon and the forested headland gives sessions a peaceful, removed quality.
The sheltered orientation means Bolinas needs either a solid west to north-west swell large enough to wrap around the headland, or a distinct south to south-west swell that enters the bay directly. Winter brings the most consistent surf from November through March. The wave works on 3-6ft of open ocean swell, which arrives heavily filtered. North-easterly winds blow offshore, and calm mornings before the afternoon sea breeze provide the cleanest conditions.
The main peak sits where the point creates a defined take-off zone on the southern end of the beach. This produces the longest, most shaped waves. The beach break peaks further north offer shorter but catchable rides. Position yourself in the deeper channel alongside the point for the easiest paddle-out, then take off on the peak as it refracts around the rocks.
Great white sharks frequent the area, particularly around the lagoon entrance and during autumn seal pupping season. The Farallon Islands breeding ground is nearby. Rip currents form along the point on bigger days. The water is cold year-round (10-14C). Fog reduces visibility frequently. The cobblestones near the point are slippery.
Limited street parking along Brighton Avenue near the beach. The town discourages tourism and parking enforcement can be strict. The beach is a short, flat walk from the road with easy access to the waterline. No formal facilities exist at the beach.
Bolinas has a small but protective local community. The regulars surf here daily and have a relaxed but territorial attitude. Show respect, don't bring a large group, and you will be tolerated. The difficult access and the locals' reputation keeps casual visitors to a minimum. Weekday mornings are virtually empty.
Bring your thickest wetsuit. The water here is influenced by deep-ocean upwelling and rarely exceeds 12C even in summer. A 5/4mm with hood, boots, and gloves is standard in winter. The wave rewards patient longboarding over aggressive shortboarding. Don't draw attention to yourself or the spot; the community values their privacy. If the point is flat, check Stinson Beach to the north which picks up more swell.
Surf at Bolinas
Your score
Forecast feel
Score this window against what you actually found.
No scored surf reviews in the last 24 hours.
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Log a day
Add Bolinas to your private Companion record without GPS.
Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 29 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Bolinas tend to be best between 06:00 to 10:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 42/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go โ