CALIFORNIA / Dana PointSPOT / 596

Salt Creek.

One beach. Several ways to read it.

Left & right33.474° N / 117.722° W

Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Salt Creek catalogue location — Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.

Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Open Salt Creek on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face2.4 ftOlder cached forecast Thu Nov 12, 3:00am Pacific

Coastal wind—— from

NOAA tide reference2.8 ftMLLW · Los Angeles

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Nov 12, 3:00am Pacific

MFWAM · 2 components

Primary swell

2.2ft Hs

WSW from · 237° · 11.0 s

2.2 feet

Wind sea

0.0ft Hs

No energy reported for this component

0.0 feet

GFS · all-zero feed unconfirmed

This model reports only zeros across its cached partition forecast while another model reports swell. This is not confirmation of flat surf. Check the other source or try refreshing later.

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Source retrievals: GFS Nov 12, 2:15am (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 12, 2:15am (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 12, 2:15am (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Tide predictions: Los Angeles, 58 km reference; retrieved Thu Nov 12, 12:30am. Station predictions can differ locally.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific day	Estimated surf face	Mean wind	Hours available
Thu Nov 12	2.5 ft	—	14/14
Fri Nov 13	3.0 ft	—	14/14
Sat Nov 14	3.7 ft	—	14/14
Sun Nov 15	3.1 ft	—	14/14
Mon Nov 16	3.0 ft	—	14/14
Tue Nov 17	2.5 ft	—	14/14
Wed Nov 18	2.0 ft	—	14/14

Hourly details · next 72 hours

Pacific time	Estimated surf face	Model range	Set proxy	Swell from	Wind	Tide MLLW	Models
Thu 3:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.0 s	— —	2.8 ft	2
Thu 4:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.0 s	— —	2.9 ft	2
Thu 5:00am	2.5 ft	2.4–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.0 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Thu 6:00am	2.4 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.1 s	— —	3.9 ft	2
Thu 7:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.1 s	— —	4.6 ft	2
Thu 8:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.1 s	— —	5.2 ft	2
Thu 9:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.6 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.1 s	— —	5.6 ft	2
Thu 10:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.2 s	— —	5.7 ft	2
Thu 11:00am	2.5 ft	2.3–2.7 ft	3.7 ft	SW · 13.2 s	— —	5.3 ft	2
Thu 12:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	4.5 ft	2
Thu 1:00pm	2.5 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	3.5 ft	2
Thu 2:00pm	2.6 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	2.3 ft	2
Thu 3:00pm	2.6 ft	2.4–2.7 ft	3.8 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	1.3 ft	2
Thu 4:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.7 ft	3.9 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	0.5 ft	2
Thu 5:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.7 ft	3.9 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	0.1 ft	2
Thu 6:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.8 ft	3.9 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	0.2 ft	2
Thu 7:00pm	2.6 ft	2.5–2.7 ft	3.9 ft	SW · 13.3 s	— —	0.6 ft	2
Thu 8:00pm	2.6 ft	2.6–2.7 ft	4.0 ft	SW · 13.4 s	— —	1.3 ft	2
Thu 9:00pm	2.7 ft	2.5–2.8 ft	4.0 ft	SW · 13.5 s	— —	2.0 ft	2
Thu 10:00pm	2.7 ft	2.6–2.8 ft	4.0 ft	SW · 13.6 s	— —	2.6 ft	2
Thu 11:00pm	2.7 ft	2.6–2.8 ft	4.1 ft	SW · 13.7 s	— —	3.1 ft	2
Fri 12:00am	2.8 ft	2.7–2.8 ft	4.1 ft	SW · 13.8 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Fri 1:00am	2.8 ft	2.7–2.9 ft	4.2 ft	WSW · 13.9 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Fri 2:00am	2.8 ft	2.8–2.8 ft	4.2 ft	W · 13.4 s	— —	3.2 ft	2
Fri 3:00am	2.8 ft	2.8–2.8 ft	4.2 ft	WSW · 14.0 s	— —	3.1 ft	2
Fri 4:00am	2.8 ft	2.8–2.9 ft	4.3 ft	W · 13.4 s	— —	3.1 ft	2
Fri 5:00am	2.9 ft	2.8–3.0 ft	4.3 ft	W · 13.3 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Fri 6:00am	2.9 ft	2.8–3.0 ft	4.3 ft	W · 13.3 s	— —	3.7 ft	2
Fri 7:00am	2.9 ft	2.7–3.0 ft	4.3 ft	W · 13.2 s	— —	4.2 ft	2
Fri 8:00am	2.9 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.4 ft	W · 13.1 s	— —	4.7 ft	2
Fri 9:00am	2.9 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.4 ft	W · 13.0 s	— —	5.2 ft	2
Fri 10:00am	3.0 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.4 ft	W · 12.8 s	— —	5.4 ft	2
Fri 11:00am	3.0 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.4 ft	W · 12.5 s	— —	5.2 ft	2
Fri 12:00pm	3.0 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.5 ft	W · 12.2 s	— —	4.8 ft	2
Fri 1:00pm	3.0 ft	2.8–3.1 ft	4.4 ft	W · 11.9 s	— —	4.0 ft	2
Fri 2:00pm	3.0 ft	2.8–3.2 ft	4.5 ft	W · 11.5 s	— —	3.1 ft	2
Fri 3:00pm	3.0 ft	2.8–3.2 ft	4.5 ft	W · 11.2 s	— —	2.1 ft	2
Fri 4:00pm	3.0 ft	2.8–3.3 ft	4.6 ft	W · 10.9 s	— —	1.2 ft	2
Fri 5:00pm	3.1 ft	2.9–3.3 ft	4.6 ft	W · 10.8 s	— —	0.6 ft	2
Fri 6:00pm	3.1 ft	2.8–3.3 ft	4.6 ft	W · 10.7 s	— —	0.4 ft	2
Fri 7:00pm	3.1 ft	2.9–3.3 ft	4.7 ft	W · 10.6 s	— —	0.5 ft	2
Fri 8:00pm	3.2 ft	2.9–3.4 ft	4.7 ft	W · 10.5 s	— —	0.9 ft	2
Fri 9:00pm	3.2 ft	2.9–3.5 ft	4.8 ft	WSW · 10.3 s	— —	1.4 ft	2
Fri 10:00pm	3.3 ft	3.0–3.6 ft	4.9 ft	WSW · 10.1 s	— —	2.1 ft	2
Fri 11:00pm	3.4 ft	3.1–3.7 ft	5.1 ft	WSW · 9.8 s	— —	2.6 ft	2
Sat 12:00am	3.5 ft	3.1–3.8 ft	5.2 ft	WSW · 9.4 s	— —	3.0 ft	2
Sat 1:00am	3.6 ft	3.2–3.9 ft	5.3 ft	WSW · 9.2 s	— —	3.2 ft	2
Sat 2:00am	3.5 ft	3.1–3.9 ft	5.2 ft	W · 9.2 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Sat 3:00am	3.5 ft	3.2–3.8 ft	5.3 ft	W · 9.4 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Sat 4:00am	3.5 ft	3.4–3.7 ft	5.3 ft	W · 9.6 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Sat 5:00am	3.6 ft	3.4–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 9.9 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Sat 6:00am	3.6 ft	3.4–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 10.1 s	— —	3.5 ft	2
Sat 7:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 10.4 s	— —	3.9 ft	2
Sat 8:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 10.8 s	— —	4.3 ft	2
Sat 9:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 11.2 s	— —	4.6 ft	2
Sat 10:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 11.6 s	— —	4.9 ft	2
Sat 11:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.7 ft	5.5 ft	W · 12.0 s	— —	5.0 ft	2
Sat 12:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.6 ft	W · 12.5 s	— —	4.8 ft	2
Sat 1:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 12.8 s	— —	4.4 ft	2
Sat 2:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.6 ft	W · 13.1 s	— —	3.7 ft	2
Sat 3:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.3 s	— —	2.9 ft	2
Sat 4:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.4 s	— —	2.0 ft	2
Sat 5:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.8 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.5 s	— —	1.3 ft	2
Sat 6:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.6 s	— —	0.8 ft	2
Sat 7:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.7 s	— —	0.6 ft	2
Sat 8:00pm	3.6 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.7 s	— —	0.7 ft	2
Sat 9:00pm	3.7 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.5 ft	W · 13.6 s	— —	1.0 ft	2
Sat 10:00pm	3.6 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.6 s	— —	1.5 ft	2
Sat 11:00pm	3.6 ft	3.5–3.6 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.5 s	— —	2.1 ft	2
Sun 12:00am	3.6 ft	3.6–3.7 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.4 s	— —	2.7 ft	2
Sun 1:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.6 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.3 s	— —	3.1 ft	2
Sun 2:00am	3.6 ft	3.5–3.6 ft	5.4 ft	W · 13.2 s	— —	3.3 ft	2
Sun 3:00am	3.5 ft	3.5–3.6 ft	5.3 ft	W · 13.2 s	— —	3.5 ft	2

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

Salt Creek is a collection of peaks and sections. OC Parks highlights left-breaking waves associated with its offshore reef; the whole beach should not be read as one uniform wave.

Also known as Salt · Salt Creek.

Break type: Beach / reef
Wave direction: Left & right
Reported difficulty: Intermediate+
Bottom: Sand
Reported swell preference: S–W
Reported tide preference: Low–mid

OC Parks describes the offshore reef as producing left-breaking waves. The whole Salt Creek beach includes multiple peaks; select a section and inspect the actual bank and tide rather than assuming a uniform point break. This entry has a corrected left flag, not a surveyed takeoff coordinate. Source note: Imported 6.8 catalogue; place and confirm the takeoff.

Before paddling out: Crowds, rocks, sweep, shallow inside sections and variable localism.

Public access Owner-placed takeoff; not a survey

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / Salt Creek

Read this stretch of coast.

Choose a section, then read its shape

Start with the wider satellite view and the close-up map. Once at the beach, watch which peaks have a shoulder and which sections close together. The broad Salt Creek entry is useful for orientation; Gravels has a separate page so notes about one section do not silently become advice for the entire beach.

A left flag is only the beginning

The catalogue retains both left and right opportunities and a S–W swell preference. Compare each incoming system with the waves you can actually see. Two sessions with a similar total offshore height can have different crossing swells, periods and usable shoulders. Record the section and direction you rode, not just “Salt Creek.”

Follow the beach’s current instructions

Use the county park information for access and current notices. On the sand, inspect the shoreline, crowd spacing and drift before committing to a peak. The retained intermediate-plus rating does not describe every day or every section, and a low-to-mid tide preference is not a promise of a forgiving entry.

Further reading: OC Parks · Salt Creek Beach

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

Salt Creek ↗

The Surfers View · about 0.2 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Publicly listed Salt Creek beach and surf camera.

Monarch Bay Beach Club ↗

HDOnTap / Monarch Bay Beach Club · about 1.4 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Resort-hosted Monarch Bay beach and ocean view.

Dana Point Harbor overlook ↗

HDOnTap / Laguna Cliffs · about 3.4 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Harbor and ocean panorama from Laguna Cliffs.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

Awaiting shared model data

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.