Santa Barbara Waterfront ↗
City of Santa Barbara · about 2.0 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Waterfront and harbor panorama; not a measurement of surf at Leadbetter.
FOR THE LOVE OF IT / CALIFORNIA
Thousand Steps surf forecast & spot guide
Surf, wind and tide context for Thousand Steps, Santa Barbara. Read the spot profile, compare forecasts and open the same break in the atlas.
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 face0.7 ftOlder cached forecast Fri Oct 2, 11:00am Pacific
Coastal wind4.5 mphSW from · older cache
NOAA tide reference4.5 ftMLLW · Santa Barbara
Coastal wind retrieved Fri Oct 2, 9:04am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Oct 2, 8:15am (older cache) · ECMWF Oct 2, 8:15am (older cache) · MFWAM Oct 2, 8:15am (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: Santa Barbara, 2 km reference; retrieved Fri Oct 2, 8:16am. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Estimated surf face | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Oct 2 | 0.7 ft | 5.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Oct 3 | 0.6 ft | 5.0 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Oct 4 | 0.5 ft | 3.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Oct 5 | 0.4 ft | 4.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Oct 6 | 0.4 ft | 4.1 mph | 14/14 |
| Wed Oct 7 | 0.5 ft | 3.6 mph | 14/14 |
| Thu Oct 8 | 0.6 ft | 3.1 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Estimated surf face | Model range | Set proxy | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 11:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.4–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.9 s | 4.5 mph SW | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.8 s | 5.3 mph SW | 5.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.6 s | 4.2 mph SW | 5.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.4 s | 6.9 mph WSW | 5.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.2 s | 7.2 mph WSW | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 8.0 s | 5.0 mph SW | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 7.8 s | 7.2 mph W | 4.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.6 s | 7.7 mph W | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.4–0.9 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 7.4 s | 8.1 mph W | 2.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.3 s | 5.0 mph W | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.7–0.8 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.4 s | 3.4 mph W | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 0.8 ft | 0.7–0.9 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.5 s | 3.6 mph W | 0.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.1 ft | W · 7.7 s | 2.0 mph WSW | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 7.9 s | 0.6 mph WNW | 0.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.1 s | 1.4 mph ENE | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.6–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.3 s | 1.6 mph NE | 2.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.4 s | 0.4 mph NNW | 2.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 1.6 mph SSW | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 1.4 mph ENE | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 0.7 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 2.5 mph WNW | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 2.6 mph W | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.5–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.5 s | 4.1 mph W | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.8 ft | 1.0 ft | W · 8.6 s | 3.4 mph SW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.7 s | 2.6 mph SW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.7 s | 4.1 mph SSW | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.5 s | 4.6 mph SW | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 8.1 s | 5.2 mph SW | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.8 s | 6.9 mph WSW | 5.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.4 s | 6.3 mph WSW | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 7.1 s | 7.9 mph W | 5.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 6.9 s | 7.7 mph W | 5.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 6.7 s | 5.9 mph W | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 6.6 s | 5.6 mph WSW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 0.6 ft | 0.4–0.7 ft | 0.9 ft | W · 6.7 s | 3.7 mph W | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.3–0.7 ft | 0.8 ft | W · 6.8 s | 3.4 mph WNW | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.3–0.7 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 7.1 s | 1.9 mph WNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.3–0.7 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 7.4 s | 1.9 mph NNE | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 12:00am | 0.6 ft | 0.5–0.7 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 7.7 s | 7.1 mph E | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Sun 1:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.5–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 8.0 s | 3.5 mph E | 0.4 ft | 3 |
| Sun 2:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.5–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 8.3 s | 3.8 mph ENE | 1.1 ft | 3 |
| Sun 3:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.5–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 8.6 s | 4.0 mph ENE | 1.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 4:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 8.8 s | 3.4 mph NE | 2.7 ft | 3 |
| Sun 5:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.1 mph NNW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Sun 6:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 4.1 mph N | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Sun 7:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.2 s | 4.3 mph N | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Sun 8:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.2 s | 3.4 mph N | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Sun 9:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.3 s | 0.8 mph SW | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 10:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.3 s | 3.8 mph SSW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sun 11:00am | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.3 s | 3.7 mph SSW | 3.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 12:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.8 ft | WSW · 9.3 s | 3.4 mph SSW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Sun 1:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 9.2 s | 3.7 mph SSW | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 2:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 2.9 mph SSW | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 3:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 8.9 s | 2.2 mph S | 4.7 ft | 3 |
| Sun 4:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 8.5 s | 2.1 mph SW | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 5:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 8.2 s | 4.5 mph W | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Sun 6:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 8.0 s | 7.2 mph WNW | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Sun 7:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.6 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 7.9 s | 5.6 mph NW | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 8:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.3–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 7.9 s | 3.9 mph NNW | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sun 9:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.3–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 8.0 s | 3.5 mph NW | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Sun 10:00pm | 0.5 ft | 0.4–0.6 ft | 0.7 ft | WSW · 8.2 s | 2.7 mph NW | 1.4 ft | 3 |
| Sun 11:00pm | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 8.4 s | 3.1 mph NNW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Mon 12:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 8.6 s | 2.7 mph N | -0.1 ft | 3 |
| Mon 1:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.5 ft | WSW · 8.7 s | 2.5 mph N | -0.1 ft | 3 |
| Mon 2:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.5 ft | WSW · 8.8 s | 3.2 mph N | 0.3 ft | 3 |
| Mon 3:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.5 ft | WSW · 8.9 s | 3.6 mph N | 1.2 ft | 3 |
| Mon 4:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.5 mph NNW | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Mon 5:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.3 mph NNW | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Mon 6:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.2 mph NNW | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Mon 7:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.7 mph NNW | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Mon 8:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.0 s | 3.4 mph NNW | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Mon 9:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.2–0.5 ft | 0.6 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 2.9 mph W | 3.9 ft | 3 |
| Mon 10:00am | 0.4 ft | 0.1–0.5 ft | 0.5 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 4.4 mph SW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Mon 11:00am | 0.3 ft | 0.1–0.5 ft | 0.5 ft | WSW · 9.1 s | 4.9 mph SW | 2.9 ft | 3 |
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
A tide-sensitive local reef zone below the East Mesa bluff.
Also known as One Thousand Steps · Camino al Mar.
- Break type
- Reef
- Wave direction
- Variable reef peaks
- Reported difficulty
- Intermediate
- Bottom
- Rock & sand
- Reported swell preference
- W–NW
- Reported tide preference
- Low–mid
The map deliberately treats this as a reef belt rather than pretending one fixed takeoff is permanent.
Before paddling out: 157-step access, slippery stairs, exposed reef, beach disappears at higher tide.
Thousand Steps public stairway Public access pin; peaks shift along reef belt
Source references
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
Camera references nearby
West Beach ↗
The Milo · about 2.6 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Hotel-hosted West Beach view for visibility and coastal conditions.
Stearns Wharf & coast ↗
SkylineWebcams · about 2.9 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Stearns Wharf and surrounding beach/coastal weather.
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.