Dawn patrol surfing in Bolinas

Bolinas, California

Sunrise and first light times for planning your dawn patrol session.

First light in Bolinas means glass, empty peaks, and the best conditions of the day before thermal onshores build. These 1 spots are worth the 5am alarm.

Sunrise

5:52 AM
First Light: 5:22 AM

Day length: 14h 46m

-1 min vs yesterday

Sunrise

5:52 AM

First light: 5:22 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Last light: 9:08 PM

Data from Bolinas· Updated daily

7-Day Sun Schedule

Today(Today)

Sunrise

5:52 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 46m

Tomorrow

Sunrise

5:52 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 46m

Wed, Jul 1

Sunrise

5:52 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 45m

Thu, Jul 2

Sunrise

5:53 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 45m

Fri, Jul 3

Sunrise

5:53 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 44m

Sat, Jul 4

Sunrise

5:54 AM

Sunset

8:38 PM

Day Length

14h 44m

Best dawn patrol spots in Bolinas

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Featured Beaches(1)

Bolinas

Beginner friendly

Tucked in behind Duxbury Reef, Bolinas offers soft rolling waves at the mouth of a lagoon – perfect for beginners and longboarders. The sandbars shift but there's usually a mellow left breaking off the jetty and a right across the channel.

Dawn patrol access guide for Bolinas

Parking and access info for early morning sessions before sunrise.

Bolinas
river-mouth
beginner

Tucked in behind Duxbury Reef, Bolinas offers soft rolling waves at the mouth of a lagoon – perfect for beginners and longboarders. The sandbars shift but there's usually a mellow left breaking off the jetty and a right across the channel.

Early access

Walk down the ramp near the lagoon and paddle across the channel to the sandbar; watch for currents around the rivermouth.

Parking

Parking is limited in the small village; park along the road to the beach or at the ferry landing.

Dawn patrol tips

  • Glassy morning conditions before onshore winds
  • Less crowded lineups at sunrise
  • East-facing beaches for sunrise views
  • Spots with easy parking for early arrivals

Surf Guides for Bolinas

Conditions

Dawn Patrol
You're here
Sunset Sessions
Evening golden hour spots
Tide Windows
Optimal tidal conditions
Water Temperature
Conditions & wetsuit guide

Style

Beginner Spots
Gentle waves for learning
Longboard Spots
Mellow waves for logging
Less Crowded
Quieter lineups & backups

Frequently Asked Questions

About surfing in Bolinas

Dawn patrol in Bolinas typically starts at first light, around 30 minutes before sunrise. This gives you the glassiest conditions before onshore winds develop.
Early morning offers glassy conditions, fewer crowds, and calmer winds. Water temperature is also warmer relative to air temperature at sunrise.

Make the next surf call sharper

Check the forecast, surf the session, log what happened, and help Quiver keep tuning your local calls.

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