Tide conditions for Big Sur surf spots
Big Sur, California
Updated Refreshed hourly · Tide data refreshes every 30 minutes from NOAA stations.
A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in Big Sur. These 1 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.
Current Tide
6.3ft
Rising
Next High
10:00 AM
6.9 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 1:00 AM(5.1ft) | 4:00 AM(4.7ft) | 10:00 AM(6.9ft) | 6:00 PM(1.2ft) |
| Tomorrow | 2:00 AM(5.1ft) | 5:00 AM(4.9ft) | 11:00 AM(6.7ft) | 7:00 PM(1.5ft) |
| Fri, Nov 13 | 3:00 AM(5.1ft) | 5:00 AM(4.9ft) | 11:00 AM(6.4ft) | 8:00 PM(1.7ft) |
| Sat, Nov 14 | 4:00 AM(5.1ft) | 6:00 AM(5.0ft) | 12:00 PM(6.2ft) | 8:00 PM(1.9ft) |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 5:00 AM(5.2ft) | 7:00 AM(5.0ft) | 1:00 PM(5.8ft) | 9:00 PM(2.0ft) |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 5:00 AM(5.3ft) | 9:00 AM(4.9ft) | 2:00 PM(5.5ft) | 10:00 PM(2.0ft) |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 6:00 AM(5.4ft) | 11:00 AM(4.5ft) | 3:00 PM(5.2ft) | 11:00 PM(2.4ft) |
Today
1:00 AM (5.1ft)
10:00 AM (6.9ft)
4:00 AM (4.7ft)
6:00 PM (1.2ft)
Tomorrow
2:00 AM (5.1ft)
11:00 AM (6.7ft)
5:00 AM (4.9ft)
7:00 PM (1.5ft)
Fri, Nov 13
3:00 AM (5.1ft)
11:00 AM (6.4ft)
5:00 AM (4.9ft)
8:00 PM (1.7ft)
Sat, Nov 14
4:00 AM (5.1ft)
12:00 PM (6.2ft)
6:00 AM (5.0ft)
8:00 PM (1.9ft)
Sun, Nov 15
5:00 AM (5.2ft)
1:00 PM (5.8ft)
7:00 AM (5.0ft)
9:00 PM (2.0ft)
Mon, Nov 16
5:00 AM (5.3ft)
2:00 PM (5.5ft)
9:00 AM (4.9ft)
10:00 PM (2.0ft)
Tue, Nov 17
6:00 AM (5.4ft)
3:00 PM (5.2ft)
11:00 AM (4.5ft)
11:00 PM (2.4ft)
Beach Tide Preferences
Each beach performs best at a specific tide range and direction. Plan your session around these windows.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
1 spots
Loading map...
Featured Beaches(1)
What to focus on today
- Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
- How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
- Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
- Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in Big Sur
- Tide preferences vary by spot in Big Sur. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
- Tides significantly impact surf conditions in Big Sur. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
- You can check tide charts for Big Sur on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.
