Steamer Lane
Northern California, USA
Sun, Nov 1 – Wed, Nov 4
- 5–7 ft · 13sSurf on your dates
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- IAD → SJCAlaska Airlines
- 66°F water3/2 fullsuit
Alaska Airlines · boards OK. Verify with the airline before booking.
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Steamer Lane surf forecast
Better surfweekendTue 3 Nov – Fri 6 Nov
Updated
Trip dates
Friday, Oct 23
4-6ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 7s WNW
- Wind
- 6kt offshore
- Water
- 65°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:23am to 6:20pm
- Dawn7:23 to 9am5ft2kt glassy5/10
- Morning9 to 11am5-6ft2kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft2kt glassy2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm4-6ft6kt offshore5/10
- Dusk4 to 6:20pm4ft8kt offshore4/10
Saturday, Oct 24
4ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SSW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Water
- 65°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:24am to 6:19pm
- Dawn7:24 to 9am4-5ft5kt offshore5/10
- Morning9 to 11am5ft3kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4-5ft2kt glassy3/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm4ft8kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:19pm4ft9kt cross-shore2/10
Sunday, Oct 25
3ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 7s WNW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 65°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:25am to 6:18pm
- Dawn7:25 to 9am3-4ft4kt offshore6/10
- Morning9 to 11am3ft2kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft3kt glassy2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm3ft4kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:18pm3ft6kt onshore2/10
Monday, Oct 26
3ft5/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 11s W
- Wind
- 7kt cross-shore
- Water
- 65°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:26am to 6:17pm
- Dawn7:26 to 9am3ft1kt glassy5/10
- Morning9 to 11am3ft1kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft9kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm4ft12kt cross-shore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:17pm4ft14kt cross-shore2/10
Tuesday, Oct 27
3ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s WNW
- Wind
- 6kt onshore
- Water
- 65°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:27am to 6:16pm
- Dawn7:27 to 9am3ft2kt glassy7/10
- Morning9 to 11am3ft2kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft8kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm3ft9kt onshore3/10
- Dusk4 to 6:16pm3ft11kt cross-shore2/10
Wednesday, Oct 28
4ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s WNW
- Wind
- 4kt cross-shore
- Water
- 66°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:28am to 6:14pm
- Dawn7:28 to 9am4ft4kt offshore8/10
- Morning9 to 11am4ft4kt offshore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft1kt glassy4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm4ft6kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:14pm4ft4kt cross-shore3/10
Thursday, Oct 29
3ft5/10Best in the morning
- Swell
- 11s WNW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 66°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:29am to 6:13pm
- Dawn7:29 to 9am4ft3kt glassy5/10
- Morning9 to 11am4ft2kt glassy5/10
- Midday11am to 2pm3ft1kt glassy4/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm3-4ft6kt onshore3/10
- Dusk4 to 6:13pm3ft7kt onshore3/10
Friday, Oct 30
5ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 66°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:30am to 6:12pm
- Dawn7:30 to 9am5ft1kt glassy6/10
- Morning9 to 11am3-4ft1kt glassy4/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4-5ft3kt glassy2/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm5ft6kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:12pm4ft4kt onshore2/10
Saturday, Oct 31
5ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 16s SSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Water
- 66°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 7:31am to 6:11pm
- Dawn7:31 to 10am4-5ft3kt glassy7/10
- Morning10 to 11am5ft3kt glassy6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft3kt glassy5/10
- Afternoon2 to 4pm5ft6kt onshore2/10
- Dusk4 to 6:11pm5ft7kt cross-shore2/10
Sunday, Nov 1
4-6ft6/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 9s WNW
- Wind
- 4kt cross-shore
- Water
- 66°F
- Suit
- 3/2 fullsuit
- Light
- 6:32am to 5:10pm
- Dawn6:32 to 9am4ft6kt offshore6/10
- Morning9 to 11am4ft5kt cross-shore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5-6ft3kt glassy6/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm6ft4kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:10pm6ft4kt onshore3/10
Monday, Nov 2 Long range
5-6ft7/10Best at midday
- Swell
- 15s SW
- Wind
- 5kt cross-shore
- Light
- 6:33am to 5:09pm
- Dawn6:33 to 9am5ft3kt glassy2/10
- Morning9 to 11am5ft5kt offshore6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm5ft6kt cross-shore7/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm6ft3kt glassy5/10
- Dusk3 to 5:09pm6ft5kt onshore3/10
Tuesday, Nov 3 Long range
8ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s W
- Wind
- 5kt onshore
- Light
- 6:34am to 5:08pm
- Dawn6:34 to 9am6ft3kt glassy8/10
- Morning9 to 11am7-8ft3kt glassy7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm8ft3kt glassy4/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm8ft7kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:08pm8ft7kt cross-shore3/10
Wednesday, Nov 4 Long range
6ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s WNW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Light
- 6:35am to 5:07pm
- Dawn6:35 to 9am7ft2kt glassy8/10
- Morning9 to 11am6-7ft2kt glassy6/10
- Midday11am to 2pm6ft3kt glassy3/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm6ft6kt onshore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:07pm6ft7kt cross-shore3/10
Thursday, Nov 5 Long range
9-11ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 13s WSW
- Wind
- 4kt onshore
- Light
- 6:36am to 5:06pm
- Dawn6:36 to 9am4-9ft1kt glassy7/10
- Morning9 to 11am10ft2kt glassy3/10
- Midday11am to 2pm11ft4kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm11ft7kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:06pm4-11ft6kt onshore3/10
Friday, Nov 6 Long range
4ft7/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 15s SSW
- Wind
- 3kt glassy
- Light
- 6:37am to 5:05pm
- Dawn6:37 to 9am3-4ft3kt glassy7/10
- Morning9 to 11am3ft0kt glassy2/10
- Midday11am to 2pm4ft4kt onshore2/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm4ft5kt onshore2/10
- Dusk3 to 5:05pm4ft2kt glassy3/10
Saturday, Nov 7 Long range
6-10ft8/10Best at dawn
- Swell
- 14s WSW
- Wind
- 5kt cross-shore
- Light
- 6:38am to 5:04pm
- Dawn6:38 to 9am4-5ft7kt offshore8/10
- Morning9 to 11am4-10ft4kt offshore7/10
- Midday11am to 2pm10ft0kt glassy6/10
- Afternoon2 to 3pm10ft6kt cross-shore3/10
- Dusk3 to 5:04pm10ft7kt cross-shore4/10
Live cams
- Surfline Premium
Steamer Lane surf guide
The wave. Steamer Lane is a reef break off the point below the Santa Cruz lighthouse, with mainly right-hand waves over rock and some sand. It has four sections: Indicators, Middle Peak, The Slot and The Point. Claude Horan named it in the late 1930s, and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is in the lighthouse above.
Who it suits. Steamer Lane suits intermediate to advanced surfers, and big winter days are for experts. Beginners should go to Cowell Beach instead.
Read the full guide, with its sources (checked Oct 2026).
Getting there
An easy transfer, 53 min from SJC
- SJC
- 54.2 km, about 53 min
- the wave
Park along West Cliff Drive. The Lane breaks below the lighthouse.
Free-flow driving time, not traffic.
123456Arrival1 kmWhere to stay
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Price per night$47 – $435+
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No places in this price range.
Checked Oct 2026
Season
PeakShoulderOff
Best months: Oct–Feb · typically 5–7 ft faces
Month by month
Best Oct–Feb. Good Oct–Mar. Worth avoiding May–Aug.
| Month | Relative quality | Typical face | Surfable days | Water | Wear | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 ft | 99% | 13 C / 55 F | 4/3 + boots | Best | |
| Feb | 7 ft | 98% | 12 C / 54 F | 4/3 + boots | Best | |
| Mar | 7 ft | 97% | 12 C / 54 F | 4/3 + boots | Good | |
| Apr | 5 ft | 97% | 13 C / 55 F | 4/3 + boots | Shoulder | |
| May | 5 ft | 90% | 13 C / 56 F | 4/3 + boots | Worth avoiding | |
| Jun | 4 ft | 88% | 14 C / 58 F | 4/3 + boots | Worth avoiding | |
| Jul | 4 ft | 82% | 15 C / 58 F | 4/3 + boots | Worth avoiding | |
| Aug | 3 ft | 77% | 15 C / 60 F | 4/3 | Worth avoiding | |
| Sep | 4 ft | 96% | 17 C / 62 F | 4/3 | Shoulder | |
| Oct | 5 ft | 100% | 16 C / 61 F | 4/3 | Best | |
| Nov | 6 ft | 99% | 14 C / 58 F | 4/3 + boots | Best | |
| Dec | 7 ft | 97% | 14 C / 58 F | 4/3 + boots | Best |
Medians from years of hindcast, not a forecast (how we read the hindcast). Water temperatures come from an offshore model grid, which reads a little warm on an upwelling coast. More on the break in the USA guide.