Beach
both
Level 4/10

Grand Haven

South Pier, Grand Haven, USA
🌀Strong rips🪨Rocks

Grand Haven is Lake Michigan's oldest documented surf spot, with a scene dating back decades. Located at the mouth of the Grand River where the historic South Pier extends into the lake, this beach break offers remarkably consistent surf by Great Lakes standards. SW and NW winds both generate rideable waves, and the pier provides some organization to the swell. Grand Haven State Park makes access easy, with a beautiful beach, lighthouse views, and the famous Musical Fountain nearby. A perfect introduction to freshwater surfing.

3-Day Forecast
Wed
29
14
Poor
0.2m
@4s
13km/h
Today
30
0
Poor
0.1m
@4s
17km/h
Fri
1
0
Poor
0.1m
@4s
20km/h
+7
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Today's Conditions

Swell
0.2m
W(276°)
Score: 1/25
Period
4s
Short period / windswell
Score: 6/25
Wind
13km/h
NE(38°)
Score: 7/25
Weather
8°C
0.2mm100%
Windswell Component
0.2mNNE@2s
Secondary Swell
0.1mN
Forecast Confidence
100%
Sources: open-meteo-marine, open-meteo-weather
Best Session
morning
AM: 6 km/h ENE|PM: 14 km/h NE
6 km/h vs 14 km/h afternoon

Location & Conditions

Loading map...
0°45°90°135°180°225°270°315°NESW
Swell
Wind
View in OpenStreetMap
Showing forecast for today

Tide Times

Tide data is not available for this spot yet.

Strike Score Breakdown

14
Poor
Components
Swell Direction20/25
Swell Size1/25
Swell Period6/25
Wind7/25
Raw Score34/100
Adjustments
🌊💨 Windswell-5
⚠️ Weak Component-5
📉 Undersized Swell-10
🚫 Undersized Capmax 15
Adjusted Score14/100
Confidence
Multiplier×1.00
Final Score14
🌊💨 Windswell

Spot Details

Swell Requirements

Optimal direction
W (270°)
Direction range
225° - 315°
Size range
0.5m - 2m
Ideal size
1.5m
Height multiplier
0.95×
Ideal period
6s+

Wind Requirements

Optimal direction
E (90°)
Offshore range
45° - 135°

Tide Requirements

Optimal tide
all

Water temp

11°C

Wetsuit

5/4mm + boots

Difficulty

4/10

Crowd level

5/10

Access: Grand Haven State Park at South Pier. Easy access from pier parking.

Best Season

Peak: Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

SW and NW winds create waves. Pier provides some protection.

Getting There

Airport
GRR
Drive time
40 min
Data quality
verified

Strike Log

Community Discussion