Grand Marais
Grand Marais sits on a remote stretch of Lake Superior's southern shore, where a natural sandbar and breakwall create one of the Great Lakes' most reliable surf setups. The small harbor town is surrounded by the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, adding stunning scenery to your surf session. When NW winds push swells into the bay, waves line up nicely with both left and right options. The local scene is small but stoked—this is surfing at its most pure, far from crowds and hype, just you and the lake.
Grand Marais surf forecast
Model forecast for swell, wind and tide.
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Spot Details
CustomizeCustomize this spotSwell Requirements
- Optimal direction
- NNW (330°)
- Direction range
- 310° - 25°
- Size range
- 0.5m - 2.5m
- Ideal size
- 1.4m - 2m
- Height multiplier
- 0.95×
- Ideal period
- 6s+
Wind Requirements
- Optimal direction
- SE (135°)
- Offshore range
- 90° - 180°
Tide Requirements
- Optimal tide
- all
Water temp
7°C
Wetsuit
6/5mm + boots, gloves, hood
Difficulty
6/10
Crowd level
2/10
Access: Small harbor town. Beach access from waterfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of wave is Grand Marais?
Grand Marais is a beach break in Alger County, USA, with peaks that run both left and right.
What swell works best at Grand Marais?
Grand Marais picks up swell from the NW round to the NNE, and it's best when it's coming straight out of the NNW. It starts working at around 0.5m and handles up to about 2.5m, with the sweet spot around 1.4 to 2m. Period matters too: aim for 6s or longer, as anything under 4s tends to be weak. These are the numbers our scoring uses, so treat them as a guide rather than a promise.
What wind is offshore at Grand Marais?
A SE wind is dead offshore at Grand Marais, and anything from the E round to the S keeps it clean. The morning is typically the best window, roughly 6am to 11am. Light winds from other directions can still be fine; strong offshores can make it hard to get into waves.
What tide is best at Grand Marais?
Grand Marais isn't especially fussy about tide and generally works through the cycle, so swell and wind matter more here. Big tides can still change how it breaks, so it's worth checking before you paddle out.
When is the best time of year to surf Grand Marais?
The most reliable run of swell at Grand Marais comes Oct to Mar. There's a second window in Apr and Sep too. Fall and winter storms. NW-N swells work best.
How cold is the water at Grand Marais?
The water at Grand Marais averages around 7°C, so you'll want a 6/5mm with boots, gloves and a hood. It shifts a few degrees through the year, so check the season before you pack.
Is Grand Marais good for beginners?
It's more of an intermediate wave, rated 6/10 for difficulty, so newer surfers are best off sticking to the smaller days. The lineup is usually quiet (crowd 2/10). Waves break near line of rocks. Take precautions to avoid collisions.
How do I get to Grand Marais?
The nearest airport on our list is MQT, then it's roughly a 1.5-hour drive. Small harbor town. Beach access from waterfront.
What other surf spots are near Grand Marais?
Fun fact: it's the third most northerly break we track in USA.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Sep, Apr
Fall and winter storms. NW-N swells work best.