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.
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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
- 1.9m
- 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
👥 Summer Break (Jun 15 – Aug 25) — expect extra crowds
Access: Small harbor town. Beach access from waterfront.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tide is best at Grand Marais?
Grand Marais handles all stages of the tide, so time your session around the wind instead. The live chart above shows the next few days.
What wind direction is offshore at Grand Marais?
Offshore wind at Grand Marais blows from the SE (135°). Anything in the 90° to 180° range grooms the faces; outside it, expect chop or bumpy conditions.
What swell size and direction work best at Grand Marais?
Grand Marais wants NNW swell (310° to 25°) between 0.5m and 2.5m, with a period of 6s or more for quality waves.
When is the best time of year to surf Grand Marais?
The main season at Grand Marais is Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar. A secondary window runs Sep, Apr. Fall and winter storms. NW-N swells work best.
How do I get to Grand Marais?
Fly into MQT, then allow about 90 minutes by road. Small harbor town. Beach access from waterfront.
What kind of wave is Grand Marais?
Grand Marais is a beach break, a peak with lefts and rights. Difficulty is rated 6/10.
Best Season
Peak: Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Secondary: Sep, Apr
Fall and winter storms. NW-N swells work best.