Snowkite spot · United States

Badger Mountain

Name: Badger Mountain
Address: US

Riders have kited it in W.

Show on the map46.2343, -119.3208

Works in: W
Nearest airport: PSCTri Cities Airport, 16 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.

Under the snow

Surface and skis

Riders have not described the ground under the snow. Early in the season and after a thaw, expect things to stick out.

Rule of thumb: the smoother the ground, the less snow you need. On a mown meadow riders usually start from about 20 to 30 cm; on stubble, ploughed fields or dwarf pine you need much more.

Bring rock skis

For your first sessions, early in the season and anywhere the snow is thin, use old skis (“rock skis”) or an old snowboard. A stone hidden just under the snow can cut the base of new skis on the very first run.

Tips for this spot

On hills the wind is stronger and gustier than the forecast says. Behind a forest it breaks and swirls, so launch well away from trees.
Wind and frost add up: at −5 °C and 20 knots (10 m/s) it feels like about −14 °C. Goggles, a balaclava and spare gloves.
Frozen snow is hard: a helmet and back protector are worth it even on a flat plateau.

On site

Wind and riding area

worksno reports

Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.

From riders

What you need to know

Size of the area: Vast open plain and wheat fields.

Watch out for

Highway 2 runs nearby.community map

Getting there

The map pin is likely wrong; the spot should be at Badger Mountain Ski Area near Waterville (off Highway 2).community map

Conditions

Open terrain, wheat fields, and rolling hills with plenty of snow; weather is usually clearer east of the Cascades, with stronger wind at the top than at the bottom.community map

Riders' tips

Even when the flags hang limp down below, it can be blowing hard up on the hill (20-25 knots (13 m/s)).community map

In riders' own words

„The wind was reported to be West @10-12.“
„flew all over the wheat fields and explored this vast plain!“
„Edit: This seems to be created on the wrong location. I believe the OP meant to create this by Badger Mountain Ski Area near Waterville.“
„Over Highway 2 at about 40 feet had to be one of the highlights of the day!“
„open terrain and plenty of snow blanketing those nice rolling hills of the Palouse.“
„Driving out there looking at limp flags wondering what I was doing....but when I got up on top, it was cranking windy 20-25!“

Photos from the area

Badger Mountain Lake Lewis marker · 565 m from the spot
Mikecase00, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Badger Mountain Centennial Preserve marker · 209 m from the spot
Mikecase00, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Radio and cell towers stop Badger Mountain · 381 m from the spot
Mikecase00, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Wind by month

When it blows

Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.

7.2Jan3.7

7.3Feb3.8

7.9Mar4.1

7.8Apr4.0

7.4May3.8

7.8Jun4.0

7.4Jul3.8

7.0Aug3.6

6.6Sep3.4

7.0Oct3.6

7.3Nov3.8

7.1Dec3.7

windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s

Values by month

January	7.2 knots · 3.7 m/s
February	7.3 knots · 3.8 m/s
March	7.9 knots · 4.1 m/s
April	7.8 knots · 4.0 m/s
May	7.4 knots · 3.8 m/s
June	7.8 knots · 4.0 m/s
July	7.4 knots · 3.8 m/s
August	7.0 knots · 3.6 m/s
September	6.6 knots · 3.4 m/s
October	7.0 knots · 3.6 m/s
November	7.3 knots · 3.8 m/s
December	7.1 knots · 3.7 m/s

Been there?

Add what you know

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Sources: Community map “USA NW Kite Spots” (Google My Maps). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.