Kite spot on water · United States
Golden Gardens
Riders have kited it in NW–N.
- Works in
- NW–N
- Watch out
- NE–SW
- Nearest airport
- BFIKing County International Airport - Boeing Field, 20 km
Forecast and webcams
Before you go
Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.
Webcams nearby
Live images from cameras within 25 km of the spot. Click to open the camera on Windy.com.
Webcams: Windy.com
Tips for this spot
- Offshore wind carries you away from land. Do not ride it without a rescue boat.
- When a storm is coming, get out of the water and land the kite at once. Gusts before a storm are violent and a kite overhead is the highest point around.
- New spot: ask locals about shallows, currents and where people launch.
On site
Wind and riding area
worksdoes not work / gustyno reports
Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.
Pparking
From riders
What you need to know
Watch out for
- At the secondary grass launch, the wind wraps around the northern hills, the grass is very slippery, and bushes along the path can snag lines.community map
- Strong currents make riding upwind on a flood tide difficult, as well as any self-rescue and swimming to shore.community map
- Heavy boat traffic at the north entrance to Shilshole Marina south of the park, plus frequent sailing regattas.community map
- Lots of beachgoers, dogs, and swimmers, especially on sunny days.community map
- Pilings at the northern tip of the park, submerged at high tide.community map
Where to launch
- At higher tide, alternative launch at the northernmost part of the grass area on the waterside with a hold-down assistant, then walk across the path to the water.community map
- Rig on the large grassy area; launching is recommended at the northern tip of the sandy beach by the water's edge, tide permitting.community map
Parking
- Car park “Overflow Parking Lot” about 250 m from the spot, free.OpenStreetMap
- Plenty of parking.capacity: plenty of parking · community map
Rules and respect
- Always give way to boats regardless of what tack you are on, and stay clear of sailing regattas.community map
Conditions
- North summer (steady) and winter (gustier) wind averages 15-20 knots (8–10 m/s), occasionally 30 knots (15 m/s); morning wind lasts 3-4 hours, afternoon wind often blows into the night.community map
- Water tends to be very choppy, with clean swell forming in strong wind on an ebb tide; the beach drops off quickly into deep water.community map
Riders' tips
- The NOAA sensor at WestPoint (approx. 5 miles south) and Seattle - Winslow ferry readings show the wind accurately; the best wind is usually on the first day of a new high-pressure system.community map
- When launching from the grass, keep your kite around 75 degrees to clear the bushes by the path and have someone hold your harness while crossing the trail to the water.community map
In riders' own words
- „When the reading is N to NW 15 knots or higher it is usually rideable.“
- „only rideable on a northerly wind due to shadowing from the marina and large bluff to the south... Beware of a NE forecast or any E in the wind“
- „a large grassy area to rig on and lots of riding room“
- „The large grassy field is ideal for sorting and rigging your gear. It is recommended to launch at the north point of the sand beach.“
- „On higher tides the secondary launch area is the northern most area of the grass field. This location requires good kite control and a hold-down“
- „There is plenty of parking, a large grassy area to rig on“
- „OpenStreetMap way/159483710“
- „OpenStreetMap way/270512840“
- „Currents, on the other hand, can be very strong here sometimes making it a challenge to stay up wind on flood tides“
- „winds can swirl around the north hills of the park. The grass can also be very slippery here... avoid getting your lines caught in the shrubs“
- „Please be extremely aware of beach-goers! There will be plenty of them as the wind usually blows on sunny days.“
- „The north entrance of the Shilshole marina is directly south of the park making this a high traffic area for boats.“
- „There are some pilings at the north end of the park on the point that are covered when the tide is high,“
- „Stay aware of boat traffic around you at all times and please give them right-of-way no matter what tack you are on.“
Photos from the area
Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA, CC BY 2.0, 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.
windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s
Values by month
| January | 4.7 knots · 2.4 m/s |
|---|---|
| February | 4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s |
| March | 4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s |
| April | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| May | 3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s |
| June | 3.2 knots · 1.6 m/s |
| July | 2.9 knots · 1.5 m/s |
| August | 3.1 knots · 1.6 m/s |
| September | 3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s |
| October | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| November | 4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s |
| December | 4.7 knots · 2.4 m/s |
Nearby
More spots within 60 km
Been there?
Add what you know
Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.
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.
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