Kite spot on water · United States

Hogback Mesa

Name: Hogback Mesa
Address: US

Riders have kited it in SSW–NNW.

Show on the map37.5229, -106.5791

Works in: SSW–NNW
Nearest airport: ALSSan Luis Valley Regional Airport/Bergman Field, 64 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

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

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

worksno reports

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

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out for

The west-facing slope is often wind-scoured of snow; jumps have high exposure.community map

Getting there

Snowmobile access via potentially groomed trails, about 12 miles in; best staging is off Hwy 160 and Beaver Creek Road.community map

Conditions

Elevation 12,000 ft (approx. 3,650 m), west-facing mesa, can be wind-scoured.community map

In riders' own words

„wind with anything that has some West in it.“
„Snowmobile access on possible groomed trails. This location is about 12 miles in, the best trail head is right off of Hwy 160 and Beaver Creek Road.“
„This Mesa faces West and can be wind scoured. Jumps here will give you huge exposure“
„Hogback Mesa at 12,000', South Fork area ... This Mesa faces West and can be wind scoured.“

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.

8.0Jan4.1

8.7Feb4.5

8.6Mar4.4

8.9Apr4.6

7.5May3.9

6.8Jun3.5

4.8Jul2.5

4.8Aug2.5

5.8Sep3.0

6.9Oct3.5

7.5Nov3.9

7.9Dec4.1

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

Values by month

January	8.0 knots · 4.1 m/s
February	8.7 knots · 4.5 m/s
March	8.6 knots · 4.4 m/s
April	8.9 knots · 4.6 m/s
May	7.5 knots · 3.9 m/s
June	6.8 knots · 3.5 m/s
July	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
August	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
September	5.8 knots · 3.0 m/s
October	6.9 knots · 3.5 m/s
November	7.5 knots · 3.9 m/s
December	7.9 knots · 4.1 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

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Sources: Community map “Kite Locations Map” (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.