Snowkite spot · United States

Hurricane Hill

Name: Hurricane Hill
Address: US

Riders have kited it in SW.

Show on the map47.8028, -123.4864

Works in: SW
Nearest airport: FRDFriday Harbor Airport, 87 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: Large clearing above the treeline.

Watch out for

Zero visibility when a front moves in with snow.community map

Where to launch

Large clearing at the top above the treeline.community map

Parking

By the Hurricane Ridge visitor center.community map

Getting there

Skin or snowshoe up the road, through the upper parking lot, and along the ridge/trail to the summit (approx. 3 miles, 700 ft elevation gain, takes 2.5 to 3 hours).community map
Just under 2.5 hours from Seattle, including the ferry.community map

Riders' tips

Recommended to ride ahead of an incoming front and get off the water in time.community map

In riders' own words

„We did it on a SW 20-30 forecast and it worked great“
„Once you are at the top, above the tree line, there is a large clearing where you can kite.“
„Park at the Hurricane Ridge visitor center“
„A little less the 2.5 hours from Seattle, including the ferry ride.“
„skin or snow-shoe up the road, through the upper parking lot, and along the ridge/trail to the top. The road+trail is about 3 miles, 700ft elevation gain“
„If you're there when the front hits, and it's snowing, you won't be able to see at all“
„It's probably a good idea to ride the pre-frontal and then get out of there.“

Photos from the area

ISS048-E-66399 - View of Earth · 1064 m from the spot
Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Public domain, 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.

5.3Jan2.7

4.8Feb2.5

5.0Mar2.6

4.3Apr2.2

3.5May1.8

3.5Jun1.8

3.1Jul1.6

3.0Aug1.5

3.3Sep1.7

4.2Oct2.2

5.2Nov2.7

5.3Dec2.7

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

Values by month

January	5.3 knots · 2.7 m/s
February	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
March	5.0 knots · 2.6 m/s
April	4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
May	3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s
June	3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s
July	3.1 knots · 1.6 m/s
August	3.0 knots · 1.5 m/s
September	3.3 knots · 1.7 m/s
October	4.2 knots · 2.2 m/s
November	5.2 knots · 2.7 m/s
December	5.3 knots · 2.7 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

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.