Snowkite spot · United States
Keechelus Lake Snowkiting
Riders have kited it in E.
- Works in
- E
- Watch out
- W
- Nearest airport
- SEASeattle–Tacoma International Airport, 70 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
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
worksdoes not work / gustyno reports
Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.
riding areaPparking
From riders
What you need to know
Watch out for
- The lake freezes some years, but the ice may not be solid - many people have fallen through.community map
- Closer to the tree line, the wind is shifty and gusty.community map
- Power lines along the cross-country ski access trail.community map
Where to launch
- The best rigging spot is south of the boat launch, up on the wooded hill where there is a flat area with a small wind rotor.community map
- From the parking lot at the end of the plowed road, walk east a few hundred yards onto the snow to the launch spot.community map
Parking
- Parking right at the spot at the end of the plowed road from the Hayak exit (towards Hayak lodge / Keechelus trailhead), no permit required.price: No permit necessary · community map
- Parking in the Sno-Park area requires a permit (sold on-site on busy weekends, or annual pass at REI or ranger station).price: required to have a permit · community map
- Car park “Hyak” about 500 m from the spot, paid.OpenStreetMap
- Keechelus Gold Creek Parking lot.community map
Getting there
- From the Sno-Park, follow the cross-country ski trail south along the power lines for about 0.5 miles, then turn left at the restrooms onto the lower trail to the boat launch (or continue 1/4 mile further south); snowshoes or skins are useful.community map
- Take the Hayak exit, first left toward Hayak lodge / Keechelus trailhead, follow the road curving right to the end parking lot, then a few hundred yards east.community map
Rules and respect
- A permit is required when parking at the Sno-Park.community map
Conditions
- The lake freezes some years; riding requires an E wind of at least 10 to 20.community map
Riders' tips
- When heading out from the Sno-Park, use snowshoes or climbing skins, as postholing takes a lot of energy; bring Gatorade and sugar.community map
Facilities
- Restrooms by the access road and a boat launch.community map
In riders' own words
- „Check the wind at the ranger station before you go, it has to be at least 10 to 20 out of the east.“
- „Westerlies don't work at the site.“
- „Walk east a couple hundred yard onto the snow to the "launch site."“
- „The sweet spot to rig is to the south of the boat launch, up on the hill with the trees.“
- „No permit necessary, you can park at the spot, they plow the road now. :)“
- „If you park at the snow park, yes it's required to have a permit. They sell them on the spot, busy days (weekends)“
- „[parking: Keechelus Gold Creek Parking]“
- „OpenStreetMap way/111661057“
- „OpenStreetMap way/370527450“
- „Take the Hayak exit, 1st left toward the Hayak lodge/Keechelus trailhead. Follow that road as it curves to the right.“
- „it's about 1/2 mile that seems to take forever. Follow the cross country trail just along the power lines to the south“
- „The lake does freeze over some years but be wary as I've seen many people get dunked on what they thought was solid.“
- „There is a flat spot with little rotor but the closer you get to the tree line it gets swirly and gusty.“
- „Follow the cross country trail just along the power lines to the south, as you said.“
Photos from the area
PinchyCC, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Jrg1000, CC0, 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 | 4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s |
| April | 3.7 knots · 1.9 m/s |
| May | 3.7 knots · 1.9 m/s |
| June | 3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s |
| July | 3.7 knots · 1.9 m/s |
| August | 3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s |
| September | 3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s |
| October | 3.8 knots · 2.0 m/s |
| November | 4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s |
| December | 4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s |
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.
A week on the water
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See the safariThe safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.