Kite spot on water · United States

Magnuson South

Name: Magnuson South
Address: US

Riders have kited it in S.

Show on the map47.6506, -122.2758

Works in: S
Nearest airport: BFIKing County International Airport - Boeing Field, 14 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

bestworksno reports

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

From riders

What you need to know

Size of the area: Rigging space for one to two kites.

Watch out for

The area is poorly maintained and overgrown with vegetation and blackberries in the rigging area.community map

Where to launch

When returning to the launch, you usually have to depower/drop the kite and swim in via self-rescue, or exit by the club further north and walk back around.community map
Launch from the public water access alley: lines are laid out in the alley, the kiter swims out and water launches (the last kiter does a drift launch).community map

Getting there

Alley with public water access; exiting at the club further north requires a detour walk back to the launch.community map

Riders' tips

Practice swimming drift launches elsewhere beforehand (you only get one shot here) and scout the spot before your session.community map

In riders' own words

„This is the best launch for accessing the lee side of the 520 bridge on southerlies.“
„There is room to set up one or two kites and running your lines up the alley.“
„This is an alley with public access to the water. There is room to set up one or two kites and running your lines up the alley.“
„When returning to the launch you will most likely have to drop your kite and self-rescue in. There is a club a bit further north where you can exit“
„There is a club a bit further north where you can exit and walk a circuitous route back to the launch.“
„This public space is not well maintained and can get overgrown, so check it out first. We have cut back vegetation and berry branches in the pump area.“
„the last kiter will need to do a swimming drift launch. Practice this launch technique elsewhere first. You only get one chance.“

Photos from the area

520 Bridge under construction, 1962 (51608069776) · 798 m from the spot
Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Seattle - Proposed underwater tube crossing of Union Bay, 1960s · 1001 m from the spot
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.

4.7Jan2.4

4.4Feb2.3

4.8Mar2.5

4.1Apr2.1

3.4May1.7

3.2Jun1.6

2.9Jul1.5

3.1Aug1.6

3.5Sep1.8

4.1Oct2.1

4.8Nov2.5

4.7Dec2.4

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.