CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · United States

Odell Lake

Practical notes from riders: launch, parking and what to watch out for.

Show on the map43.5528, -121.9707
Nearest airport
RDMRoberts Field, 102 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

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Very advanced riders only (extremely demanding launch, must ride upwind immediately).

Watch out for

  • Fir trees and sailboat masts right next to the launch (approx. 3 m of space); if the wind drops or the kite backstalls, it will get caught in them.community map

Where to launch

  • Very tricky launch by the resort (about 3 m of space). Landing is always via self-rescue and drifting to shore.community map

Getting there

  • An hour's drive from Bend.community map

Rules and respect

  • To keep launch access open, you must buy lunch or dinner at the resort restaurant (approx. $20).community map

Conditions

  • Elevation near 5,000 ft (approx. 1,500 m). Windy almost every afternoon in summer for a 9-12m kite.community map

Riders' tips

  • Rig a 2-3 m bigger kite than at sea level due to altitude. Works when the coast has morning clouds/fog, the east is sunny, and the temperature difference exceeds 12 degrees (typically 8-10 mph lighter than Rufus).community map

Facilities

  • On-site resort restaurant.community map
In riders' own words
  • „Odell Lake guide: Advanced launch only... Launch = VERY ADVANCED... MUST BE ABLE TO GO UPWIND IMMEDIATELY.“
  • „Launch = VERY ADVANCED. You have about 10 feet between you and a kitemare... Landing = Always self-rescue and drift in.“
  • „it's an hour from Bend“
  • „If your kite back stalls, drifts down wind or hits a lull during launch it will get stuck in a fir tree or sailboat mast.“
  • „you MUST buy lunch or dinner from the resort restaurant in order to keep us being able to launch there (~$20).“
  • „with 9-12m almost every afternoon in Summer... as you are near 5k feet.“
  • „Forecast: Clouds/fog on coast in am + sunny out east + >12 degree temp difference. Odell tends to be 8-10mph less than Rufus... choose 2-3M bigger“

Photos from the area

Odell Lake in the winter, Oregon (32353663770)
Odell Lake in the winter, Oregon (32353663770) · 521 m from the spot
Bonnie Moreland from Oregon, United States, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Sunrise, Odell Lake, Oregon - Flickr - Bonnie Moreland (free images)
Sunrise, Odell Lake, Oregon - Flickr - Bonnie Moreland (free images) · 657 m from the spot
Bonnie Moreland from Oregon, United States, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Sunset Odell Lake, Oregon - Flickr - Bonnie Moreland (free images)
Sunset Odell Lake, Oregon - Flickr - Bonnie Moreland (free images) · 730 m from the spot
Bonnie Moreland from Oregon, United States, 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.

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

Values by month
January4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s
February4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
March4.4 knots · 2.3 m/s
April4.1 knots · 2.1 m/s
May3.8 knots · 2.0 m/s
June3.7 knots · 1.9 m/s
July3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s
August3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s
September3.6 knots · 1.9 m/s
October3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s
November4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
December4.5 knots · 2.3 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.

A week on the water

Kite safari in the Red Sea

8 days on a yacht from Hurghada to the islands of the northern Red Sea. Next departure 7-14 November 2026, the 2027 dates are coming soon.

See the safari

The safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.