Kite spot on water · United States

Rufus

Name: Rufus
Address: US

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

Show on the map45.6921, -120.7222

Nearest airport: YKMYakima Air Terminal McAllister Field, 98 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

Watch out for

Strong current - up to ~6 knots (3 m/s) upwind when the dam is open, which can easily sweep your board away.community map

Where to launch

Launch and land in the large rocky parking lot or down on the beach.community map

Parking

Large gravel parking lot at the end of the road by the river.capacity: huge · community map

Getting there

Exit the highway toward the river, turn left, and drive to the end of the road.community map

In riders' own words

„Launch and land in the huge, rocky parking lot or down below on the beach.“
„Off Freeway, head toward the river, take a left and go to the end of the road.“
„Beware of the current here, if the dam is open you can have up to ~6knt UPwind current, which will make your kite seem bigger, and your board lost quickly.“

Photos from the area

Renewable (27459069725) · 1172 m from the spot
Sheila Sund from Salem, United States, 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.

7.2Jan3.7

7.2Feb3.7

7.4Mar3.8

7.4Apr3.8

7.4May3.8

7.9Jun4.1

7.6Jul3.9

7.1Aug3.7

6.5Sep3.3

6.7Oct3.4

7.2Nov3.7

7.2Dec3.7

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

Values by month

January	7.2 knots · 3.7 m/s
February	7.2 knots · 3.7 m/s
March	7.4 knots · 3.8 m/s
April	7.4 knots · 3.8 m/s
May	7.4 knots · 3.8 m/s
June	7.9 knots · 4.1 m/s
July	7.6 knots · 3.9 m/s
August	7.1 knots · 3.7 m/s
September	6.5 knots · 3.3 m/s
October	6.7 knots · 3.4 m/s
November	7.2 knots · 3.7 m/s
December	7.2 knots · 3.7 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.