Snowkite spot · United States

Snow Kite Loveland Pass NW or S Wind

Name: Snow Kite Loveland Pass NW or S Wind
Address: US

Riders have kited it in NE, S, NW.

Show on the map39.6640, -105.8786

Works in: NE, S, NW
Nearest airport: BJCRocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, 71 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.

Pparking

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits: For advanced riders.

Parking

In south wind, drive south on Hwy 6 below the pass and park at the big hairpin turn.community map
Car park “Loveland Pass Trailhead” about 50 m from the spot, free.OpenStreetMap
Parking right at Loveland Pass.community map

Getting there

In NE wind, head NE from the pass along the ridge for about 200 yards and traverse NE onto the bench below the ridge (GPS: N39 40 17.9 W105 52 05.8).community map
In south wind, kiting is right by the parking area at the large hairpin turn on Hwy 6 south below the pass.community map

Conditions

Backcountry spot.community map

In riders' own words

„Snow Kite Loveland Pass NW or S Wind“
„for a NE wind: hike NE from the pass“
„For a South wind, head South on Hwy 6“
„Advanced backcountry snow kite location.“
„Park at Loveland Pass“
„For a South wind, head South on Hwy 6 below the pass and park at the big hairpin turn and kite there.“
„OpenStreetMap way/699314519“
„OpenStreetMap way/1214449170“
„for a NE wind: hike NE from the pass along the ridge for about 200 yards and contour NE to a shelf below the ridge.“

Photos from the area

2022-09-11 09 01 33 View west along U.S. Route 6 at Loveland Pass on the border of Summit County and Clear Creek County in Colorado · 60 m from the spot
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

2022-09-11 09 01 25 View east along U.S. Route 6 at Loveland Pass on the border of Summit County and Clear Creek County in Colorado · 61 m from the spot
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

2022-09-11 09 02 26 View westward down U.S. Route 6 from just below Loveland Pass in Summit County, Colorado · 90 m from the spot
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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.

5.5Jan2.8

5.9Feb3.0

5.5Mar2.8

5.7Apr2.9

4.8May2.5

4.5Jun2.3

3.4Jul1.7

3.4Aug1.7

4.0Sep2.1

4.8Oct2.5

5.3Nov2.7

5.5Dec2.8

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

Values by month

January	5.5 knots · 2.8 m/s
February	5.9 knots · 3.0 m/s
March	5.5 knots · 2.8 m/s
April	5.7 knots · 2.9 m/s
May	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
June	4.5 knots · 2.3 m/s
July	3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s
August	3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s
September	4.0 knots · 2.1 m/s
October	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
November	5.3 knots · 2.7 m/s
December	5.5 knots · 2.8 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 “Kite Locations Map” (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.