Snowkite spot · United States

Snow Kite "The Ranch"

Name: Snow Kite "The Ranch"
Address: US

Riders have kited it in S.

Show on the map39.5624, -104.4197

Works in: S
Nearest airport: DENDenver International Airport, 40 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.

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out for

Fence near the launch areacommunity map

Where to launch

Start at the top of the small hill by the road just past the For Sale sign, step over the fence, and walk upwind from the fence to launchcommunity map

Rules and respect

Private land with permission obtained for kitingcommunity map

In riders' own words

„wind is usually from the South“
„Start at the top of a small in hill the road just past the for Sale sign... Step over the fence, wind is usually from the South, so walk upwind from the fence to launch.“
„Step over the fence, wind is usually from the South, so walk upwind from the fence to launch.“
„This location is private property that we have gotten permission to kite.“

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.

8.1Jan4.2

8.6Feb4.4

8.9Mar4.6

9.6Apr4.9

8.2May4.2

8.0Jun4.1

7.5Jul3.9

7.3Aug3.8

7.7Sep4.0

8.0Oct4.1

8.0Nov4.1

7.8Dec4.0

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

Values by month

January	8.1 knots · 4.2 m/s
February	8.6 knots · 4.4 m/s
March	8.9 knots · 4.6 m/s
April	9.6 knots · 4.9 m/s
May	8.2 knots · 4.2 m/s
June	8.0 knots · 4.1 m/s
July	7.5 knots · 3.9 m/s
August	7.3 knots · 3.8 m/s
September	7.7 knots · 4.0 m/s
October	8.0 knots · 4.1 m/s
November	8.0 knots · 4.1 m/s
December	7.8 knots · 4.0 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

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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.