CS2027 dates

Kite spot on water · United States

Sunset Beach

Riders have kited it in N, SW–W, NW.

Show on the map46.1934, -123.9798
Works in
N, SW–W, NW
Nearest airport
OLMOlympia Regional Airport, 119 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

NNNENEENEEESESESSESSSWSWWSWWWNWNWNNWNESW

worksno reports

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

riding areaPparking

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Safe beach suitable for both beginners and advanced riders.

Watch out for

  • Big waves, rip currents, floating logs or branches, and marine life; do not count on emergency rescue services.community map
  • The beach is a public road - watch out for parked and moving vehicles.community map
  • Camp Rilea military base (3 miles north) holds live-fire exercises.community map

Where to launch

  • Launch and land directly on the beach (public roadway); rig near the sand dunes away from the hard-packed traffic lane.community map

Parking

  • Parking directly on the beach right by the dunes (off the hard-packed traffic lane), or off-beach at the pullout before the beach entrance.community map
  • Car park about 200 m from the spot, paid.OpenStreetMap

Getting there

  • 110 miles west of Portland via Hwy 26 or Hwy 30 and Hwy 101 to Sunset Beach Lane; beach access is sometimes unsuitable for 2WD vehicles.community map

Rules and respect

  • Beach fires are allowed, but camping is prohibited and you must leave the beach by 10:00 PM.community map
  • 25 mph beach speed limit (radar enforced); park by the dunes outside the traffic lane.community map
  • No entry to the Camp Rilea area during military live-fire exercises.community map

Conditions

  • Ocean conditions from flat water to critical waves; water temperature 40-60 °F (approx. 4-16 °C), 4 or 5mm wetsuit is standard.community map
  • From late spring to early autumn N NW blows from 11:00 until dark (best 14:00-18:00), off-season briefly (2-4 h) SW to W.community map

Riders' tips

  • Check the NWS Clatsop sensor; on downwinders it's easy to hitch a pickup ride back upwind; helmet, leash, and impact vest recommended.community map
  • An alternative is Ft. Stevens (Parking Lot D on the Lower Columbia), which works on NW and E winds (watch out for currents).community map

Facilities

  • Portable toilets (porta-johns) at the pull-off before the beach entrance.community map
In riders' own words
  • „blowing as early as 11am from the N NW in the late spring/summer/early fall ... Short periods (2-4 hours) of good SW to W winds can be had in the off-season.“
  • „The beach is safe and a fun place to learn or rip.“
  • „Accessibility to vehicles on the beach means you are launching and landing on a public roadway. ... Rig kites and park your vehicles up next to the sand dunes“
  • „off-beach parking and porta-johns are available at a turn-out prior to driving on the beach. ... park your vehicles up next to the sand dunes“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/662954111“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/32741610“
  • „Sunset Beach is located 110 miles west of Portland on Hwy 101 @ Sunset Beach Lane. ... Occasionally, this access is not suitable for 2wd vehicles“
  • „Camp Rilea (north of Sunset Beach approximately 3 miles and extends north another mile) is an Oregon National Guard military reservation“
  • „Always watch for large waves, rips, logs/branches, and sea life. ... Help cannot be expected from emergency services“
  • „The beach is patrolled with radar and the speed limit is strictly enforced at 25mph.“
  • „Guards will be posted and military vehicles will be present warning beach users to keep out.“
  • „Fires are permitted on the beach but there is no camping and you need to be gone by 10pm.“
  • „ocean conditions can range from lake-like to critical. ... Water temperatures range from the low 40.s to low 60.s depending on the season/currents.“
  • „Wind can be blowing as early as 11am from the N NW in the late spring/summer/early fall and blow until dark. Best between 2-6pm.“

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
January7.3 knots · 3.8 m/s
February6.3 knots · 3.2 m/s
March6.2 knots · 3.2 m/s
April5.6 knots · 2.9 m/s
May5.0 knots · 2.6 m/s
June4.9 knots · 2.5 m/s
July4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s
August4.3 knots · 2.2 m/s
September4.6 knots · 2.4 m/s
October5.6 knots · 2.9 m/s
November6.9 knots · 3.5 m/s
December7.3 knots · 3.8 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 “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.

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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.