Kite spot on water · United States

Washoe Lake

Name: Washoe Lake
Address: US

Riders have kited it in SW, W, NW.

Show on the map39.2755, -119.7921

Works in: SW, W, NW
Nearest airport: RNOReno Tahoe International Airport, 25 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

worksno reports

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

Pparking

From riders

What you need to know

Size of the area: Plenty of rigging space.

Watch out for

Storms to the south are part of the weather pattern; keep an eye on the clouds.community map

Parking

Car park about 50 m from the spot.OpenStreetMap

Conditions

Wind rushes down the slope toward the lake at 25-35 mph.community map

Riders' tips

Bringing a sandbag to weigh down your kite is recommended.community map

In riders' own words

„Wind: NW, W, SW“
„Lots of room to setup“
„OpenStreetMap way/877388620“
„OpenStreetMap way/877388619“
„keep an eye on the clouds as thunder storms to the south are part of the setup for this.“
„Wind comes rushing down the hillside to this lake 25-35mph.“
„Recommended to have a sand bag to hold down your kites down.“

Photos from the area

Washoe Lake - panoramio (9) · 35 m from the spot
Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Washoe Lake - panoramio (7) · 36 m from the spot
Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Washoe Lake - panoramio (8) · 36 m from the spot
Patrick Nouhailler's…, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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.

5.3Jan2.7

5.8Feb3.0

6.3Mar3.2

6.3Apr3.2

5.9May3.0

5.6Jun2.9

4.9Jul2.5

4.8Aug2.5

5.0Sep2.6

5.1Oct2.6

5.5Nov2.8

5.7Dec2.9

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

Values by month

January	5.3 knots · 2.7 m/s
February	5.8 knots · 3.0 m/s
March	6.3 knots · 3.2 m/s
April	6.3 knots · 3.2 m/s
May	5.9 knots · 3.0 m/s
June	5.6 knots · 2.9 m/s
July	4.9 knots · 2.5 m/s
August	4.8 knots · 2.5 m/s
September	5.0 knots · 2.6 m/s
October	5.1 knots · 2.6 m/s
November	5.5 knots · 2.8 m/s
December	5.7 knots · 2.9 m/s

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.