The Columbia River is a gorgeous waterway that winds through the deserts in the east, through the snowy peaks of the Cascade Mountains, and finally empties into the mighty Pacific Ocean. Here you will find some spots along that route, ordered from west to east as you scroll down, so enjoy!
Jones Beach:
Beginner/Intermediate+
Westerly
Cross-shore
Jones Beach is the western most spot I still consider being on the Columbia River that I have ridden. It is located in Clatskanie OR on a stretch of sandy beach on the south side of the Columbia. It was a frequent spot for atvs in the past but there have since been some restrictions put in place, but still keep an eye out for folks driving around if you laid your lines out kind of wonky.
Jones is fun because it give you all the perks of the river with wind that can be a little more steady like the coast during the right part of the year. I have never seen it get too crowded, but there is a school or two that teaches out of there. If you have 4WD you can drive right up to where you launch from (on a really sparse day I self-launched from my 4runner) and it keeps everything nice and tight. The river itself is very wide there and across on the Washington side there is some fun riding near Puget Island. There really aren’t many obstacles to be aware of aside from river traffic, which can provide some sweet kickers as it rolls through. As always be aware of your surroundings and be safe and you should have a blast!
Sauvie Island:
Northerly
Beginner+
Cross-shore
Just north of the bustling city of Portland with their donut voodoo and bookstores is a calm rural scene that a lot of the metropolitan area has no idea exists or just doesn’t bother to enjoy. Sauvie Island is dotted with farms and other things you wouldn’t expect to be a stones throw from a large city. Drive across the serenely beautiful and quite landscape to Reeder Beach, and when you see the stairs heading up the berm to the sand drive to the last one (furthest north) and park there. Once you head up and over you’ll be on the beach and you’ll probably see quite a few other kiters around you with smiling faces because they are managing to get a session in after work in the warm weather.
Sauvie is a popular place for beach goers so make sure you talk to a local about what to do and not to do, and always ride north (upwind) of where you are launching to give families and their wee ones room to enjoy the island as well. The current of the river heading against the wind makes staying upwind a breeze, and Sauvie is a generally easy spot for newer kiters, with light friendly wind and a long drift back should anything go wrong. Be mindful of river traffic as you will get tankers, barges, boats, and all manner of things coming by. Otherwise, when it is on Sauvie is a great place to get in a nice session, but because it is downriver of the dams always be sure to check tides and use those to find relative wind speed so you don’t get skunked.
Rooster Rock:
Intermediate+
East
Cross-shore
About twenty minutes east of PDX on 84 is Rooster Rock State Park. As the summer season here comes to an end the colder air announces the arrival of the Rooster Months, with strong easterly winds and a (mostly often) massive sand beach to set up on, it is a favorite for Portlanders who may have grown tired of driving all the way out to Hood River all season. The park itself is nice, with tons of parking and bathrooms and all that jazz. Head down the stone steps to the beach and you’ll likely see other kiters out there despite the sometimes biting cold. Most recently I saw some foilers doing their thing in on a day where the temp was a balmy thirty degrees. That said, during the summer I have also seen a man stark naked on a foil there, so your mileage may vary.
Rooster is a great spot to get into the river and enjoy the wind, which is often gusty and very strong as our easterlies are here. The is some small tidal influence, because it is downriver of the damn, but I haven’t noticed it impact a session like it will at Sauvie. The most important thing about riding at Rooster is knowing that the wind and current are heading in the same direction, so keep an eye on your reference point on the beach and for newer kiters it is a good exercise in staying upwind, and maybe in walking upwind if it is a tough day. As always be safe and aware of your surroundings.
Stevenson Washington:
Intermediate+
West, East
Cross-shore
Stevenson sits west of Hood River and is a small town on the north side of the Columbia River. To get there you only need to head to the Stevenson Waterfront, then drive east and you’ll see a large parking lot with a brewery and some grass. To the northwest will be a boat launch, so if you find yourself there simply head south to the point and you’ll be at the launch. The launch is also why this spot is rated Intermediate+, though a beginner can ride here and have a blast with the right crew and some help. To launch at Stevenson you’ll have to have your kite either down near the water with you standing by the tree (you’ll know the one when you’re there) or the inverse. The wind is a bit funky so just troop through it and you’ll be out there in no time. I have also seen folks drift launch here, but urge caution with that approach.
The spot is one of the wider spots of the river and gives a large area for many riders to enjoy despite the bottleneck that is the launch itself. The river flows rather calmly and the views are spectacular. It cuts some drive time down from Portland, but also just offers a little more variation and can be awesome on days where the wind is too heavy and strong at Rooster (50mph+ etc). When coming in make sure you communicate with the kiters on the grass or have a plan so you don’t sacrifice your kite to that tree.
Viento State Park:
Intermediate+
West, East
Cross-shore
To get here simply GPS Viento State park and it’ll take you to a parking lot with a restroom. Follow the trail down to the water and this is your launch point. Viento is very popular with the SUP crowd who does their downwinders from there to Hood River, and us Kiters use it the same. I honestly have ever only launched from here to do a downwinder to Hood River, but the spot looks fine if you wanted to hang out and ride.
The biggest issue with Viento is the launch when the river is high. Someone has to stand in the trees with their bar while a friend walks out into the water with their kite and they launch from there. The kite killing trees are just itching to get their grubby talons on your gear so keep it low and body drag out, then head out and have a blast.
Underwood WA, aka the Wunderbar
Intermediate+
West, East
Cross-shore
ATTENTION: Spot is left on here in me memory of our fun little spot, which is since no more since said sand bar has now been washed away.
White Salmon WA is one of my favorite places around and if you google the White Salmon Winery it will take you right to this spot. Park on the south side of Highway 14 in the gravel and walk toward the bridge where you will see a hole in the fence, or head under it to avoid breaking the law and crossing the tracks, your call you rebel. Once down there you will see ::insert suspenseful drumroll: A SANDBAR! This is where the name Wunderbar comes from and it is a great place to launch when Hood River is more packed than a Taylor Swift concert and you want to ride essentially the same terrain.
From the launch clear out and head beyond the green buoy. You can now ride southeast toward the Event Site at Hood River, or west toward the far superior (in someone’s or everyone’s opinion) Swell City and Wells Island where you can find waves to shred or flat water to hone your tricks in and everything in between. Watch for barges and other kiters and give the Windsurfers a wide berth, but otherwise this is a great spot with something for everyone.
Hood River Event Site:
Beginner+
West, East
Cross/Onshore
I debated doing anything about the Event Site because I feel like there is so much out there already, but decided on doing it for the illusion of more content. That was a joke. Put Hood River in your GPS and drive down Highway 84 until you get to the Event Site or see a million kites up and you’ll have arrived. The Event Site is the most popular kiting spot in the PNW and for good reason. The nice grass lawn gives you a place to set up and dry your kites, keep them oh so pampered and clean. You can even grab lunch at one of the food trucks while you let your gear dry out, just don’t be a kook and leave your lines laying out in everyone’s way. During the off season you can launch from the lawn, but otherwise roll your stuff up and head down to the sandbar where you will see kiters of every walk of life out enjoying what we love. Keep an eye out and your head on a swivel, because I have seen many people dive or drops kites onto the sandbar so keep those cat like reflexes at the ready.
The Event Site provides some serious freestyle space with a flat water pond and even park features for those who want to jam out and showcase. If that is your thing you will see that zone just east of the sandbar, but if you are launching west of the sandbar let me give you a pro-tip; launch and move on. Seriously, plenty of pros ride Hood River throughout the year and none of the newbs are going to gush over your jerky backroll when half the middle school kids in Hood River are doing mega-loops. Launch your kite and head out into the river where you will find a wide variety of places to ride.
You can hang out near the sandbar (not on it!) and ride the rollers and somewhat flat water there, or head west to Swell City and Wells Island for flatter water or some really nice waves for being in a river. The choice is yours and the world is your oyster so get out there and be your best self!
Lyle Sandbar:
Beginner+
West
Onshore
Oh man am I going to get some hate for putting this on a website. The Lyle Sandbar is a point of contention in the gorge because about a bazillion agencies own land between the freeway and the sandbar and people believe they have nothing better to do with their time then get mad that kiters are going across their land. To somewhat appease the Sandbar Trolls I will only give instructions to go to Lyle and you can figure it out from there. The only legal way to access the Sandbar is by boat or parachuting in from above. Once you have made your James Bond level insertion feel free to enjoy another newbie friendly spot that will take your progression to the next level and locals who are about as friendly as folks get. If you are new to kiting and want a safe place to progress this is the spot for you in this part of the region and you are welcome here.
The size of the sandbar changes based on the water level but there is typically a large expanse of sand year-round here to set up and launch from. There is a Kite School in the area which will get my second of two endorsements, SA Kite is a fantastic school run by quality folks who have a genuine passion for the sport and will get you riding right. Once on the sandbar and launched enjoy a massive area of shallow water to practice all manner of things in, and if you want to upwind just head out into the river flow and use it as a conveyor belt to get up there and away from the lessons. Lyle also has a pond at times but it is very situational based on water level. Do not ride in the Klickitat River by the bridge as that will draw attention and piss off local enforcement.
Rufus Oregon:
Intermediate+
West, East
Cross-shore
To access Rufus get off 84 at Exit 109 and head north until the road seemingly forces you to curve right, only you don’t because you are an adventurer who cannot be stopped so you go left instead and blaze an intrepid trail west! So anyway, take a left and drive down the road until you see a bathroom and a giant gravel lot. Park there and head to the launch spot I have marked on my map where the launch is a bit tricky but not impossible. I actually upgraded this to Intermediate+ based on feedback about the launch. If there are folks around just ask for help and they will give you some guidance. When you do launch get your kite relatively high and keep it around 10:30 to avoid the janky wind shadow there.
The river is rather narrow at Rufus so if you want space just ride upwind and you’ll have it, as always be respectful of our Windsurfer brethren as you work through their area then have at it. Rufus gets some of the best waves in the river and on a good day you’ll see many strapless riders throwing turns and spraying buckets, so join in the fun and appreciate getting to ride some rollers in the warm summer sun.
Roosevelt WA:
Intermediate+
West, East
Cross-shore
Roosevelt is at the park in Roosevelt WA. You’ll see a nice little parking area and some swings with a massive lawn and small rock jetty. The launch is on the eastern side of the jetty in a small area that is protected from the strong westerlies that go through there. Word to the wise, this launch is tricky and has a serious wind eddy that can wreck you if you are not paying attention, so launch your kite and keep it low, body drag out a ways then jump on and head into the river. The same goes for landing in the sense that you should not dawdle when coming in as the launching and landing area can be problematic and crowded on the better days.
The river itself is wide and fun with waves and some flatter areas. I have seen some days out here where it absolutely nukes and it is fun to boost right off the jetty by the launch point and it feels like you can fly forever. The high desert feel and how far east it is means during the summer months it will be generally warmer in both air and water temperature, as well as a little bit of a drive so more temperate and less crowded. Always ask a local for tips or help if needed and watch out for river traffic.