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Big kites over the Columbia at Hood RiverKiting mid-river in the GorgeWindsurfing the Columbia River GorgeWindsurfers at Hood River, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic AreaThe Columbia River Gorge from Hood River

Chapters / US West Coast Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Hood River, keep it open

The river that taught a generation to ride the wind. Two launches share one shoreline here, and the line between them holds because riders keep it.

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100+ riders call this homeKite, WingHood River Event SitePort of Hood River

Everything you need to know about Hood River

Live conditions

Why riders love it

What brings people here, from the people who manage it and the people who ride it.

  • The Sandbar is the kite launch: a sandy stretch reaching into the river, used for setup, launching and landing. Upwind, the water ranges from mild chop to river swell; downwind it is very shallow.
  • West winds average 14–20 mph through spring and summer. East winds run 10–20 mph in early spring and 25–45 mph in the fall.
  • The water is fresh and cold. Summers can be very hot, with heat waves peaking around August, so riders bring a range of wetsuits and plenty of water.
  • The Event Site is many riders' first session in the Gorge: easy to reach, fairly flat, with grass for rigging and restrooms close by.
  • Authorized kiteboarding and windsurfing schools operate on the waterfront, which makes it one of the busiest teaching spots in the country.

Sources: Columbia River Gorge Windsurf Guide; Travel Oregon; Elite Watersports; Kitesurfing Magazine

See the wind right now
Kiting mid-river in the Gorge

Access and rules

Each site sets its own rules. The chapter publishes confirmed rules as each site answers in writing, and points riders to the official page before they go.

  • The Sandbar is kite-only. Upwind at the Event Site is windsurf-only, and kiting is not allowed from the other beaches in the area.
  • In summer (May 1 to October 1) the eastern end of the grass is set aside for kiters to pump up before walking to the Sandbar.
  • The split is voluntary. The sandbar is state property, so no division of use can actually be enforced, and one careless rider can spoil it for everyone.
  • How much sandbar there is changes day to day with snowpack and with power generation at the Bonneville and The Dalles dams.

Sources: Kiteforum.com; NW Kite; Windwing

Read the local rules
Windsurfing the Columbia River Gorge

Ecology and habitat

Stewardship rotates across the city's spots, so riders are known as the people who look after them.

  • Hood River lies inside the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, created by Congress in 1986 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service with the Columbia River Gorge Commission.
  • The Columbia is a working river. Commercial tug and barge traffic uses the main channel, and riders are expected to give it a wide berth.

Sources: U.S. Forest Service

Fund stewardship here
Windsurfers at Hood River, Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area

Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

  • Hood River sits on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, about 100 km (60 miles) east of Portland on Interstate 84.
  • The kite and windsurf launches are on the waterfront east of the mouth of the Hood River: the Event Site, the Spit and Sandbar, and the Hook, all reached from I-84 exit 63.
  • The waterfront has grass rigging areas and restrooms, and sits next to the Hood River Waterfront Park.
  • Waterfront parking is paid by the day, and season passes are available. Street parking fills up fast in summer, and overnight RV parking on city streets is not allowed.

Sources: Columbia River Gorge Windsurf Guide; visitor reports; Travel Oregon

Meet the riders
The Columbia River Gorge from Hood River

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Schools that teach on this water

Doug's SportsCascade KiteboardingKite the GorgeNew Wind Kite & Wing School

Hood River

West winds average 14–20 mph through spring and summer.

Source: Elite Watersports; Kitesurfing Magazine

Know the spot

Hood River

In the fall, east winds run 25–45 mph down the Gorge.

Source: Elite Watersports; Kitesurfing Magazine

Know the spot

Hood River

Kites launch from the Sandbar, windsurfers from the Event Site. One shoreline, shared by agreement.

Know the spot

Why Hood River needs a chapter

Big kites over the Columbia at Hood River
US West Coast

Every summer the Columbia River Gorge turns into a wind tunnel. Heat builds in the dry country to the east, cool ocean air pours in from the west, and the river between them fills with kites and sails.

14–20 mphwest winds, spring and summer
25–45 mpheast winds down the Gorge in the fall
Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Source: Elite Watersports; Kitesurfing Magazine

See the wind right now
Kiting mid-river in the Gorge
US West Coast

Hood River is where a lot of riders first learned what wind can do. It is also one of the clearest examples of how fragile access is: the kite launch works because kiters and windsurfers agreed to share the shoreline, not because any rule makes them.

1 shorelineshared by kiters and windsurfers
2 launchesthe Sandbar for kites, the Event Site for windsurfers
Port of Hood Rivermanages the waterfront

Hood River chapter, World Wind Sports

Read the local rules
Windsurfing the Columbia River Gorge
US West Coast

A chapter turns that handshake into something that lasts: a named group the Port can call, a seat when launch rules are reviewed, and riders who show up trained.

100+riders call this home
4local schools teach on this water
1 voicea named group the Port can call

Hood River chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Hood River

Riders from Hood River, White Salmon, Bingen, The Dalles and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board
DDoug's SportsLocal school teaching on this waterCCascade KiteboardingLocal school teaching on this waterKKite the GorgeLocal school teaching on this waterNNew Wind Kite & Wing SchoolLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.DDoug's SportsLocal school teaching on this waterCCascade KiteboardingLocal school teaching on this waterKKite the GorgeLocal school teaching on this waterNNew Wind Kite & Wing SchoolLocal school teaching on this waterWWSThe chapterHolds the line on access: one standing voice with whoever manages the launch.WWSThe chapterRuns stewardship days, so the people who manage the beach see riders as an asset.WWSThe chapterRuns sponsored certification weekends, so riders are trained and self-policing.
Rachael LentzInstructor Level 1, Hood RiverHeather SaamLevel 4T, Hood RiverAngela AdkinsLevel 3M, Hood RiverMelanie ShepherdsonLevel 3K, White SalmonAndrew DukhinLevel 3J, BingenPeter WursterLevel 2I, Hood RiverVassil KaimaktchievLevel 4V, Hood riverJose CarvajalLevel 3N, Hood RiverStephen JohnsonLevel 2I, White salmonChristine Ganey GaneyLevel 2H, Hood RiverJohn JascovskiLevel 3N, Hood RiverBrittney BauerLevel 2I, White SalmonElena KaimaktchievLevel 4V, Hood RiverLena DiefenbachLevel 3J, BingenNadine SchattoLevel 2H, BingenChris CharronLevel 2H, Hood RiverMelanie GöggelLevel 2H, BingenRyan FifeLevel 2G, Hood RiverSamantha ParsonLevel 1C, Hood RiverMark MoranCertified rider, White SalmonRyland Helt HeltCertified rider, Hood riverHHilary NielsenLevel 3N, Hood RiverBBruce GilpinLevel 4V, Hood RiverJJack McallisterLevel 4W, The DallesCChristian SmithLevel 2I, Hood RiverKKory KellumLevel 4Q, Hood riverJJordan ShermanLevel 2I, White SalmonKKelsey Martinson MartinsonLevel 2G, Hood RiverJJared SnyderCertified rider, The DallesRachael LentzInstructor Level 1, Hood RiverHeather SaamLevel 4T, Hood RiverAngela AdkinsLevel 3M, Hood RiverMelanie ShepherdsonLevel 3K, White SalmonAndrew DukhinLevel 3J, BingenPeter WursterLevel 2I, Hood RiverVassil KaimaktchievLevel 4V, Hood riverJose CarvajalLevel 3N, Hood RiverStephen JohnsonLevel 2I, White salmonChristine Ganey GaneyLevel 2H, Hood RiverJohn JascovskiLevel 3N, Hood RiverBrittney BauerLevel 2I, White SalmonElena KaimaktchievLevel 4V, Hood RiverLena DiefenbachLevel 3J, BingenNadine SchattoLevel 2H, BingenChris CharronLevel 2H, Hood RiverMelanie GöggelLevel 2H, BingenRyan FifeLevel 2G, Hood RiverSamantha ParsonLevel 1C, Hood RiverMark MoranCertified rider, White SalmonRyland Helt HeltCertified rider, Hood riverHHilary NielsenLevel 3N, Hood RiverBBruce GilpinLevel 4V, Hood RiverJJack McallisterLevel 4W, The DallesCChristian SmithLevel 2I, Hood RiverKKory KellumLevel 4Q, Hood riverJJordan ShermanLevel 2I, White SalmonKKelsey Martinson MartinsonLevel 2G, Hood RiverJJared SnyderCertified rider, The Dalles
iSportsKite, WingiWind spotHood River Event SiteiLocal authorityPort of Hood RiveriKnow thisHood River, Oregon, on the Columbia River Gorge.iKnow thisKite launch on the Sandbar; windsurf launch at the Event Site.iKnow thisAccess rests on a voluntary agreement between riders.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotHood River Event SiteiLocal authorityPort of Hood RiveriKnow thisHood River, Oregon, on the Columbia River Gorge.iKnow thisKite launch on the Sandbar; windsurf launch at the Event Site.iKnow thisAccess rests on a voluntary agreement between riders.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Hood River

Full forecast

Fund the chapter opening in Hood River. You can too.

Your gift keeps the chapter running and the beach cared for: cleanup supplies, signage, certification weekends and the costs of being the group the park can call.

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