Windsurfers on the Sacramento River at Sherman Island

A humpback calf breaching among windsurfers off Sherman Island, 2007

Kites in the air over the river at Sherman Island

Aerial view of Sherman Island where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers meet

Chapters / US West Coast Open, 1 of 1 remaining

Ride Sherman Island, keep it open

Summer heat in the Central Valley pulls ocean air through the Delta, and on most afternoons it lands right on Sherman Island. Windsurfers and kiters have shared these levee beaches for decades, under rules they wrote themselves.

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19 riders call this homeKite, WingSherman Lake Marina

Everything you need to know about Sherman Island

Live conditions

Why riders love it

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

Wind blows almost daily from April to September, most consistently in June, July and August, typically 16 to 30 knots.
The water is fresh and ranges from flat to choppy with the tide. Some days call for board shorts, others for a 3/2 wetsuit.
Baja Road is the least crowded kite launch and the farthest from the windsurf beaches. The Baja area is the safest place to learn, but watch the rocks.

Sources: MACkite; Bay Area Kiteboarding Association

See the wind right now

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 County Park and Baja Road are the only approved kite launches on Sherman Island. Kiting is not allowed at The Access, under the island's lease arrangements.
Kiters stay at least 200 ft from the beaches, don't jump near shore, and keep launch areas clear of gear.
The park is open sunrise to sunset. Parking is $8 per vehicle, with self-pay when no attendant is present.

Sources: Bay Area Kiteboarding Association site guidelines; Sacramento County Regional Parks

Help hold the launch

Ecology and habitat

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

Sherman Island sits about 10 feet below sea level behind levees. Its drained peat soils have sunk as much as 25 feet since the late 1800s.
Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area, about 3,100 acres, has been set aside as wildlife habitat since 1976. Anglers here fish for salmon, steelhead, striped bass and sturgeon.

Sources: Wikipedia

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Good to know

Location, facilities and history.

Sherman Island lies in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta in Sacramento County, just across the river from Antioch and south of Rio Vista.
From Sacramento, take I-5 south, Highway 12 west and Highway 160 south, then turn onto Sherman Island Road into the county park.
Camping is for self-contained vehicles only, with a 14-night limit.
Low power lines run along the levee road downwind of the Baja Road launch.

Sources: Sacramento County Regional Parks; Bay Area Kiteboarding Association; Sacramento County Regional Parks; Wikipedia

Meet the riders

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Schools that teach on this water

Edge KiteboardingKitopia Kiteboarding School

Sherman Island

Wind blows almost daily from April–September with June to August the most consistent.

Source: MACkite

Know the spot

Sherman Island

Most summer days run 16–30 knots as ocean air is pulled inland through the Delta.

Source: MACkite

Know the spot

Sherman Island

Fresh river water, flat to choppy with the tide: shorts to a 3/2 depending on the day.

Source: MACkite

Know the spot

Why Sherman Island needs a chapter

US West Coast

From April through September, heat in the Central Valley draws cool ocean air in through the Golden Gate and up the Delta. Sherman Island sits where that wind meets the Sacramento River, and it has been a windsurfing destination for decades.

19riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Sherman Island chapter, World Wind Sports

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US West Coast

Kiters came later and fit in by agreement. Local associations set launch zones, distances from shore and right-of-way rules, and the island's lease terms already rule out kiting at some beaches. It holds together because riders follow it.

19riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Sherman Island chapter, World Wind Sports

Back this chapter

US West Coast

A chapter keeps that agreement alive: one named group the county and the landowners can call, stewardship days on the levee beaches, and certification so new riders arrive knowing the rules.

19riders call this home

2local schools teach on this water

Kite, Wingdisciplines riding here

Sherman Island chapter, World Wind Sports

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Photographer credits Back this chapter

The riders, schools and crew of Sherman Island

Riders from Rio Vista, Isleton, Antioch, Pittsburg, Oakley, Concord, Walnut Creek, Fairfield, Davis, Livermore and the schools that teach them.

See the rider directory Talk on the board

EEdge KiteboardingLocal school teaching on this waterKKitopia Kiteboarding 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.EEdge KiteboardingLocal school teaching on this waterKKitopia Kiteboarding 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.

Kevin MableyLevel 4V, Fairfield

Youssef IbrahimLevel 3M, Walnut creek

Melissa ClarkLevel 4T, Walnut Creek

Tk MableyLevel 3L, Fairfield

Nick SteinertLevel 4Y, Concord

Terri Thiel MsLevel 2I, Livermore

Francis Kerlegan MrLevel 3J, Antioch

Alan SavageLevel 2I, Fairfield

Thomas SwainLevel 2I, Walnut Creek

Raffi GulbenkLevel 2I, Fairfield

Steve AmesburyLevel 3N, Davis

Andrew LobsenzCertified rider, FAIRFIELDDDavid BeyerLevel 3K, Walnut CreekMMario SanchezLevel 4U, FairfieldRRoberta ZorzynskiLevel 4Q, Walnut CreekLLance Beyer BeyerLevel 2I, Walnut creekRRachel CostelloLevel 2I, FairfieldCColin CohanLevel 3J, DavisAAlec BeyerLevel 2I, Walnut Creek

Kevin MableyLevel 4V, Fairfield

Youssef IbrahimLevel 3M, Walnut creek

Melissa ClarkLevel 4T, Walnut Creek

Tk MableyLevel 3L, Fairfield

Nick SteinertLevel 4Y, Concord

Terri Thiel MsLevel 2I, Livermore

Francis Kerlegan MrLevel 3J, Antioch

Alan SavageLevel 2I, Fairfield

Thomas SwainLevel 2I, Walnut Creek

Raffi GulbenkLevel 2I, Fairfield

Steve AmesburyLevel 3N, Davis

iSportsKite, WingiWind spotSherman Lake MarinaiKnow thisSherman Island, in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta near Rio Vista and Antioch.iKnow thisNear-daily summer wind of 16 to 30 knots on fresh river water.iKnow thisKiting is allowed only from the County Park and the Baja Road launch.iSportsKite, WingiWind spotSherman Lake MarinaiKnow thisSherman Island, in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta near Rio Vista and Antioch.iKnow thisNear-daily summer wind of 16 to 30 knots on fresh river water.iKnow thisKiting is allowed only from the County Park and the Baja Road launch.

Live conditions

Wind right now at Sherman Island

Full forecast

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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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