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Rufus / Columbia River kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

United States · Oregon

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 54 m 45.69 | -120.75

Overview

Rufus is a kitesurfing spot on the Columbia River in the eastern part of the Columbia River Gorge, near the town of Rufus, Oregon. This spot is in the arid plateau zone, well beyond the forested gorge section. The landscape is desert-like with brown hills and intense sunshine. Thermal winds remain powerful in this section, reinforced by the temperature difference between the cool coast and the hot inland plateau. The spot is less crowded than Hood River, offering more space.

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Spot forecast for Rufus / Columbia River

Sunrise 07:26 · Sunset 18:08

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Rufus / Columbia River: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

269h

in July · 25 rideable days

The season runs from April to September, peaking in July: 20 rideable days a month and 269 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is January, at 4.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 10 20 30 January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J February: 8 rideable days F March: 15 rideable days M April: 15.5 rideable days A May: 23.5 rideable days M June: 23 rideable days J July: 25 rideable days25 d J August: 19 rideable days A September: 16.5 rideable days S October: 14.5 rideable days O November: 8.5 rideable days N December: 9 rideable days D 0 10 20 30 January: 4.5 rideable days4.5 d J February: 8 rideable days F March: 15 rideable days M April: 15.5 rideable days A May: 23.5 rideable days M June: 23 rideable days J July: 25 rideable days25 d J August: 19 rideable days A September: 16.5 rideable days S October: 14.5 rideable days O November: 8.5 rideable days N December: 9 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 70%13-20 knots · 30%21-30 knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 70% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 4 °C. The wettest month is December, with 79 mm.

Monthly averages: Rufus / Columbia River
Monthly averages — Rufus / Columbia River — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 4.5 29 h 4 °C 66 mm
February 8.0 50 h 8 °C 28 mm
March 15.0 102 h 15 °C 16 mm
April 15.5 184 h 19 °C 7 mm
May 23.5 256 h 23 °C 8 mm
June 23.0 261 h 28 °C 2 mm
July 25.0 269 h 34 °C 0 mm
August 19.0 193 h 32 °C 0 mm
September 16.5 142 h 29 °C 1 mm
October 14.5 96 h 19 °C 7 mm
November 8.5 50 h 11 °C 35 mm
December 9.0 54 h 8 °C 79 mm

Photo gallery of Rufus / Columbia River

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Technical details of Rufus / Columbia River spot

N: Not rideable NNE: Not rideable NE: Not rideable ENE: Not rideable E: Not rideable ESE: Not rideable SE: Not rideable SSE: Not rideable S: Not rideable SSW: Not rideable SW: Rideable WSW: Not rideable W: Rideable WNW: Rideable NW: Not rideable NNW: Not rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from SW, W, WNW.

Rideable Not rideable
Spot opening date · Required level
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Required level
Intermediate
On the water

Fresh water from the Columbia River, warmer than in the gorge (14-20°C in summer). 3/2 wetsuit often sufficient in summer. Moderate river current in this wider section. Moderate chop, less choppy than in the narrow gorge. Thermal winds from the west at 18-30 knots, sometimes more irregular and gusty than in the gorge core. The river is wide, offering a large water area for riding.

Hazards

Thermal winds can be irregular and gusty in this eastern gorge section. River current that can carry riders downstream. Barges and commercial traffic on the river. Intense summer heat on the arid plateau: risk of dehydration and heatstroke. Little shade at the launch site. Isolated spot with few rescue services nearby. Railroad tracks along the shore.

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Rufus0.4 kmsource noaa

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Nearby spots

All spots: Oregon

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