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Bonneville Dam / Columbia River kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

United States · Washington

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 5 m 45.64 | -121.94

Overview

Bonneville Dam is a kitesurfing spot on the Columbia River on the Washington side, in the western part of the Columbia River Gorge, near the Bonneville Dam. This spot is in the narrowest and most forested gorge section, where the Venturi effect is particularly powerful. The historic Bonneville Dam, built in 1938, is one of the first major dams on the Columbia River. Westerly thermal winds are channeled through the natural gorge corridor, providing powerful and consistent conditions.

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Spot forecast for Bonneville Dam / Columbia River

Sunrise 07:31 · Sunset 18:13

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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

Bonneville Dam / 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

100h

in July · 20 rideable days

The season runs from March to August, peaking in July: 15 rideable days a month and 100 hours of usable wind, at 22 °C. The low point is January, at 4 days.

Rideable days per month

0 5 10 15 20 January: 4 rideable days4 d J February: 4.5 rideable days F March: 11.5 rideable days M April: 15 rideable days A May: 16.5 rideable days M June: 17 rideable days J July: 20 rideable days20 d J August: 12 rideable days A September: 10.5 rideable days S October: 6.5 rideable days O November: 7.5 rideable days N December: 5 rideable days D 0 5 10 15 20 January: 4 rideable days4 d J February: 4.5 rideable days F March: 11.5 rideable days M April: 15 rideable days A May: 16.5 rideable days M June: 17 rideable days J July: 20 rideable days20 d J August: 12 rideable days A September: 10.5 rideable days S October: 6.5 rideable days O November: 7.5 rideable days N December: 5 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 97%13-20 knots · 3%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 97% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 6 °C. The wettest month is December, with 360 mm.

Monthly averages: Bonneville Dam / Columbia River
Monthly averages — Bonneville Dam / 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 4.0 16 h 6 °C 294 mm
February 4.5 27 h 8 °C 173 mm
March 11.5 57 h 13 °C 101 mm
April 15.0 81 h 17 °C 41 mm
May 16.5 101 h 20 °C 37 mm
June 17.0 115 h 25 °C 31 mm
July 20.0 100 h 29 °C 1 mm
August 12.0 73 h 29 °C 8 mm
September 10.5 61 h 26 °C 8 mm
October 6.5 42 h 17 °C 114 mm
November 7.5 33 h 11 °C 204 mm
December 5.0 31 h 9 °C 360 mm

Photo gallery of Bonneville Dam / Columbia River

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Technical details of Bonneville Dam / 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, cool (11-17°C in summer). 3/2 to 4/3 wetsuit recommended. Constant river current at 3-5 km/h westward, reinforced in this narrow section. Short, choppy waves typical of the Gorge. Westerly thermal winds at 20-35 knots from May to September. The river is relatively narrow in this section, amplifying wind and current.

Hazards

Proximity to Bonneville Dam: strictly respect exclusion zones around the dam, extremely dangerous currents. Reinforced river current in this narrow section. Barges and commercial traffic. Thermal winds that can exceed 35 knots with violent gusts. Rocks along the steep banks. Railroad tracks along both shores. Cold water risking hypothermia. Dam locks creating unpredictable current variations.

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Additional stations

  • Bonneville Dam0.8 km

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  • CASCDW3 km

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Nearby spots

All spots: Washington

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