Doug's Beach - Columbia River kitesurf, wingfoil and windsurf spot

United States · Washington

Spot currently openIntermediate levelAltitude 26 m 45.68 | -121.24

Overview

Doug's Beach is a legendary kitesurfing spot on the Columbia River on the Washington side, in the Columbia River Gorge. Doug's Beach State Park offers river access in one of the windiest gorge sections. This spot has been a windsurfing and kitesurfing classic since the 1980s, attracting riders from around the world. Westerly thermal winds are among the most powerful and consistent in the region, channeled by the natural gorge narrowing at this point. The scenery is spectacular with basalt cliffs.

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Spot forecast for Doug's Beach - Columbia River

Sunrise 07:28 · Sunset 18:10

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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

Doug's Beach - 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

32h

in May · 7 rideable days

The season runs from April to July, peaking in May: 5 rideable days a month and 32 hours of usable wind, at 25 °C. The low point is February, at 0.5 days.

Rideable days per month

0 2 4 6 8 January: 1 rideable days J February: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d F March: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d M April: 4.5 rideable days A May: 7 rideable days7 d M June: 4.5 rideable days J July: 4.5 rideable days J August: 1.5 rideable days A September: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d S October: 2 rideable days O November: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d N December: 1 rideable days D 0 2 4 6 8 January: 1 rideable days J February: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d F March: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d M April: 4.5 rideable days A May: 7 rideable days7 d M June: 4.5 rideable days J July: 4.5 rideable days J August: 1.5 rideable days A September: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d S October: 2 rideable days O November: 0.5 rideable days0.5 d N December: 1 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 58%13-20 knots · 42%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 58% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 4 °C. The wettest month is December, with 133 mm.

Monthly averages: Doug's Beach - Columbia River
Monthly averages — Doug's Beach - 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 1.0 5 h 4 °C 92 mm
February 0.5 3 h 8 °C 48 mm
March 0.5 9 h 14 °C 36 mm
April 4.5 21 h 18 °C 14 mm
May 7.0 32 h 22 °C 16 mm
June 4.5 22 h 27 °C 3 mm
July 4.5 25 h 32 °C 0 mm
August 1.5 12 h 31 °C 2 mm
September 0.5 6 h 28 °C 4 mm
October 2.0 10 h 18 °C 16 mm
November 0.5 2 h 11 °C 43 mm
December 1.0 7 h 8 °C 133 mm

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Technical details of Doug's Beach - 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 (12-18°C in summer). 3/2 to 4/3 wetsuit recommended. Constant river current at 3-5 km/h westward. Short, choppy waves typical of the Gorge, created by thermal wind against current. Westerly thermal winds regularly at 25-40 knots from May to September, among the strongest in the Gorge. The water is dynamic with short chop perfect for jumps.

Hazards

Very powerful thermal winds that can exceed 40 knots with violent gusts. Constant river current reinforced by the gorge narrowing. Barges and commercial traffic on the Columbia River. Basalt cliffs along the shore: danger if drifting. Rocks along the bank. Railroad tracks along the north bank: do not cross the tracks. Cold water risking hypothermia. Spot heavily frequented by experienced windsurfers and kiters.

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