Kitesurfing in Oregon
15 spots · 2 destinations · 6 schools
Oregon's coast is cold-water wave country: Pistol River pushes sustained wind over 25 knots into open Pacific surf for advanced riders only, while inland Floras Lake near Bandon is the state's clearest beginner venue, shallow and sand-bottomed behind the dunes.
Netarts Bay flips to a tide-gated flat-water spot for its October-to-May season, rideable only above 5.5 feet of tide, and Whiskey Run and Manzanita round out the wave beaches for intermediate riders and up.
Oregon holds 15 kitesurf spots in our atlas, grouped into 2 destinations. Riding here is mostly chop and waves. The season runs March to November. 4 of them suits beginners. 6 schools operate in the region. The busiest areas are Hood River / Columbia Gorge and Arlington & Threemile Canyon.
When you may ride
the rules these spots carry, with the year on each
Hood River Event Site (Columbia Gorge Sailpark)Hood River / Columbia Gorge20262026 Port of Hood River waterfront parking: payment is required in all Port areas from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, at $2.75 per hour up to $15 per day, plus a $0.40 processing fee on each payment, by app or text-to-pay.
2026 Port of Hood River waterfront parking: payment is required in all Port areas from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, at $2.75 per hour up to $15 per day, plus a $0.40 processing fee on each payment, by app or text-to-pay.
The whole rule, on the Hood River Event Site (Columbia Gorge Sailpark) page
RufusHood River / Columbia Gorge20262026: Giles L.
2026: Giles L.
Viento State ParkHood River / Columbia Gorge20262026: a day-use parking permit is required for non-campers at Viento State Park - $10 per vehicle per day for Oregon residents, $12 for non-residents, or a 12-month permit at $60 resident and $75 non-resident.
2026: a day-use parking permit is required for non-campers at Viento State Park - $10 per vehicle per day for Oregon residents, $12 for non-residents, or a 12-month permit at $60 resident and $75 non-resident.
ArlingtonArlington, Oregon side of the Columbia River / Lake Umatilla20262026: the Arlington launch and its parking are free and no kite-specific restriction has been found.
2026: the Arlington launch and its parking are free and no kite-specific restriction has been found.
Floras LakeSouth Oregon Coast / Langlois20262026: Boice Cope Park is a county park with day-use and parking fees set by Curry County.
2026: Boice Cope Park is a county park with day-use and parking fees set by Curry County.
Fort StevensNorth Oregon Coast / Astoria20262026: the Clatsop Spit plover management area covers the ocean beach at the north end, by Lot C and the South Jetty, and from March 15 to September 15 it prohibits kites, drones, dogs, bikes, vehicles, camping and fires there, with pedestrians restricted to wet, hard-packed sand.
2026: the Clatsop Spit plover management area covers the ocean beach at the north end, by Lot C and the South Jetty, and from March 15 to September 15 it prohibits kites, drones, dogs, bikes, vehicles, camping and fires there, with pedestrians restricted to wet, hard-packed sand.
Hood River SandbarHood River waterfront, Oregon side of the Columbia River2026has a date windowAs published in 2026: kite launching on the Hood River waterfront is confined to the Sandbar.
As published in 2026: kite launching on the Hood River waterfront is confined to the Sandbar.
ManzanitaNorth Oregon Coast20262026: the Snowy Plover Management Area on the Nehalem spit is closed again from March 15 to September 15. It starts at the Nehalem Bay State Park day-use beach access trail and runs south to the north jetty, the boundary is signed, and inside it kites (drones included), dogs, motorized and non-motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited, with foot traffic confined to wet sand.
2026: the Snowy Plover Management Area on the Nehalem spit is closed again from March 15 to September 15. It starts at the Nehalem Bay State Park day-use beach access trail and runs south to the north jetty, the boundary is signed, and inside it kites (drones included), dogs, motorized and non-motorized vehicles and bicycles are prohibited, with foot traffic confined to wet sand.
Mosier / Rock Creek ParkMosier, Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge2026As of 2026 the City of Mosier charges $6 for one-day access or $85 for a yearly access card to drive through the Rock Creek Park security gate; day tokens and annual access cards are sold at Mosier Market, 1010 1st Ave, across from Totem Plaza.
As of 2026 the City of Mosier charges $6 for one-day access or $85 for a yearly access card to drive through the Rock Creek Park security gate; day tokens and annual access cards are sold at Mosier Market, 1010 1st Ave, across from Totem Plaza.
Netarts BayNorth Oregon Coast / Tillamook County20262026: no kiteboarding-specific rule for Netarts Bay is published.
2026: no kiteboarding-specific rule for Netarts Bay is published.
Pistol RiverSouth Oregon Coast / Gold Beach20262026: no kite-specific state-park rule was found beyond the general park rules.
2026: no kite-specific state-park rule was found beyond the general park rules.
Rooster RockRooster Rock State Park, Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge20262026: Oregon State Parks day-use parking permits are required at fee parks.
2026: Oregon State Parks day-use parking permits are required at fee parks.
RowenaMayer State Park near Rowena, Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge20262026: a day-use parking permit is required, either a one-day permit bought on site or a 12-month permit. Mayer East, the windsurf and kite section, is closed to hunting; hunting is permitted at Mayer West.
2026: a day-use parking permit is required, either a one-day permit bought on site or a 12-month permit. Mayer East, the windsurf and kite section, is closed to hunting; hunting is permitted at Mayer West.
Threemile CanyonThreemile Canyon Park near Boardman, Oregon side of the Columbia River2025has a date windowFree to use and free to camp (2025). Corps of Engineers land: pack in and pack out, no bins, no campfires, and the posted season runs 1 April to 31 October although the site is reachable year-round.
Free to use and free to camp (2025). Corps of Engineers land: pack in and pack out, no bins, no campfires, and the posted season runs 1 April to 31 October although the site is reachable year-round.
Whiskey Run BeachSouth Oregon Coast / Bandon20262026: no kite-specific rule or permit exists for Whiskey Run Beach or the Bullards Beach downwinder route.
2026: no kite-specific rule or permit exists for Whiskey Run Beach or the Bullards Beach downwinder route.
Each block is the opening of the record's own rule, kept in its own words. Where two postings do not line up, both are kept and neither is picked for you.
The winds here
what the spot records call the wind, and the knots they quote
Pressure-gradient wind
named by 3 spots here
No spot record quotes a knot range against this wind by name.
Westerly
named by 2 spots here
- Viento State Park20-35 kt
The spots this region is known for
tier 1 of the 15 spots here
Destinations in Oregon
All spots in Oregon
ArlingtonwavesFloras Lakelake · beginner okFort StevenswavesHood River Event Site (Columbia Gorge Sailpark)mixed · beginner okHood River Sandbarmixed · beginner okManzanitawavesMosier / Rock Creek ParkchopNetarts Baybay · beginner okPistol RiveroceanRooster RockriverRowenamixedRufusmixedThreemile CanyonmixedViento State ParkmixedWhiskey Run Beachocean
Regions come from OpenStreetMap administrative boundaries; each spot page carries the record behind it. This list runs A to Z; the block above it is the tier order.
Last updated September 2026