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California · San Francisco Bay / San Mateo County · San Mateo County · San Mateo
Coyote Point
also known as Coyote Point Park, Coyote Point Recreation Area, Coyote Point Marina
Nearby 3rd Avenue 4 km · Alameda Crown Beach 20 km · Ocean Beach 27 km · Crissy Field 28 km · Sherman Island 75 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No onset time is published for this spot.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
mixed
Typical strength
The thermal season averages 20 knots from April through September, and that average is what the sailable days sit around rather than far above. No minimum-to-maximum range has been published for the launch itself.
Thermal or synoptic
thermal
Also on record
20
The quiver, in words
Nothing spot-specific is published. Against the 20-knot April-to-September average a 75-85 kg rider lands on about 9 m, dropping to 7-8 m on the strongest afternoons and going up to 11-12 m on a light early-season day. Indicative, derived from the season average rather than from local reporting.
Dominant direction
W, WNW, NW
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan24
- Feb25
- Mar35
- Apr, riders' month65
- May, riders' month55
- Jun, riders' month70
- Jul, riders' month85
- Aug, riders' month69
- Sep, riders' month53
- Oct26
- Nov10
- Dec3
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
- 24%Jan13°
- 25%Feb13°
- 35%Mar13°
- 65%Apr13°
- 55%May14°
- 70%Jun16°
- 85%Jul16°
- 69%Aug17°
- 53%Sep17°
- 26%Oct16°
- 10%Nov13°
- 3%Dec13°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24% | 58% | 47% | 12.6 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 10.5°C | 12.7°C | 62 |
| Feb | 25% | 49% | 46% | 13.2 kt | WNW | 16:00 | 10.4°C | 12.6°C | 57 |
| Mar | 35% | 82% | 74% | 14.8 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 11°C | 12.6°C | 62 |
| Apr | 65% | 93% | 87% | 15.7 kt | WNW | 17:00 | 12.2°C | 13.1°C | 60 |
| May | 55% | 87% | 85% | 14.5 kt | WNW | 16:00 | 14°C | 14.1°C | 62 |
| Jun | 70% | 92% | 90% | 15.7 kt | WNW | 17:00 | 16°C | 15.6°C | 60 |
| Jul | 85% | 98% | 97% | 16.2 kt | NW | 16:00 | 17.3°C | 16.4°C | 62 |
| Aug | 69% | 92% | 89% | 15.3 kt | NW | 16:00 | 17.8°C | 16.8°C | 62 |
| Sep | 53% | 93% | 85% | 14.8 kt | NW | 16:00 | 17.9°C | 17.2°C | 60 |
| Oct | 26% | 66% | 50% | 12.3 kt | NW | 16:00 | 16.9°C | 16.2°C | 62 |
| Nov | 10% | 33% | 27% | 10 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 12.8°C | 13.3°C | 60 |
| Dec | 3% | 31% | 21% | 8.6 kt | WNW | 14:00 | 10.9°C | 12.6°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
bay
Standing depth
Flat-to-chop riding, with more beach to work with at low tide. No standing-depth range is confirmed.
Tides
High tide makes the launch ramp slippery and kite launching more hazardous, so this is a tide-sensitive spot rather than a tide-independent one. A big high tide with strong wind is the combination to stay off.
Temperature
16°C summer · 11°C winter
Wetsuit
Normal suit or a shorty in summer, normal in spring and fall, thick wetsuit in winter.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
6 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: Grass and meadow for rigging beside the parking and the beach, then a constrained ramp and beach transition. High tide makes the ramp slippery and the launch more hazardous.
Somewhere else
3rd Avenue, 4 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Use only the designated kite launch area. Pump in the kite inflation area, set your lines within the grass area, keep them off the pedestrian path, and move to the water as soon as the kite is up.
Space
Grass and meadow for rigging beside the parking and the beach, then a constrained ramp and beach transition. High tide makes the ramp slippery and the launch more hazardous.
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Treat the launch as advanced even if bay chop does not worry you.
- Get an assisted launch and landing; self-launching is discouraged here.
- Have the board at the water before you launch, keep the kite low and go straight out.
- Skip the session when a big high tide lands with strong wind, because the ramp turns slippery.
- Stay at least 200 ft off the shore once you are riding, and know where the navigation pylons are downwind.
- Ask a local for the current launch and landing protocol before you rig.
- Check the gate closing time before an evening session: 20:00 in summer, 17:00 in midwinter, and the gate does not wait for you.
- Bring 5 USD for the gate, or buy the 72 USD annual pass if you will be here all season.
Getting there
Airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Route
Coyote Point Recreation Area is on the bay in San Mateo, a short drive south of SFO. Come in past the ranger shack, take the immediate left and follow the road to the end of the parking lot; the launch and the shop are by the tan buildings with the flags, at 1603 Coyote Point Drive.Satellite navigation often mislabels that address. Vehicle entry is 5 USD in 2026 and an annual pass 72 USD. Caltrain plus a taxi works if you are not driving.
No-wind days
Coyote Point Recreation Area has trails, picnic areas, a marina, Magic Mountain Playground, CuriOdyssey, birdwatching, and aircraft spotting.
Photos
FAQ
Is Coyote Point suitable for beginners?
No, Bay Area Kiteboarding explicitly calls it an expert-only launch, even though some sources list intermediate and expert riders as suitable.
When is the best time to kite at Coyote Point?
The thermal season runs roughly April through September, with average wind around 20 knots from W to NW.
What are the launch rules at Coyote Point?
As of 2026, riders must pump and launch only in the designated areas, keep lines off the pedestrian path, avoid self-launching, and stay at least 200 ft from shore while riding.
What are the hazards at Coyote Point?
The launch ramp becomes slippery at high tide, and navigation pylons sit downwind of the launch along with stones on the beach and in the water.
Are there kite schools near Coyote Point?
Yes, including Boardsports California and Kite The Bay.
Last updated: August 2026