Spot GuideUnited StatesWashingtonSpring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery

Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery

Washington, United States · 45.7205, -121.5745

Wing FoilingParawinging Advanced
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Windsurfing the Gorge-Columbia River Gorge (25032325751).jpg
Photo taken near this spot by U.S. Forest Service- Pacific Northwest Region · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

1
wind meter
1
tide station
6
guides & forecasts

conditions & access

Best wind

Gorge west-wind setup; interpret the shore meter cautiously because a forum rider found 12–15 kt with 20 kt gusts felt closer to solid 30 kt gusts on the water

Water

One of the Gorge's better-organized swell zones, with short-period river bumps and substantial multi-sport use

Experience

Advanced

Hazards

Strong current, rocky access and concentrated windsurf/kite/wing/foil traffic. Do not size solely from the shore sensor; side-shore placement can understate on-water wind.

Parking & access

Official State Parks: automated pay station; Discover Pass $10 one day / $45 annual, 6 a.m.-dusk year-round; restroom closed Nov. 1-Mar. 31: https://parks.wa.gov/find-parks/state-parks/spring-creek-hatchery-state-park

“Expert/pro area with difficult launch and strong conditions. Requested-field batch 07 verified 2026-08-01: current exact, nearby-camera, candidate and route relationships are explicit; unresolved items remain Unknown. Progression Project forum riders call the Hatchery the strongest learning resource because of its reliable swell, but also the most crowded. One light intermediate rider initially struggled in lower/downwind Hatch swell around 20–25 knots and needed several weeks plus gear and technique adjustment before moderate days became manageable. July guidance adds that the site is popular because wind and swell are reliable and milfoil is comparatively limited. Progression Project forum eyewitness guidance reports a skilled parawinger launching at the Hatchery point, riding down to Lower Hatch, returning upwind and completing a tack. This establishes parawing mobility at the site but not beginner suitability. Progression Project forum local guidance identifies the Hatchery as one of the Gorge sectors where bumps organize particularly well. A first-hand meter comparison says the shore-mounted, side-shore sensor can read well below on-water wind; its gust value may be closer to the river average.”

— via Columbia Gorge launch-site guide / CGW2; Requested-field research Progression Project forum — public topic and post research, last verified 2026-08-02

Live wind

wx.ikitesurf.com Swell City-Hatchery (0.31 mi) Nearest live iKiteSurf station (nearby, not confirmed at launch): Swell City-Hatchery (0.31 mi) — https://wx.ikitesurf.com/spot/440 wx.ikitesurf.com

Surf forecasts

surfline.com Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery Nearby coordinate-centered Surfline map (not an exact spot report): https://www.surfline.com/surf-reports-forecasts-cams-map/%4045.72050%2C-121.57450% surfline.com

Tides

NOAA CO-OPS Tide predictions — station 9440079 Nearest tide station, 36 km from the launch. tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

Local guides

columbiagorgetomthood.com Hood River – Columbia Gorge Original exact/candidate source for Hood River – Columbia Gorge: https://www.ventosurf.com/spot/hood-river-columbia-gorge Candidate/route/operator evi columbiagorgetomthood.com cgw2.org Hood River (Columbia River Gorge) Exact/current access or conditions guide for Hood River (Columbia River Gorge): https://columbiagorgetomthood.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/waterspor cgw2.org forum.progressionproject.com Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery Exact current 2025/26 Columbia Gorge launch-site guide for Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery: https://columbiagorgetomthood.com/wp-content/upl forum.progressionproject.com forum.progressionproject.com Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery Exact current 2025/26 Columbia Gorge launch-site guide for Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery: https://columbiagorgetomthood.com/wp-content/upl forum.progressionproject.com forum.progressionproject.com Hood River – Columbia Gorge Original exact/candidate source for Hood River – Columbia Gorge: https://www.ventosurf.com/spot/hood-river-columbia-gorge Candidate/route/operator evi forum.progressionproject.com

Links are community-sourced and open directly on the provider's site. Verify conditions locally before riding.

nearby spots

Washington, United States Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route Downwind Foiling wind · guides · tides Washington, United States Swell City → Hatchery paddle-downwind route Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides · tides Washington, United States Cheap Beach Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · tides Oregon / Washington, United States Viento → Hood River waterfront downwind route SUP Downwind and Parawing Foiling wind · guides Washington, United States Swell City Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · tides Oregon, United States The Hook Wing Foiling wind · cams · guides · tides

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