Spot Guide › United States › Washington › Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route

Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route

Washington, United States · 45.7242, -121.5638

Downwind FoilingParawingingSUP Foiling Experienced Gorge downwinder with safe s
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Wind board on the beach - Flickr - brewbooks.jpg
Photo taken near this spot by brewbooks from near Seattle, USA · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
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wind meter
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tide station
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guides & forecasts

conditions & access

Season

Summer community advisory; condition-dependent

Water

Columbia River Gorge wind bumps

Experience

Experienced Gorge downwinder with safe shuttle driver

Hazards

Highway 14 shuttle traffic and the 55 mph Tunnel-area entry/exit are serious hazards; use an experienced driver/spotter and safe turnaround. Tunnel 4 parking is not legal. River current, swell and commercial traffic require Gorge competence.

Parking & access

Use the legal Tunnel 5 alternative and safe turnaround for this route. Tunnel 4 is reported fully signed as no legal parking, with tickets/towing expected; do not use the small private launch zone without explicit permission.

“Progression Project forum access advisory identifies Tunnel 5 as the shorter Hatchery-area start to The Basement when bumps are not filled in. Tunnel 4 parking was later reported closed; this record is specifically the Tunnel 5 alternative. Approximate route midpoint. Current Progression Project forum local guidance says Tunnel 4 is fully signed as no longer legal parking for Hatchery downwind starts, with tickets or towing expected. A later reply emphasizes the dangerous entry/exit on the 55 mph highway; use the legal Tunnel 5 alternative and current local access practice.”

— via Progression Project forum — complete public-topic 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

Tides

NOAA CO-OPS Tide predictions — station 9440079 Nearest tide station, 37 km from the launch. tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

Local guides

forum.progressionproject.com Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwinding-at-the-hatchery-if-you-are-visiting-this-summer-please-read/11172/1 https://forum.progressionprojec forum.progressionproject.com forum.progressionproject.com Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route https://forum.progressionproject.com/t/downwinding-at-the-hatchery-if-you-are-visiting-this-summer-please-read/11172/1 https://forum.progressionprojec 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 Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · 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 Oregon, United States The Hook Wing Foiling wind · cams · guides · tides Washington, United States Swell City Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · tides

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