Spot Guide › United States › Washington › Tunnel 5 Downwind Launch

Tunnel 5 Downwind Launch

Washington, United States · 45.7201, -121.5850

SUP Downwind and Parawing FoilingParawingingSUP Foiling Intermediate through expert with an expe
Source
1
wind meter
2
guides & forecasts

conditions & access

Best wind

Westerly

Season

Condition dependent; the checked guide does not publish a closed season

Water

Columbia River wind swell building toward the Hatchery

Experience

Intermediate through expert with an experienced shuttle driver and highway spotter

Hazards

Crossing WA-14 on foot, blind tunnel traffic, steep rocky path, fragile access, river current, swell, crowded Hatchery traffic and no assumed rescue.

Parking & access

Very limited fragile roadside access. Follow the guide's westbound departure/safe-turnaround instructions, never block BNSF access, and verify current signs before stopping.

“The current Gorge guide identifies Tunnel 5 as the more reliable two-mile start to the Hatchery/Basement. The coordinate is a schematic pin at the easternmost WA-14 tunnel area, not a surveyed water-entry point. Tunnel 4 is not added as a usable launch because newer local access guidance reports no legal parking there.”

— via User-supplied Columbia Gorge guide audit, last verified 2026-08-04

Live wind

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

All 6 webcams in Columbia River Gorge

Local guides

thegorgeismygym.com Gorge Downwinding — The Gorge Is My Gym Exact current 2025/26 Columbia Gorge launch-site guide for Home Valley Park: https://columbiagorgetomthood.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/watersports_ thegorgeismygym.com foilsurfing.net Hood River Beginner Travel Guide — Foilsurfing Exact current 2025/26 Columbia Gorge launch-site guide for Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery: https://columbiagorgetomthood.com/wp-content/upl foilsurfing.net

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

nearby spots

Washington, United States Swell City → Hatchery paddle-downwind route Downwind SUP Foiling wind · guides · tides Washington, United States Spring Creek Fish Hatchery / The Hatchery Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · 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 Tunnel 5 → The Basement downwind route Downwind Foiling wind · guides · tides Washington, United States Swell City Wing Foiling wind · guides · surf · tides

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