Hobie Cat Forums

WA - Wallula Gap and Columbia George. If you like to sail big wind and don't mind colder water come sail the Columbia River. Our favorite spots are Wallula Gap and Three Mile Canyon. The Gap (at Port Kelly) has the most favorable winds for sailing, usually 5 - 25 knots, with many 12-18 knot days and moderate swells (1-4 ft). There is also a small sandy beach/launch area, but no facilities. Three Mile Canyon has a protected inner bay, but tends to blow harder (10 - 30 knots, but at times up to 40 Knots+) and has bigger swells (4 to 10+ feet). Three mile has a boat launch, gravel beach, and Pit toilet. Each area allows for non-hook-up camping.

UPDATE: As of last week Port Kelly is closed to camping. The USACE, has closed Port Kelly to camping due to a complaint from a 'local' resident. I am currently engaged in getting camping re-established and hopefully improved with a pit toilet. Three-mile canyon still offers camping.

I have windsurfed these areas many times....I was in the gorge two weekends ago and it was blowing 20-30. My son ans I kept thinking what we would do with our 21SE. There is no way to depower the 21SE for 30mph winds!

It would be great to be able to sail the river! Good luck with getting camping allowed again at Port Kelly.

Well it is official. Port Kelly will remain closed to camping, the end of an era, bummer. The USACE's regional commander responded with, there are no funds and the area of interest is going to be turned over to Fish & Wildlife (and they have no charter for camping). On the up side there is still camping at 3-mile and day sailing at the Gap.

Port Kelly remains closed to camping, but is still a great day sail destination.

We now do our extended weekend sailing at 3-Mile Canyon. http://home.earthlink.net/~crzybdhd/wind/gorge/threemilecanyon.html

Update: Port Kelly - while camping right on the river is still out (see sunset picture above). Limited RV camping is now allowed near by next to the road and I can still keep the boats on the beach. Not near as nice as being on the water, but it does allow for multiple days of sailing. Hope to get over 50 sailing days in next season. Sweet