WNY Windsport Launch Sites
This list is by no means exhaustive. There are many more launch sites in the WNY area, but these are the sites that I prefer. All sites are within a 2 hour drive from Buffalo. Some are not actually considered WNY, but they are within an easy drive, and I go to them often. "Section One" is just a list with the wind direction that works at each location. "Section Two" is a brief description that includes a map.
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Section One - Quick Guide to Wind Direction
(listed from west to east) |
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1. Presque Isle: W, NW, N, NE, ENE, E
2. Barcelona: W, NW, N, NE, ENE 3. Dunkirk: SW, WSW, NW, N, NE, ENE 4. Sunset Bay: SSW, SW, WSW, NW, N, NNE 5. Evangola State Park: SW, WSW, NW, N, NNE 6. Lake Erie Beach: SW, WSW, NW, N, NNE 7. Wendt Road: S, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, N, NNE 8. Wendt Park Beach: SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, N 9. Sturgeon Point: S, SW, WSW, W, NW, N, NE 10. Hamburg Town Park: SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, N 11. Woodlawn: SSW, SW, WSW, W, WNW, NW, NNW 12. Gallagher Beach: SW, WSW, W, WNW 13. Long Beach: SSE, S, SW, WSW 14. Sherkston: SE, S, SW, WSW, W 15. Thunder Bay: SE, S, SW, WSW 16. Beaver Island: W, WSW, SW, S 17. Fix Road: W, WSW, SW, S 18. Isle View Park: ENE 19. Burlington Beach: NE, ENE, E, ESE 20. Port Dalhousie: ENE, NE 21. Dietz Road: W. ENE 22. Wilson-Tuscarora Park: W, WNW, NE 23. Olcott: E, ENE, NE 24. Rochester: NW, N, NE, ENE 25. Chimney Bluffs: W, NE 26. Seneca Lake: SSE, S, SSW Bottom - Downwinders |
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Section Two - Launch Site Details With Map (listed from west to east)
1. Presque Isle:
There are many places to launch at Presque Isle, but the best 3 launches in my opinion are shown at "a", "b", and "c".
A.) At "a" you will find Beach 11. This is great on NE and ENE with lots of fun swell to ride
B.) At "b" you will find Beach 10. This works well on W, NW, N, NE, ENE, and E. It alllows you to get in the open lake without too many breakwalls to avoid.
C.) At "c" is Turtle Point. On ENE, the wind funnels through the channel and creates some very fun swell to ride.
Locations "a" and "b" are suitable for both windsurfing and kiting. Location "c", however, would be a difficult spot to safely launch a kite, although drift launching is possible.
A.) At "a" you will find Beach 11. This is great on NE and ENE with lots of fun swell to ride
B.) At "b" you will find Beach 10. This works well on W, NW, N, NE, ENE, and E. It alllows you to get in the open lake without too many breakwalls to avoid.
C.) At "c" is Turtle Point. On ENE, the wind funnels through the channel and creates some very fun swell to ride.
Locations "a" and "b" are suitable for both windsurfing and kiting. Location "c", however, would be a difficult spot to safely launch a kite, although drift launching is possible.
2. Barcelona:
Barcelona is a nice spot. Parking is close to the water, but if the wind direction is ENE you need to walk up the beach pretty far to the northeast end in order to get good exposed wind. Once you are out near the jetty the wind is great even on ENE. This location is suitable for both windsurfing and kiteboarding.
3. Dunkirk:
The place to be in Dunkirk is Point Gratiot Park.
A.) At location "a" you will do very well on SW, W, NW and N.
B.) At location "b" you will find that NE and ENE are excellent directions.
Both spots are suitable for windsurfing and kiting.
A.) At location "a" you will do very well on SW, W, NW and N.
B.) At location "b" you will find that NE and ENE are excellent directions.
Both spots are suitable for windsurfing and kiting.
4. Sunset Bay:
This is a big beach with public parking at the marina near the north end of the beach. It is a bit of a walk to the water, and you are very close to the breakwall. On WSW wind you must walk upwind pretty far to launch so that you can gain upwind progress to eventually clear the breakwall.
This is a big beach with public parking at the marina near the north end of the beach. It is a bit of a walk to the water, and you are very close to the breakwall. On WSW wind you must walk upwind pretty far to launch so that you can gain upwind progress to eventually clear the breakwall.
5. Evangola State Park:
A beautiful park. You can park at both the south end or the north end. I generally prefer to park at the south end and launch at the catamaran club near the gazebo.
A beautiful park. You can park at both the south end or the north end. I generally prefer to park at the south end and launch at the catamaran club near the gazebo.
6. Lake Erie Beach:
A special little spot with some great waves. Walk upwind when the wind is WSW so that you have more beach as a safety feature. If you get downwind past the rocks you must go around a couple points so that you can exit near Mickey Rats.
A special little spot with some great waves. Walk upwind when the wind is WSW so that you have more beach as a safety feature. If you get downwind past the rocks you must go around a couple points so that you can exit near Mickey Rats.
7. Wendt Road:
This launch is at the end of a dead-end street in Angola, NY. It is suitable for windsurfing and kiting, although high water can make it a little challenging to launch a kite. I have had good sessions here on strong south wind, and as the direction veers (moves clockwise) it just gets better, all the way to NNE. West is dead on-shore, but it's still fun if you walk out far enough to get away from shore. Recently, the Town of Evans has been enforcing this as a residents-only parking location.
8. Wendt Beach Park (Erie County Park):
This is a magnificent little gem! It is never crowded, even on a 90 degree sunny Saturday/Sunday in July or August. The shoreline can accommodate many wind directions, especially if you have wheels for your gear and are willing to walk just a little bit. Location "a" is a close walk where you don't need wheels. The wind is typically WSW at this location, so location "a" is mostly onshore wind when it's WSW. But, if you bring your wheels and walk down the paved path that heads south, you will find better side shore wind when it's WSW. However, don't forget this place on a good north wind. What a great spot for so many directions. The beach has a lot of broken shale on the upper part, and then more sand on the lower part. The beach is fairly steep, and the water drops to waist deep very quickly. The shore break is fine when the wind is less than 25mph, but you start to get plunging waves when it's over 25mph.
This is a magnificent little gem! It is never crowded, even on a 90 degree sunny Saturday/Sunday in July or August. The shoreline can accommodate many wind directions, especially if you have wheels for your gear and are willing to walk just a little bit. Location "a" is a close walk where you don't need wheels. The wind is typically WSW at this location, so location "a" is mostly onshore wind when it's WSW. But, if you bring your wheels and walk down the paved path that heads south, you will find better side shore wind when it's WSW. However, don't forget this place on a good north wind. What a great spot for so many directions. The beach has a lot of broken shale on the upper part, and then more sand on the lower part. The beach is fairly steep, and the water drops to waist deep very quickly. The shore break is fine when the wind is less than 25mph, but you start to get plunging waves when it's over 25mph.
9. Sturgeon Point:
There are many angles to attack the wind from this spot. At location "a" you can catch good S wind and WSW wind. There are a few large rocks near shore, so be careful and watchful. At location "b" you can catch W and even ENE. Watch for boats as you are near the marina. The rocks surrounding the marina can be treacherous if you are pushed into them, so know your limits. Just east of location "b" are cliffs, so be very careful of getting pushed near the cliffs as there is no exit from the water. This is not a beginner location. Even experts must exercise extreme caution on the marina side.
10. Hamburg Town Park:
This is a good spot if you can find parking. The parking rules change from year to year. Parking is available to Hamburg residents if they purchase a yearly permit. Some years there have been day-passes available to non-residents and other years day-passes have not been available. Wind direction here is best on SW or WSW, but SSW, W, WNW, NW, and N also work. It is suitable to windsurfing and kiting.
11. Woodlawn Beach:
When the wind is west it is dead on-shore, but the waves are great. Other good wind directions are SSW, SW, WSW, WNW, NW, and NNW. It is a bit of a walk from the parking lot, so bring a set of wheels for your windsurfing board or a backpack for you kite. There is a parking fee in the summer. It is probably the best spot in WNY for kiting as there is lots of room. The waves can jack up really nice here, but you are mostly riding them backside.
12. Gallagher Beach:
This is where I learned to windsurf. There is a breakwall about a half mile from the beach, so the whole area is protected from waves. It is a good place to learn, but it is also a fun place to ride for every level of experience. I've ridden here in 50mph winds and 15mph winds. Parking is easy and close to the water which makes it a good place in very cold weather. You can stay in the "box" or go out into the channel. Expert windfoilers can even exit the channel and enter the open lake through the gap in the breakwall near the windmills. While it is possible to kite here, it is more of a windsurfing spot. In the summer, the beach is too crowded to safely launch and land a kite. Please don't launch kites from the beach when it's busy in the summer. Some kiters launch in the park near the hill and enter the water from a set of rock steps. This is not a good idea for beginners however. It can also be difficult to get upwind and out of the "box" with a kite. However, in early spring and late fall I have seen many advanced and expert kiteboarders successfully ride here for a very fun flatwater experience.
13. Long Beach Conservation Area:
This is a campground and conservation area. Wind direction here works from SSE veering to WSW. Once it goes W the wind starts to come over the land, but it is still rideable. Some fun waves build up in the bay and there is a good crew of very nice windsurfers who ride here regularly.
14. Sherkston:
Also known as "da Reff", Sherkston itself is private, but there is public access on either side of Sherkston. At point "a" you park at the end of Wyldewood Road, and at point "b" you park at the end of Pleasant Beach Road. Some good breaking waves at both parking areas, and you can ride a variety of wind directions from SE veering to W.
15. Thunder Bay:
This is a nice spot for SE, S, SW and WSW. Parking is at the end of Bernard Ave, not far from the water, and there is room to rig on grass. When the wind is WSW there is a bit of a dead-zone downwind (east), so make sure you walk upwind a bit and stay upwind. The beach is very narrow and there are private residences all along, so make sure you keep your gear in the public area in order to keep the homeowners happy.
16. Fix Road:
The Niagara River is a last resort on hot days when the lakes are bubbling. Because of this, it is always gusty here with the hot pockets of air on those days, and conditions are never good. But if you are desperate to get out and the lakes are bubbling then you can get a session here. It works on W, WSW, SW and even S. But it's easy to pick up bad habits sailing here in the always gusty conditions, so be careful. Parking is at the end of Fix Road. This location is suitable for windsurfing, but not kiteboarding.
17. Beaver Island:
The Niagara River is a last resort on hot days when the lakes are bubbling. Because of this, it is always gusty here with the hot pockets of air on those days, and conditions are never good. But if you are desperate to get out and the lakes are bubbling then you can get a session here. Beaver Island works on W, WSW, SW and even S. But it's easy to pick up bad habits sailing here in the always gusty conditions, so be careful. You can park by the playground, and then use wheels under your board to tow your sails, masts and booms out to the point at the very end of the beach. This location is suitable for windsurfing only out at the point. Kiteboarding is possible on the main beach, however, I would only recommend it to advanced kiteboarders due to the current of the river.
18. Isle View Park:
There is only one situation when I ride here...strong ENE. And it only happens once every 3 years. But when it happens it's a lot of fun. On strong ENE the wind blows directly into the current of the river and produces very fun standing waves. You can ride downwind as far as you want because the current brings you right back where you started. In fact you actually have to make an effort to stay downwind. It is not as gusty as Fix Road and Beaver Island because the wind comes down a long fetch of river, plus it usually only blows here on strong ENE when the weather is cool and there are not pockets of hot air causing gusts. This is a windsurfing-only location as there is no good place to launch a kite.
19. Burlington Beach:
There are many parking areas along this section of Lake Ontario that work well from ESE backing to NE. While it is suitable for both kiting and windsurfing you must be very careful of the powerlines if kiting.
20. Port Dalhousie:
On ENE or NE this place can be a lot of fun. Once the wind shifts to E there is a dead zone near shore and it is difficult to get to the wind line. But when the direction is right there is a lot of fun to be had here. I have never kiteboarded here, but it appears that it would be a good spot. Very nice for windsurfing.
21. Dietz Road:
This spot works on W and ENE, but because of the very limited safe exit area, both upwind and downwind, you must use caution. You can walk in the water to get back to your starting point if you get downwind, but it's not fun. My suggestion here is to use a bigger sail, board, and fin than you think you need, AND walk upwind before you start. It is NOT suitable for kiting as there is no beach and lots of trees. There is really no reason to sail here on W wind because you can just go to Wilson-Tuscarora Park down the road. But when the wind direction is too ENE for Wilson-Tuscarora and when Olcott is closed due to high water, then you might want to get an ENE session here at Dietz Road. This is a windsurfing only location as there's no room to launch a kite.
22. Wilson-Tuscarora Park:
I love this location on west wind and NE wind. If the wind turns ENE then there is a wind shadow that makes it very difficult to get out to the wind line, but NE is great fun. If Lake Erie is frozen in April then you can ride here on west wind. There is parking near the mouth of the creek. Just walk down to the water and launch. This is a windsurfing-only location as the beach is too small to launch kites. In the summer there is a fee to get in the park. When there is heavy rain the creek can dump some muddy water as it is directly upwind on W days.
23. Olcott:
I've been windsurfing at Olcott since the beginning of my windsurfing career. It has been my go-to place for NE and ENE wind on Lake Ontario. This location can also experience some very nice thermal enhancement on sunny summer days when there is no wind anywhere else in the region. Parking is at the end of Jackson Street on the west side of the creek. In recent years, however, the parking area has occasionally been closed to deal with erosion control due to the high water levels of Lake Ontario. When this happens we typically defer to either Dietz Road or Wilson-Tuscarora Park depending on wind direction. While the Olcott launch is mostly a windsurfing location, it is possible to drift launch a kite when the wind is less than 25mph. Be very careful though. It is not friendly on the downwind side where all the rocks are located. STAY UPWIND! Once the wind increases over 25mph the waves would prevent a safe and successful drift launch. Also, when the wind is over 25mph the waves plunge right at the shoreline and can smash your gear, so use caution. When there is heavy rain the creek can dump some muddy water as it is directly upwind on ENE days.. Other than that it is a great place to ride.
I've been windsurfing at Olcott since the beginning of my windsurfing career. It has been my go-to place for NE and ENE wind on Lake Ontario. This location can also experience some very nice thermal enhancement on sunny summer days when there is no wind anywhere else in the region. Parking is at the end of Jackson Street on the west side of the creek. In recent years, however, the parking area has occasionally been closed to deal with erosion control due to the high water levels of Lake Ontario. When this happens we typically defer to either Dietz Road or Wilson-Tuscarora Park depending on wind direction. While the Olcott launch is mostly a windsurfing location, it is possible to drift launch a kite when the wind is less than 25mph. Be very careful though. It is not friendly on the downwind side where all the rocks are located. STAY UPWIND! Once the wind increases over 25mph the waves would prevent a safe and successful drift launch. Also, when the wind is over 25mph the waves plunge right at the shoreline and can smash your gear, so use caution. When there is heavy rain the creek can dump some muddy water as it is directly upwind on ENE days.. Other than that it is a great place to ride.
24. Rochester:
So you've got a few location options in Rochester. All of them are fun.
A.) At "a" you have Ontario Beach Park. This is a good size beach suitable for kiting and windsurfing, however, it is a bit of a walk from the parking lot, so bring a set of wheels for your board if you are windsurfing. Also, keep in mind that on NW wind the breakwall is directly downwind, so be careful.
B.) At "b" you have Durand Beach. While it is possible to drift launch a kite here under the right conditions, it is more of a windsurfing spot because of the very narrow beach. Excellent on NW wind, but also rideable veering to ENE.
C.) At "c" you have Montana Beach. There are a lot of private homes in this area and it is a busy spot with the amusement park and restaurants. Parking can be difficult, especially in the summer, but it is a nice spot.
Locations A and C are most suitable for kiteboarding. while A, B, and C are great for windsurfing.
A.) At "a" you have Ontario Beach Park. This is a good size beach suitable for kiting and windsurfing, however, it is a bit of a walk from the parking lot, so bring a set of wheels for your board if you are windsurfing. Also, keep in mind that on NW wind the breakwall is directly downwind, so be careful.
B.) At "b" you have Durand Beach. While it is possible to drift launch a kite here under the right conditions, it is more of a windsurfing spot because of the very narrow beach. Excellent on NW wind, but also rideable veering to ENE.
C.) At "c" you have Montana Beach. There are a lot of private homes in this area and it is a busy spot with the amusement park and restaurants. Parking can be difficult, especially in the summer, but it is a nice spot.
Locations A and C are most suitable for kiteboarding. while A, B, and C are great for windsurfing.
25. Chimney Bluffs:
This is about a 2 hour drive from where I live near Buffalo. Sometimes, west wind or WNW wind is predicted for eastern Lake Ontario and no where else. In that case I will make the drive. I have never needed to drive to this spot for any other direction. There is parking at the end of East Bay Road. It's a neat spot because you are looking directly at the Bluffs while you ride. I consider it a windsurfing-only location as there is no place to launch a kite.
26. Seneca Lake:
This is my absolute favorite spot for South wind. It is well worth the 1hour, 40minute drive when south wind is forecasted 20-40mph. This generally only occurs as a strong low pressure system approaches from the west. Maybe once or twice a month it happens. South wind usually brings warm air temperatures which can often make conditions gusty or even cause a 'bubble', but it is still the best location for south wind in my opinion.
A. Launch at location "a" when the wind is SSE or S. There is parking right near the visitors Welcome Center.
B. Launch at location "b" when the wind is SSW. This is a State Park and there is a nice launch area near the marina.
Both locations "a" and "b" are suitable for windsurfing and kiting, however, please be very, very careful kiting at location "b" in the State Park during the summer. The small beach gets very crowded with swimmers. During busy summer days it is probably better to launch at location "a" near the Welcome Center.
This is my absolute favorite spot for South wind. It is well worth the 1hour, 40minute drive when south wind is forecasted 20-40mph. This generally only occurs as a strong low pressure system approaches from the west. Maybe once or twice a month it happens. South wind usually brings warm air temperatures which can often make conditions gusty or even cause a 'bubble', but it is still the best location for south wind in my opinion.
A. Launch at location "a" when the wind is SSE or S. There is parking right near the visitors Welcome Center.
B. Launch at location "b" when the wind is SSW. This is a State Park and there is a nice launch area near the marina.
Both locations "a" and "b" are suitable for windsurfing and kiting, however, please be very, very careful kiting at location "b" in the State Park during the summer. The small beach gets very crowded with swimmers. During busy summer days it is probably better to launch at location "a" near the Welcome Center.
DownWinders:
Angola is a great place for downwinders. This map shows several locations where you could launch and land. And during the trip you can visit the infamous Twilight Zone.
Angola is a great place for downwinders. This map shows several locations where you could launch and land. And during the trip you can visit the infamous Twilight Zone.
