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Rowena Overview
Rowena State Park is a very popular family orientated sailing area offering a number of friendly ammenities. Several good-sized parking areas have been creatively combined to allow an excellent loading and unloading zone leaving a short walk to the water. Since this is a State Park, it requires a $3 daily parking fee which is well worth it when you factor in all of the benefits of an attractively designed windsurfing park. Rowena also receives very strong westerly winds from May until September and usually provides small to medium, fairly closely spaced but quite steep ramps especially on the north side of the river. The launch area can be tricky as slippery rock shelves drop dramatically into deep water. A number of fins have been quickly sheared off as sailors fail to get off their boards while planing into the beach. Beginners and intermediates will find calmer, shallower water just east of the main launch in the cove on the Oregon side.
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Local Expert?  Edit this Page!
Regional Directory
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Shops,
Schools,
Clubs,
Events,
Food,
Lodging,
More,
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| Season: |
Best: May-Sept. |
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| Water: |
sm-med swells, psycho chop |
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| Ability Level: |
advanced/jumps |
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| Familiness: |
restrooms, nice grassy beach, shelter, payphone |
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| Parking: |
small parking area |
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| Launch: |
rocky, easy |
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Maps & Directions
From the Portland/Seattle area, drive east on I-84 through Hood River and proceed out past Mayer State Park to Rowena exit # 75. Turn left back under the freeway at the end of the exit ramp and go straight across the railroad tracks. At the next stop sign, turn right onto Rowena River Rd. and drive approx. 1.5 miles to the entrance of the park. You will see a paybooth which is sometimes manned on weekends.
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Sensor Notes
We recently relocated the Rowena sensor during the spring of 2002 due to power difficulties at our old site. The new location is about 1/8th mile further west and sits on a point of land which juts out further into the Columbia River than any surrounding property. Furthermore, the new sensor was positioned about 15ft above ground level and has fewer nearby tree/building obstructions to contend with as well. Time will tell exactly how well this sensor portrays "on the water" conditions, but it certainly lies in the absolute best possible spot. Winds in general are tough to measure at Rowena due to a persistent shadow along the Oregon side of the river. According to local sailors, WNW to NW readings will generally be most accurate and fun to sail. As the wind clocks progressively W to SW, it begins to clip the Rowena Bluffs and performs a "skipping" motion down the river leaving large dead-zones across various portions of the river. More information will be provided as observations permit.
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