Snowkite

The Camas Valley is vast. I have listed this area because of easy access, parking, lauching and consistant West Winds. This is the more intermediate of the two. The options for exploration are endless. Heading North towards Soldier Mountain, kiters will find large hills and a few cliff bands. Traffic from both kiters and snowmobilers can get crowded on the weekends. Take to the south side of the road for the best exploration. A large cliff band (we call it Tipple Overhead) is very accessible for those who cross over highway 20 and launch their kites. Everyone from the road will stop to watch and if you go past this cliff band, riders will find more cliffs and more hills. This valley is about 10 miles across and we have explored a small part of it. The highway runs down the middle of the valley. This is nice because those wishing to link the two areas have easy access to a shuttle service.

Nice big lake for snowkiting and possibly water kiting.

state land permit required. Five minutes from my house outside of Bozeman

Kiting at the Henry's Flat is done east of Hwy 20. This area offers easy beginner terrain and some intermediate/advanced boosting potential off the river terrace. No big mountains here but a long season (October to May), lots of snow and frequent wind.

All the property that we've kited on since 2002 is called the Flat Ranch and is owned by the Nature Conservancy. Please be respectful. I don't want to be banned from kiting there as I'm sure you don't either. If you see wildlife, including sandhill cranes, keep your distance and go the other way.

Large open valley with consistent wind. Very accessible, kiter friendly.

There a few places to pull over. Two of the main spots are "the store" which is the only gas station in the main valley. it has a big parking area, grocery store, and the people there are full of good information.

Another spot is the Lazy Trout Motel parking area, there number is 877 529 9432, they have several cabins for rent and you can walk across the street and kite for miles

Flat riding spot on the shore of Lake Dillon and onto the lake when frozen. Gets a fairly reliable afternoon thermal wind from the North on clear days with high pressure. Anton, owner of the local snowkite shop Colorado Kite Force, and many of the local riders work extremely hard on gooming and building the best snowkite terrain features in the country.

Somers bay is one of my favorites. easy access and a very large area that blows almost everday.  Snow can be an issue.  When the lake goes down in the winter a mud flat is left high and dry that is maybe 4 miles by 1/4-1/2 a mile.  The wind blows north or south so you can travel the 4 mile distance kitieng east to west.  Go through the town of Somers past Dels bar.  As you leave town the road will take a sharp left and go back to the hghway. turn right here at the game preserve and walk down to the lake. This is a very beatiful place to kite. 

Smith Lake is a nice easy access kiting spot. Get on HWY 2 west from Kalispell and travel about 8 mile to Kila, Turn left there and you will see the lake.  drive around to the boat ramp and presto, you are there.  This spot seem to work best with east or west winds.  It has a nice venturi effect.  No terrain but it is close to town and has fairly reliable wind.

Mc'Donalds Pass is on hwy 12, 15mi east of Helena, MT. This spot pass is one of the windiest places I know of in Montana. Even during high pressure systems the pass gets constant thermal winds from the west/ north west.

The Bighorn Mountains are a short drive from Billings, once there you find a consistant supply of wind and plenty of snow. You can ride open flats or up and down huge hills. With the entire mountain on state land the back country riding is never ending. There is certainly something for everyone! In mid to late Nov. the access becomes somewhat limited due to hwy 14A closing at the top of the mountain for the season. It is aproximately a 1-2 mile hike from the road closure to kiteable terrain. This is also a popular snowmobile spot so you might be able to hitch a ride if your a smooth talker.