Skydiving in Washington State

Washington State allows skydiving at multiple drop zones, with tandem jumps for a first freefall experience, AFF programs to learn how to skydive independently, and an indoor wind tunnel option near Seattle when you want to work on body position without boarding an aircraft. The most popular sites are spread between the Seattle region, central Washington around Prosser, and the Lake Chelan area, allowing you to choose your skydive based on the scenery you want to see during the climb and under canopy.

Tandem skydiving near Seattle: two widely used drop zones

Skydive Snohomish at Harvey Field

Skydive Snohomish operates from Harvey Field in Snohomish and is often chosen by people who want to skydive without traveling far from Seattle. Seattle is frequently used as a reference point, as the drop zone is close enough to allow a same-day round trip. The Snohomish River Valley is a typical feature of this skydive, as the valley stretches below the aircraft during the climb when daily conditions allow it. The Cascade Mountains often appear on the horizon as the airplane reaches exit altitude, providing an immediately recognizable setting for a tandem skydive.

Skydive Kapowsin at Sanderson Field

Skydive Kapowsin operates from Sanderson Field in Shelton and is often selected by people based near Olympia, as access is straightforward without needing to travel north toward the Seattle metropolitan area. Mount Rainier may be visible depending on the flight path, which is one of the reasons this site is very popular for tandem jumps. A skydive in Shelton is well suited if you want to stay in western Washington while choosing a drop zone known for both tandem skydiving and training programs.

Freefall in central Washington: Prosser and the Yakima Valley

Rattlesnake Mountain Skydiving operates in Prosser, allowing skydives in a part of Washington that is very different from the coastal region. The Yakima Valley is one of the most sought-after features in this area, as the valley can be seen from the airplane before exit when the flight path passes over it. The Columbia River may sometimes be visible at a distance during the climb, reinforcing the “central Washington” character compared to sites closer to Seattle. A tandem skydive in Prosser is often chosen when staying near the Tri-Cities, as the travel distance is more reasonable than returning west for a jump.

Lake Chelan: a skydive where the lake is the central feature

Skydive Chelan operates from Lake Chelan Airport, making the scenery immediately identifiable during the climb, with Lake Chelan visible early in the flight. This allows jumpers to clearly see what they will be jumping over before aircraft exit. The Columbia River is often visible at a distance depending on the flight path, adding a second major landmark during the climb. Chelan is frequently chosen by people who want to combine freefall with an overflight of this specific location, as the lake remains visible during much of the canopy descent.

Learning to skydive solo: AFF and training programs in Washington State

In Washington State, the most common path to learning how to skydive independently is through AFF training, with a level-based progression completed over several days. Skydive Kapowsin highlights a structured multi-level AFF program, allowing students to plan their progression without changing drop zones between sessions. Skydive Snohomish also offers entry into AFF after a first experience, making it possible to stay at the same location if you start with a tandem and later decide to continue training. A “course” is easier to plan when you choose a drop zone where you can return regularly, as progression depends more on your availability than on a single isolated day.

Indoor skydiving in Washington State: the wind tunnel near Seattle

Indoor skydiving is available in Tukwila with iFLY Seattle, allowing you to work on freefall body position without depending on airplane scheduling. Seattle remains the main reference point for this activity, as Tukwila is located within the immediate metropolitan area. This option is useful if you are preparing to start AFF and want to practice posture and corrections in a controlled environment, or if you want to experience the sensation of “flight” before booking an outdoor tandem skydive.