CS2027 dates

Snowkite spot · Norway

Haugastøl (Hardangervidda)

Riders have kited it in W.

Show on the map60.5113, 7.8701
Works in
W
Nearest airport
BGOBergen Airport, Flesland, 148 km

Forecast and webcams

Before you go

Forecasts often disagree. When Windguru, ALADIN and Windy agree, it is worth going.

Under the snow

Surface and skis

Riders report stones under the snow.

Riders say:

  • Large rocks still stick out of the snow in the early season (December); they are usually covered from February to April.
  • In early January there is very little snow, it is cold, and dusk comes early.
  • Snow cover is usually thin in December, with the season fully starting during January. The best period (especially with family) is from mid-February to April.
  • The lake is well frozen in December; the main snow season with rocks covered lasts from February to April.

Rule of thumb: the smoother the ground, the less snow you need. On a mown meadow riders usually start from about 20 to 30 cm; on stubble, ploughed fields or dwarf pine you need much more.

Bring rock skis

For your first sessions, early in the season and anywhere the snow is thin, use old skis (“rock skis”) or an old snowboard. A stone hidden just under the snow can cut the base of new skis on the very first run.

Tips for this spot

  • On hills the wind is stronger and gustier than the forecast says. Behind a forest it breaks and swirls, so launch well away from trees.
  • Wind and frost add up: at −5 °C and 20 knots (10 m/s) it feels like about −14 °C. Goggles, a balaclava and spare gloves.
  • Frozen snow is hard: a helmet and back protector are worth it even on a flat plateau.

On site

Wind and riding area

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worksno reports

Direction the wind blows from. Based on riders' experience, not a forecast.

Pparking

Approximate location, based on the place name riders used. We don't have the exact launch yet, please send it with the form below.

From riders

What you need to know

Who it suits
Suitable even for riders without extensive backcountry experience.

Watch out for

  • Large rocks still stick out of the snow in the early season (December); they are usually covered from February to April.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2024
  • When wind fronts collide, there can be 15 m/s (29 knots) gusts in one spot and dead calm just a few meters away.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2026
  • Extreme wind that can damage kites, and challenging conditions on the way to the Tuva cabin.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Risk of blizzards and extreme wind shifts from 0 to 50 knots (26 m/s) within a single day.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Very unstable weather (storms) and very little daylight in December.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • Extremely strong wind with gusts reaching nearly 50 m/s (97 knots).Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2024

Parking

  • Car park at the spot.OpenStreetMap

Getting there

  • A car is needed to get up onto the plateau from Haugastøl, Ustaoset, or Geilo; if staying at a cabin right on the plateau, a car is not needed.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • The spots from Haugastøl to Dyranut lie right along road RV7, making access from Geilo and getting back to civilization in case of injury easy.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • In bad weather in March, road closures occur and returning from more distant places (e.g. Tuva) can be very difficult.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Driving to Dyranut takes about 40 minutes by car (when the road is open), and around 2 hours to Vegglifjell.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • In strong winds, the barrier is usually closed; you wait there for the snowplow and drive in a convoy.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2026
  • From Haugastøl, you drive to nearby spots depending on the wind.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2026
  • Long road from Haugastøl to Dyranut with spots on both sides.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2026
  • Many mountain roads across the plateau are closed in winter.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024

Rules and respect

  • Check the local rules before riding.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025

Conditions

  • Snow cover is usually thin in December, with the season fully starting during January. The best period (especially with family) is from mid-February to April.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • The lake is well frozen in December; the main snow season with rocks covered lasts from February to April.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2024
  • In March, heavy rain can wash away two days' worth of fresh snow within a single day and night.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • In early January snow builds up slowly and riding is only possible on the lakes for now.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2026
  • High probability of good wind and less turbulence along the RV7 road near Geilo.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • In early January there is very little snow, it is cold, and dusk comes early.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2026
  • Good snow conditions when snowfall comes from the east (E) or southeast (SE).Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • In winter, the wind can range from 0-50 knots (1–26 m/s) within the same day.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Spring corn snow at 2 °C in March, with terrain suitable for riding uphill.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2025
  • A full week of sunshine and light wind is very unusual in early February.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2025
  • Rideable in February even with thinner snow cover.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2025

Riders' tips

  • Use yr.no to check the wind, or simply drive from Haugastøl toward Dyranut and stop wherever you see kites in the air.Facebook group Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway 2026
  • A good starting point for riders with less backcountry experience; consulting with locals is recommended.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Recommended winter kite sizes: 8, 10, and 12 m (or 6, 9, 12 m for skis, or a 7, 10, 14 m quiver).Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025
  • Regularly visited in late February and early March, or in late March and April.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • Clothing suitable for surviving a snowstorm is essential.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2025

Facilities

  • Accommodation in mountain cabins (hytta) right on the plateau; a mountain lodge, hotel, and rental cabins in Finse; a hotel in Haugastøl; apartments and Airbnb in Ustaoset and Geilo.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2024
  • Accommodation and cabins with great food and facilities for snowkiters.Facebook group Snowkiting Norway 2026
In riders' own words
  • „W Wind 6m Duotone Neo.“
  • „I do not have much backcountry experience... Go to dyranut or haugastøl and speak with the locals :)“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/1308601995“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/504970211“
  • „I rented a cabin in Haugastol and drove to the spots depending on wind.“
  • „Travelling between Haugastøl and Dyranut is quite easy (about 40 min by car if the road is open). Haugastøl-Vegglifjell about 2 hour drive.“
  • „roads closed... and anyone venturing to Tuva barely made it back.“
  • „en hytta ( refuge) sera peut être le plus approprié car tu es sur le plateau et du coup pas besoin de moyen de locomotion. Sinon a haugastol... il te faut une voiture“
  • „a lot of the roads across the mountains are closed.“
  • „Også Haugastøl, helt til Dyranut... Alt I nærheten av RV... Kommer man også med keksde beiner tilbake til sivilasjon“
  • „en hel række spots fra haugastøl til dyrenaut som er en lang vej med spots på begge sider“
  • „er vinden voldsom kan bommen nogle gange være lukket så venter man blot ved bommen til sneslyngwn kommen og så kan man køre i konvoj“
  • „Wind fronts were colliding from both sides. At the same time, we had 15 m/s gusts in one place, while just a few meters away it was completely dead calm.“
  • „dress to survive a blizzard. The wind can be from 0-50knots on the same day :)“

Wind by month

When it blows

Average wind speed 10 m above ground from NASA POWER (MERRA-2, 2001–2025). The model works on a grid of roughly 50 km; on hills and by the water the wind is often stronger and gustier.

windiest monthsaverage wind in knots, NASA POWER; below the month in m/s

Values by month
January9.1 knots · 4.7 m/s
February8.2 knots · 4.2 m/s
March8.3 knots · 4.3 m/s
April7.1 knots · 3.7 m/s
May6.5 knots · 3.3 m/s
June6.5 knots · 3.3 m/s
July6.0 knots · 3.1 m/s
August6.1 knots · 3.1 m/s
September7.6 knots · 3.9 m/s
October7.3 knots · 3.8 m/s
November7.9 knots · 4.1 m/s
December8.7 knots · 4.5 m/s

Nearby

More spots within 60 km

Been there?

Add what you know

Parking changed, a new ban, a new obstacle in the water? Tell us, we will check it and update the page.

Sources: Riders' reports in public kite groups on Facebook (Snowkiting Hardangervidda Norway, Snowkiting Norway). Wind NASA POWER, airports OurAirports, photos Wikimedia Commons (author and licence with each photo). As of 17 October 2026. These are riders' reports; local rules change, so look around before you ride and follow local signs.

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