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Snowkite spot · Switzerland

Berninapass Snowkite

Riders have kited it in S.

Show on the map46.4066, 10.0173
Works in
S
Watch out
N
Nearest airport
BGYIl Caravaggio International Airport, 85 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 have not described the ground under the snow. Early in the season and after a thaw, expect things to stick out.

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

NNNENEENEEESESESSESSSWSWWSWWWNWNWNNWNESW

worksdoes not work / gustyno reports

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

Pparking

From riders

What you need to know

Watch out N
North foehn (Nordföhn) disrupts and spoils wind conditions.

Parking

  • Car park about 400 m from the spot, paid.OpenStreetMap

Getting there

  • The hike down from the parking lot to the lake is very strenuous in deep snow, especially the evening climb back upcommunity map
  • Short walk or ski down to the lake from Albergo Ospizio Bernina by the road, hike back up in the eveningcommunity map
  • Ospizio Bernina accommodation right at the spot cannot be reached by car, accessible directly by traincommunity map

Conditions

  • Lake Lago Bianco - continuous ice cover with plenty of snow roughly from December/January to March/Aprilcommunity map
  • Rideable in early January, plenty of wind, influenced by the North Foehn.Facebook group Swiss Snowkitetour 2020

Facilities

  • Ospizio Bernina - simple hostel in the train station (dormitory and double rooms) right at the spotcommunity map
  • Albergo Ospizio Bernina - more comfortable accommodation up by the roadcommunity map
In riders' own words
  • „Es soll wohl Südföhn geben“
  • „Der Berninapass könnte funktionieren.“
  • „der Nordföhn hat alles ein wenig durcheinander gebracht und erst ab Sonntag Mittag kehrte Normalität ein.“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/235882892“
  • „OpenStreetMap way/1515286251“
  • „Mit dem Auto nicht zu erreichen. ... Direkt mit dem Zug zu erreichen.“
  • „Abstieg vom Parkplatz bei viel Schnee sehr mühsam, vorallem am Abend der Aufstieg.“
  • „Kleiner Fussmarsch/Abfahrt zum See. Am Abend Aufstieg.“
  • „mit 9 Rennen auf dem Lago Nero Berninapass vom 4-5 Januar 2020 spannend, unfallfrei und mit viel Wind und Sonne gestartet.“
  • „Ca ab Dez/Jan bis März/April geschlossene Eisdecke mit massig Schnee.“
  • „Ospitzio Bernina. Einfaches Herbege im Bahnhof mit Massenlager und Doppelzimmer. Sehr gemütlich und DIREKT am Spot.“
  • „Albergo Ospizio Bernina. Liegt oben an der Strasse, etwas komfortabler.“

Photos from the area

2007 10 Berninabahn 041080
2007 10 Berninabahn 041080 · 283 m from the spot
Lord Koxinga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2007-07-25 Bernina Hospiz
2007-07-25 Bernina Hospiz · 286 m from the spot
Simisa, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
2007 10 Berninabahn 041070
2007 10 Berninabahn 041070 · 288 m from the spot
Lord Koxinga, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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
January4.0 knots · 2.1 m/s
February4.0 knots · 2.1 m/s
March3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s
April3.9 knots · 2.0 m/s
May4.0 knots · 2.1 m/s
June3.8 knots · 2.0 m/s
July3.6 knots · 1.9 m/s
August3.4 knots · 1.7 m/s
September3.3 knots · 1.7 m/s
October3.5 knots · 1.8 m/s
November3.6 knots · 1.9 m/s
December3.8 knots · 2.0 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: Community map “Kitespots in und um den Schwarzwald” (Google My Maps); Riders' reports in public kite groups on Facebook (Snowkite-Schwarzwald.de, Swiss Snowkitetour). 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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8 days on a yacht from Hurghada to the islands of the northern Red Sea. Next departure 7-14 November 2026, the 2027 dates are coming soon.

See the safari

The safari is organised by Mohamed of Paradise Kitesurf Red Sea. I've known him for years and we work together.