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Vue panoramique du col du Simplon

Col du Simplon snowkite spot

Switzerland · Wallis

Spot currently openAltitude 2,005 m 46.24 | 8.03

Overview

The Simplon Pass is a superb snowkite spot that is very accessible, located at the end of Valais on the passage between Switzerland and Italy. It is one of the rare mountain passes that remains (almost) open all year round.

The spot benefits from a wind regime, either from the North or from the South. Access is by car and for the flat areas, it's a spot accessible to beginners. The freeride possibilities are enormous, but it quickly requires a very good level as soon as you want to climb a bit.

For freeriding, the Simplon spot reveals itself in south, southeast wind, the right part of the area (when arriving from Switzerland) then opens into a superb domain. Climbing with snowkite to reach the different summits/couloirs will require a good technical level and essential mountain knowledge. If the "Dahu" mode is less your thing, to the right and left of the road there are nice flat areas ideal for riding around without risks.

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Spot forecast for Col du Simplon

Sunrise 07:23 · Sunset 17:00

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Foehn probability chart

This chart shows the probability of Foehn in the Swiss Alpine valleys. It is based on the pressure differential between Zurich and Lugano based on the Open Meteo model (Icon-EU).

+4 hPa and above: north wind−4 hPa and below: south foehnStrong from ±8 hPa, very strong from ±12 hPa

Col du Simplon: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

173h

in April · 18.5 rideable days

The season runs from November to May, peaking in April: 13 rideable days a month and 173 hours of usable wind, at 3 °C. The low point is July, at 0 days.

Rideable days per month

0 5 10 15 20 January: 12 rideable days J February: 9.5 rideable days F March: 17 rideable days M April: 18.5 rideable days18.5 d A May: 11 rideable days M June: 1.5 rideable days J July: 0 rideable days0 d J August: 0 rideable days0 d A September: 0 rideable days0 d S October: 3.5 rideable days O November: 9 rideable days N December: 13 rideable days D 0 5 10 15 20 January: 12 rideable days J February: 9.5 rideable days F March: 17 rideable days M April: 18.5 rideable days18.5 d A May: 11 rideable days M June: 1.5 rideable days J July: 0 rideable days0 d J August: 0 rideable days0 d A September: 0 rideable days0 d S October: 3.5 rideable days O November: 9 rideable days N December: 13 rideable days D

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 84%13-20 knots · 16%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 84% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at -1 °C. The wettest month is April, with 163 mm. Snow depth peaks in March, at 123 cm.

Monthly averages: Col du Simplon
Monthly averages — Col du Simplon — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month Rideable days Usable wind Temperature Rain
January 12.0 91 h -1 °C 93 mm
February 9.5 89 h 1 °C 46 mm
March 17.0 175 h 2 °C 151 mm
April 18.5 173 h 5 °C 163 mm
May 11.0 92 h 9 °C 153 mm
June 1.5 11 h 16 °C 119 mm
July 0.0 0 h 16 °C 103 mm
August 0.0 0 h 18 °C 87 mm
September 0.0 0 h 11 °C 121 mm
October 3.5 24 h 8 °C 111 mm
November 9.0 67 h 3 °C 69 mm
December 13.0 87 h 1 °C 81 mm

Photo gallery of Col du Simplon

  • Vue panoramique du col du Simplon
  • Col du Simplon — photo 2
  • Col du Simplon — photo 3
  • Col du Simplon — photo 4

Spot video

Technical details of Col du Simplon spot

N: Rideable NNE: Rideable NE: Rideable ENE: Rideable E: Rideable ESE: Rideable SE: Rideable SSE: Rideable S: Rideable SSW: Rideable SW: Rideable WSW: Depending on conditions W: Depending on conditions WNW: Depending on conditions NW: Depending on conditions NNW: Rideable N E S W

The spot works with winds from N, NNE, NE, ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, NNW.

Depending on conditions: WSW, W, WNW, NW.

RideableDepending on conditions Not rideable
Spot functioning

At the end of Valais on the right ;-) Access to the Simplon spot is really easy, it's signposted from Lausanne!

 Do check beforehand about road conditions, the pass is sometimes closed in winter in case of heavy snowfall.

To stay on site:

    Hotel Monte Leone: http://www.hotelmonteleone.ch/
     Simplon Hospice: https://www.simplon-hospiz.com/fr

On site you will find Pascal Nessier's school - https://www.snowkiting.ch/fr/

Spot opening date
Spot opening date
Open all year round
Spot type
Normal (Car access at spot edge)
Altitude
2,005 m
Parking

Once you arrive at the pass, there are parking areas everywhere. Please respect the designated spaces as there can be a lot of traffic (snow plows, trucks, army, etc.)

Wind specificities

A very good article to understand the wind at the Simplon Pass: https://www.snowkiting.ch/fr/météo

Hazards

On the flat parts, there are no major dangers. However, you are in the mountains at over 2000m altitude.
 For the freeride parts of the spot, there are some power lines, and it quickly gets quite steep, so don't overestimate yourself.

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simplon0.2 kmsource oberwallisnew

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Additional stations

  • Chesselhorn5.2 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source slf.ch

  • Simplon-Dorf5.8 km

    Readings reserved for Premium members

    source MétéoSuisse

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Webcams near Col du Simplon

Webcams provided by Windy.com

Schools, shops and places to stay nearby

Directory: Switzerland

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Comments 2

  1. Scoa

    Voulant me lancer dans le snowkit mais n'habitent pas dans la région a partir de quel moment de la saison le spot est praticable? Début ou pleine saison?

    1. Fred | Let's Kite

      Salut,
      Le col reste accessible tout l'hiver car sauf grosse tempête la route reste ouverte.
      Après c'est un spot assez rocailleux et il est quand même mieux quand il y a un bon mètre de neige, ça recouvre quelques rocher et rend le freeride plus facile.
      Mais même avec peu de neige il y a des zones qui fonctionnent bien donc dès qu'il neige c'est une option valable.

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