Diablerets Glacier (Valais)
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Intermediate to Advanced
- Skill Level
- Flat
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Diablerets Glacier is a high-altitude snowkiting venue on the Tsanfleuron/Diablerets glacier area with a large, flat launch/landing plateau described as about 3 km long and 1 km wide. The terrain supports long-distance runs and freeride-style riding, with powder snow conditions mentioned for snowkiting activities. Launch difficulty is described as easy by one source and moderate by another, reflecting the need to manage glacier travel and setup on a wide, open surface. Wind is most favorable from the ESE through SSW sector (including SE and SSE), with typical reported speeds roughly in the 10–25 knot range. Providers also note that performance can depend on altitude and Föhn influence, and that moderate gusts are common. One source flags possible turbulence near the Scex Rouge station and nearby peaks, which can matter for safe kiting lines and launch/landing stability. Safety is the main theme for this spot. Hazards reported include glacier crevasses, gondola/cable car cables, steep glacier margins/edges, extreme cold, and whiteout conditions. Avalanche risk is mentioned as moderate, and sudden weather changes are also highlighted. Riders are advised to stay within marked glacier/zones and designated paths, avoid flying near cable infrastructure, and stay away from steep edges. Access is via gondolas/cable car from Col du Pillon (with one provider describing Glacier 3000 and a walk or ski-down to the glacier). Safety guidance emphasizes checking conditions with lift operators before heading out, assessing avalanche danger carefully, and not kiting alone on a glacier. Overall, the conditions point to an intermediate-to-advanced riding profile with proper glacier safety equipment and decision-making.
- High-altitude, very open and flat glacier plateau for snowkiting
- Favorable wind sector: ESE through SSW
- Powder snow conditions reported
- Infrastructure access via gondolas/cable car from Col du Pillon
- Very large, flat, open glacier terrain for freeride and foil/long runs
- Wind directions are favorable (ESE through SSW) and generally reliable at altitude
- Access via established cable car/gondola infrastructure
- Powder snow conditions are reported
- Glacier crevasses and steep edges at the margins
- Cable car/gondola cables present hazards near the launch area
- Moderate avalanche risk and sudden alpine weather changes
- Low visibility risks including whiteout conditions
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW
- Wind Range
- 10–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Gradient — Wind on the glacier is described as a gradient-driven setup in the spot’s conditions; other notes emphasize Föhn influence and altitude dependency.
- Reliability
- Good at altitude (spot-level); moderate overall with dependence on Föhn wind effect (provider-level).
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Moderate gusting reported.
- Best Months
- November, December, January, February, March, April, May
- Shadow Zones
- Turbulence near the Scex Rouge station and surrounding peaks can occur.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat
- Beach
- Sand — Sand is listed as the beach composition in provider physical data.
- Beach Size
- Big
- Launch
- Big — Glacier surface with a wide, flat plateau.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Some sources say easy; another describes moderate difficulty due to glacier travel factors.
- Bottom Type
- Sand — Spot data describes sand as the relevant bottom/ground surface for the access/launch context; glacier-ness is emphasized by snowkiting descriptions.
Through the year
Moderate in winter peak; low in late spring/early autumn (provider-level).
High-altitude winter storms can occur from December through March (provider-level).
By sport
What to expect for each.
A high-altitude, very flat glacier plateau with vast open terrain suitable for long-distance runs, freeride, and (in the broader snowkite description) freestyle/foil sessions. Terrain is described as powder-friendly.
- Snow Conditions
- Powder
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Diablerets Glacier (Valais) in the full forecast view.
Diablerets Glacier (Valais) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–17 ktsGusts 37 kts
- Direction
- WSW258°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2517 kts
- Windy days
- 2/712 kts or more
- Temperature
- -9–5 °C
Over the next 7 days, Diablerets Glacier (Valais) is forecast for daytime winds of 1–17 kts, peaking around 17 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 37 kts. The prevailing direction is WSW. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Steep terrain at the margins
- Gondola/cable car cables
- Glacier crevasses
- Extreme cold
- Thin air at high altitude
- Sudden weather changes
- Whiteout conditions
- Moderate avalanche risk
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Providers conflict: one states rescue is no; another states rescue is limited and that a dedicated mountain rescue is available during lift operating hours. Region context indicates helicopter rescue coverage, but the spot-level entry is explicitly inconsistent across providers.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number 144 (Swiss rescue). Nearest hospital mentioned in Aigle or Vevey (provider-level). Regional context also notes REGA/major emergency coverage and a nearby major hospital in Sion, but those are not spot-specific to the exact launch.
Rules of the spot
Follow resort safety guidelines; do not snowkite outside marked zones. Stay within designated glacier zones/paths and avoid areas in proximity to cable cars.
- Stay on designated glacier paths.
- No access outside the resort season without a permit.
- Snowkiting can be prohibited during peak ski hours in specific marked ski slopes (provider note).
- Do not kite in proximity to cable cars.
- Assess avalanche danger carefully and stay within marked glacier areas.
- Avoid flying near cables.
- Check with the lift operators before heading out.
- Never kite alone on a glacier.
- Stay away from steep glacier edges.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Les Diablerets
- Nearest Town
- Les Diablerets
- Parking
- Parking available at Col du Pillon / large free parking lot at the Col du Pillon cable car base station (provider-level).
- Public Transport
- Public transport: train to Aigle, then Aigle–Sé«y–Diablerets mountain train to Les Diablerets, followed by bus to Col du Pillon.
- Access
- Access is by gondolas from Col du Pillon onto the glacier (spot-level note). Another provider describes access via Glacier 3000 cable car to Scex Rouge, then a short walk or ski-down onto the Tsanfleuron glacier.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Hotels and guesthouses available in Les Diablerets and Savièse (provider-level). Region context also notes dense chalets/huts and hotels in Sion and Les Diablerets.
- Food & Drink
- Restaurants at Scex Rouge and at Col du Pillon (provider-level); also bars mentioned at Scex Rouge and Col du Pillon.
- Equipment Rental:
- Some rental options are described for ski and snowboard at the base station; snowkite-specific gear rental is noted as not typically available on-site.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Diablerets Glacier (Valais)?
The best overall months at Diablerets Glacier (Valais) are November, December, January, February, March, April, May.
Which wind directions work at Diablerets Glacier (Valais)?
Diablerets Glacier (Valais) works with ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW winds.
What skill level is Diablerets Glacier (Valais) suitable for?
Diablerets Glacier (Valais) suits these riding levels: Snowkiting: Intermediate to Advanced.