Karlshagen (Usedom North)
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Spot Type
- Busy
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
The shoreline is characterized by sand and a shallow zone extending roughly the first few hundred meters from shore, with wooden groynes along the coast. Launch is generally described as easy due to ample space and the wide sandy beach. Water movement is typically mild laterally, though conditions can change with wind strength and direction.
- Wide sandy launch with shallow standing area
- Strong suitability in NW to NE / N to NE winds
- Seasonal summer bathing-zone restrictions for kiting
- Wide sandy beach and shallow standing area help create beginner-friendly learning conditions
- Clean water and generally small waves with reliable flat-to-choppy conditions
- Good on north to northeast wind directions for kitesurfing and windsurfing
- Surf is not a primary destination and wave quality is described as poor
- Offshore winds from the south can be extremely gusty and dangerous
- Seasonal restrictions: kiting is limited to designated areas and no-kite zones exist during summer
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE, NW
- Offshore directions
- S, SW, SSW
- No-go directions
- S, SSW, SW, WSW
- Wind Range
- 12–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Frontal — Provider data conflicts: one source describes trade winds, while another describes frontal wind conditions.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Steady
- Best Months
- May, June, July, August, September
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop, Small waves
- Beach
- Sand
- Beach Size
- Big
- Waves
- Small
- Chop Level
- Heavy chop — Provider sources conflict on chop/flat dominance: one describes flat water, while another describes choppy conditions; treat as variable depending on wind.
- Launch
- Big — Wide sandy beach with ample space for rigging and launching.
Through the year
High crowds in July and August; quieter in shoulder seasons.
Autumn and winter see the strongest storms and most consistent winds.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Works well in northerly/northeasterly and NW to NE wind directions, with a wide sandy beach and shallow standing area that is commonly described as beginner-friendly.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–14 m²
Reported as excellent freeride and slalom in flat-to-choppy conditions with N/NE winds; shallow entry makes it accessible.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Feasible in flat water but riders may need to walk past the shallow inner zone; limited foil-friendliness due to shallow bottom and groynes.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited
- Min Depth
- approximately 1.2 meters beyond the first 100-150 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Not a primary surf destination; occasional wind-swell from strong northern storms.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- N, NE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides
- Shelter
- Exposed
- Wind Effect
- Onshore winds create messy conditions; requires specific storm windows for cleaner waves.
- Wave Quality
- Poor
- Wave Power
- Soft — Strong northern storms can occasionally produce rideable wind-swell waves, but overall surf quality is described as poor.
- Wave Shape
- Mushy
- Peel Speed
- Slow
- Ride Length
- Short
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Karlshagen (Usedom North) in the full forecast view.
Karlshagen (Usedom North) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 4–21 ktsGusts 37 kts
- Direction
- SW219°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2521 kts
- Windy days
- 4/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.0–1.2 m3s period
- Temperature
- 7–14 °C
Over the next 7 days, Karlshagen (Usedom North) is forecast for daytime winds of 4–21 kts, peaking around 21 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 37 kts. The prevailing direction is SW. Waves run 0.0–1.2 m with a period of about 3s. 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
- wooden groynes (typical of the Usedom coastline)
- offshore winds from the south can be dangerous and very gusty
- swimmers in summer
- no-kite zones in summer
- nearby nature-reserve borders to respect
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Spot-level providers report limited rescue availability; the regional baseline indicates sea rescue services in nearby towns.
- Emergency Info
- Emergency number: 112. Nearest major medical facility: Kreiskrankenhaus Wolgast (~15 km away).
Rules of the spot
In the main season (May–September), kiting is only allowed in designated areas; respect strictly enforced bathing zones during summer.
- Respect designated bathing zones (strictly enforced during the summer season).
- Kite and windsurf outside marked swimming areas.
- No-kite zones in summer.
- Respect the nearby nature reserve borders.
- Park at the northern end of Karlshagen for the shortest walk to the kite-legal beach area.
- South and South-West winds are reported as offshore and dangerous because they blow toward the open sea and can be gusty.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Greifswald
- Nearest Town
- Karlshagen
- Nearest Airport
- Heringsdorf Airport (HDF) ~45 km away; Berlin (BER) ~230 km away
- Parking
- Paid parking is available near beach access points; sports-friendly parking is reported at the northern edge of town.
- Public Transport
- Well-connected via the Usedomer Bäderbahn (UBB) train line linking coastal resorts to the mainland at Züssow.
- Access
- Get to Usedom island via Wolgast on B111. After ~12 km on Usedom, turn left onto L264 toward Karlshagen and Peenemünde, then proceed to the beach.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Numerous holiday apartments in Karlshagen and a large campsite directly behind the dunes.
- Food & Drink
- Several kiosks and restaurants along the promenade and in the town center.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at local watersports centers on the beach.
- Gear Storage
- Gear storage available seasonally at local schools/centers.
- Gear Repair
- Minor repairs can be handled by local kite schools.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Northern Usedom is described as tranquil and family-friendly, combining vast sandy beaches with dense pine forests and nearby historical and wellness tourism.
A historical site in the former power station detailing rocket development history.
An interactive science center with over 200 exhibits exploring physics and technology.
A Baltic resort pier with views of the coastline and frequent local events.
A network of cycling paths through pine forests and along the coast.
A local restaurant in Peenemünde known for traditional regional dishes.
One of Europe’s largest butterfly farms.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Karlshagen (Usedom North)?
The best overall months at Karlshagen (Usedom North) are May, June, July, August, September.
Which wind directions work at Karlshagen (Usedom North)?
Karlshagen (Usedom North) works with N, NE, NW winds. Offshore directions are S, SW, SSW. No-go directions are S, SSW, SW, WSW.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Karlshagen (Usedom North)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Karlshagen (Usedom North): Kitesurfing: 9–14 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 12–25 kts.
What skill level is Karlshagen (Usedom North) suitable for?
Karlshagen (Usedom North) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Windsurfing: Beginner to Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.