Urfeld (Walchensee)
- Freeride, Freestyle
- Best for
- Intermediate to Expert
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop
- Spot Type
- Crowded
- 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 It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect.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
Urfeld (Walchensee) is a technical wind-sports spot on the northeast side of Lake Walchensee, built around a reliable thermal wind system. For windsurfing (and also kite/wingfoil where launch handling is managed), the breeze is typically described as arriving early and building under sunny conditions, with a thermal window that’s commonly referenced from late morning into the afternoon. The water conditions are typically described as flat to choppy, with overall deep, cold mountain-lake water. Launch and entry are the main constraints: the launch area is very narrow and rocky, with hazards including rocks at the water’s edge and (reported) currents. One key warning is to avoid sailing toward the Jachenau valley bottom to the south because return is described as impossible. Access logistics can also be challenging. Parking in Urfeld is limited, and getting to the specific entry points may require a long walk on an unpaved path; a bicycle with wide tyres is recommended in one account. The shore is immediately adjacent to road traffic (B11), which adds another layer of attention during pre-launch and gear handling. In terms of seasonality, the most consistently cited months for wind are April through August (with one source also including September). Overall, the spot is described as highly reliable in summer when the thermal conditions are strong, but it can be extremely crowded on sunny weekends and holidays due to limited space.
- Thermal wind often starts early and runs into the afternoon
- Technical rocky launch with very narrow access
- Cold, deep alpine lake water
- Currents and a south-direction sailing hazard (return impossible)
- Reliable thermal wind in spring/summer, often arriving earlier and lasting longer than other parts of the lake.
- For windsurfing and foiling: flat water is commonly described, with chop depending on conditions.
- Clear Alpine lake water and deep conditions for foiling.
- Strong suitability for thermal-driven freeride/free-style wind sports in the main season.
- Very narrow, rocky launch with technique required (and no easy beach for launching/landing).
- Cold, deep mountain lake water.
- Currents and a hazardous situation described if sailing toward the south valley bottom (return impossible).
- Road traffic (B11) directly adjacent to launch; limited, hard-to-reach access points.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NE
- Wind Range
- 6–18 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Thermal wind system; described as NE thermal/bavarian thermal effect, catching the spot early.
- Reliability
- most reliable spot in summer (reported as one of the most reliable thermal options in Bavaria); high on consistent sunny weather
- Gust Factor
- Moderate gusts — Gusty North wind reported; one source characterizes gusts as moderate.
- Best Months
- April, May, June, July, August
- Shadow Zones
- Southwest part of the lake may not receive thermal wind in late season; also wind shadows near nearby cliffs/shore road are noted.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop
- Beach
- Rocks
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Flat — One source also describes chop; overall wave-related impact is minimal compared to wind.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Flat water with chop is described for kitesurfing; another source characterizes as chop.
- Launch
- Small — Very narrow rocky sections; small gaps between trees along the B11 shore road are referenced.
Through the year
Extremely crowded on sunny weekends and holidays (reported).
Summer can experience sudden heavy thunderstorms.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Flat water with chop and a NE/N thermal wind system (often gusty North). Launch/entry is extremely technical due to narrow rocky access; currents and cold water are additional considerations. Some kiters prefer the southern parts of the lake due to the lack of an easy beach for launching/landing.
Freeride and freestyle spot in strong thermal conditions. The wind is described as strongest/most constant here and often arrives earlier than other parts of the lake (then may fade earlier). Entry is technical due to narrow rocky access and limited space.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7.5 m²
Deep water makes it suitable for foiling, but the rocky and narrow entry points require careful handling of gear.
- Foil Friendly
- Yes — Minimum depth reported at 2.0 meters.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Urfeld (Walchensee) in the full forecast view.
Urfeld (Walchensee) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 1–10 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- WSW254°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2510 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Temperature
- 4–18 °C
Over the next 7 days, Urfeld (Walchensee) is forecast for daytime winds of 1–10 kts, peaking around 10 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 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
- Currents
- Rocks at launch area
- Impossible return if sailing toward Jachenau valley bottom (south)
- Deep water
- Road traffic (B11) directly adjacent to launch
- Trees and rocks near the water’s edge
Rescue & support
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — One source states no rescue availability for this spot; regional context indicates water rescue services operate seasonally (weekends/holidays) from May to September.
- Emergency Info
- General emergency number is 112 (region-level).
Rules of the spot
Respect local nature conservation zones; do not launch in designated swimming areas or private docks. Spot is currently open (per one source).
- Extremely limited parking.
- Narrow shore access/technical entry.
- Kitesurfing restricted by physical terrain (no easy beach for launching/landing).
- Do not launch in designated swimming areas or private docks.
- Avoid sailing toward the Jachenau valley bottom to the south—return is described as impossible.
- Wind in Urfeld often starts earlier than at the southern end of the lake.
- Launch is very narrow and technical on rocks; some solo starts use a karabiner hook system.
- Access can involve a long walk on an unpaved path from the Urfeld museum car park; bring a bicycle with wide tyres.
- Parking is very limited; arriving early on sunny weekends is recommended.
- Water is cold due to depth; wetsuit is always needed.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Kochel am See
- Nearest Town
- Walchensee, Urfeld
- Parking
- Very limited parking in Urfeld; museum car park at Urfeld is referenced. Very few small parking pockets along B11.
- Access
- From A95 → S2370 to Grosswell → S2062 to Kochel. Continue south on B11 toward Walchensee; at Urfeld lake turn left and drive about 1 km. Parking is very limited in Urfeld and along B11.
- Local Language
- German
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Guesthouses and hotels are available in Urfeld and nearby Walchensee village.
- Food & Drink
- Local restaurants and cafes are located within Urfeld village.
- Equipment Rental:
- Available at major schools in the area (equipment rental referenced at regional level).
- Gear Storage
- Limited storage is available through local clubs/some schools; many riders store gear in vehicles.
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 Urfeld (Walchensee)?
The best overall months at Urfeld (Walchensee) are May, June, July, August, September. The best wind months are April, May, June, July, August.
Which wind directions work at Urfeld (Walchensee)?
Urfeld (Walchensee) works with N, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Urfeld (Walchensee)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Urfeld (Walchensee): Windsurfing: 5.5–7.5 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 6–18 kts.
What skill level is Urfeld (Walchensee) suitable for?
Urfeld (Walchensee) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate to Expert · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate to Advanced.