Bochèta de Vegeina

Bochèta de Vegeina launches from 2,284 m in Switzerland's Calanca valley, and serves as a solid early-morning alternative to nearby Piz di Renten thanks to its east-facing takeoff — a grassy top marked by a small cairn, with easterly through southerly wind working the site. It's best flown when there's a temperature inversion below 2,000 m, and conditions favour southerly wind or very light northerly wind (no more than 5–10 km/h) above 2,500 m; east wind itself is something to watch carefully rather than rely on. Getting there is a multi-stage trip: a bus from Grono (Bivio Calanca stop) to Arvigo, a cable car up to Braggio, then a hike from Alp di Fora following the marked path — past a set of snow barriers, keeping to the right along a small ridge — up to the stone cairn that marks the launch. Airspace depends on which way you're heading: flying north toward San Bernardino carries no particular restriction, but flying south means staying clear of a heliport near San Vittore, about 2.5 km away with a 600 ft ceiling, and respecting the Bellinzona TMA around Locarno when it's active.

Launch & conditions

The launch is a grassy top marked by a small stone cairn — an east-facing takeoff that makes this a good early-morning choice.

Getting there & local rules

Bus from Grono (Bivio Calanca stop) to Arvigo, then cable car up to Braggio. From there, hike toward Alp di Fora and follow the marked path — past the snow barriers, keep right along the small ridge — up to the stone cairn at launch.

Local rules & hazards

Flying north toward San Bernardino carries no particular airspace restriction. Flying south means respecting a heliport near San Vittore (2.5 km away, 600 ft AGL) and the Bellinzona TMA around Locarno when active. This is a good spot to fly with an inversion below 2,000 m — watch out for east wind, since conditions are better with southerly wind, or only very light northerly wind (5–10 km/h max) above 2,500 m.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Bochèta de Vegeina, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Bochèta de Vegeina with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.