Bündner Rigi

Bündner Rigi is a thermal launch in the Graubünden Alps at about 1,579 m, taking off from a large meadow just below the access road, flyable in northeast or east wind. Getting up is straightforward, either by road from Ilanz or by shuttle bus. Foehn wind is flagged as a serious weather hazard here and worth checking specifically before heading up. Landing is unusual in one respect: there's no single fixed landing field, and pilots land wherever the grass happens to have been cut that season, so the exact spot varies and is worth confirming locally rather than assuming last visit's field is still mowed. Swiss airspace rules in the area are also complex enough to be worth checking in full before flying. A straightforward road-accessible launch, but one where checking current conditions on the ground matters more than usual.

Launch & conditions

Thermal launch at about 1,579 m, taking off from a large meadow just below the access road; flyable in northeast or east wind.

Getting there & local rules

Reach the launch by road from Ilanz or by shuttle bus.

Local rules & hazards

Foehn wind is flagged as a serious weather hazard here — check specifically before heading up. There's no single fixed landing field: pilots land wherever the grass has been cut that season, so confirm the current spot locally. Swiss airspace rules in the area are complex enough to check in full before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Bündner Rigi, 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 Bündner Rigi with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.