Engelberg – Fuerenalp

Engelberg–Fuerenalp is a thermal and soaring site above the Engelberg valley in central Switzerland, reached by gondola from the village (public buses run there too), with solid cross-country range on the right day. Landing sits roughly 500 m from the gondola station, but getting your vehicle back up afterward needs special permission for the road connecting the two — plan your logistics before you fly, not after. Spring is the season to watch most closely: valley winds here can build to genuinely demanding strength, and landings that felt routine in summer can turn tricky. As with the rest of this valley, the ground below carries a real hazard of its own — numerous unmarked, barely visible cables cross the Engelberger valley, often exactly where pilots don't expect them, so check current info at the gondola stations or with local pilots before committing to a line.

Launch & conditions

Strong thermal and soaring site with good cross-country range from launch above Engelberg.

Getting there & local rules

Reached by gondola from Engelberg village; public buses also run there. Landing is about 500 m from the gondola station, but driving back up needs special road permission — sort logistics before flying.

Local rules & hazards

Valley winds can build to genuinely demanding strength, especially in spring, making landings trickier than they look. The Engelberger valley below also carries numerous unmarked, barely visible cables, often in unexpected places — check current info at the gondola stations or with local pilots before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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