Flums – Schönhalden (Schoenhalden)

Schönhalden above Flums is a mountain launch in the St. Gallen Alps at about 1,422 m, good for thermals, ridge soaring and reached by a gondola followed by roughly a 15-minute walk to the takeoff. The site flies best in a northeast wind. Foehn conditions are flagged as a real weather hazard here, so it's worth checking a foehn forecast specifically before heading up, not just a general wind forecast. Swiss airspace rules in the region are also intricate, and pilots are advised to gather full local airspace information before flying rather than assuming a straightforward picture. Between the gondola-plus-walk access and a genuinely alpine wind pattern, this is a site that rewards checking conditions carefully rather than just showing up.

Launch & conditions

Mountain launch at about 1,422 m, reached by gondola plus roughly a 15-minute walk; flown best in a northeast wind.

Getting there & local rules

Take the gondola up, then walk about 15 minutes to the takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

Foehn is flagged as a real weather hazard here — check a foehn-specific forecast, not just general wind, before heading up. Swiss airspace rules in this region are also complex, so gather full local airspace information before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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