La Barillette (or:Les Burnes Gelées)

La Barillette, also known as Les Burnes Gelées, is a lightly used thermal launch in the Jura mountains above Geneva, at 1,420 m, flown specifically in southeast wind. It isn't a busy site — pilots visit it less often than the area's bigger launches — and finding the takeoff itself takes some looking: after parking at the top of the La Barillette lift, it's a ten-minute walk down to a launch that's genuinely easy to miss, an abrupt corridor cut through the trees. Wind here needs to stay moderate, up to around 15–20 km/h, and pilots are expected to check the wind readings from the weather station on the neighbouring La Dôle summit before committing. Geneva's airport airspace sits close by, so respecting the TMA matters on every flight — the ceiling is capped at 2,000 m over the Jura ridge and drops to 1,050 m once you're out over the plain. Landing is straightforward by comparison: large, easy fields down in La Rippe.

Launch & conditions

Southeast wind only, capped around 15–20 km/h. Park at the top of the La Barillette lift, then walk about 10 minutes down to the launch — an abrupt corridor through the trees that's easy to miss on a first visit.

Getting there & local rules

Park at the arrival station of the La Barillette lift; the takeoff is a 10-minute walk down from there.

Local rules & hazards

Geneva airport's TMA sits close by — stay below 2,000 m over the Jura ridge and 1,050 m once out over the plain. Check current wind readings from the weather station on the neighbouring La Dôle summit before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to La Barillette (or:Les Burnes Gelées), 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 La Barillette (or:Les Burnes Gelées) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.