Le Pont – Vallée de Joux

Le Pont – Vallée de Joux launches from 1,078 m in Switzerland, a soaring site flyable in southwest wind from a field on top of the hill. Car access to launch is not allowed — park on the left side of the road near the crossroads before the routes to Le Pont or Le Brassus (coming from the Col du Mollendruz), then walk across the road and up the small hill track, about 5 minutes on foot. The site only operates from October to April, when the field is free of livestock; the rest of the year it's closed because of tall grass and grazing animals. The farmer who owns the land tolerates flying only during that window, so respecting the seasonal closure matters for keeping the site open at all, not just as a courtesy. Wind here needs real respect too: anything too strong pushes pilots back behind the launch into rotor and produces strong turbulence, so this is not a site to push marginal conditions on.

Launch & conditions

Launch is on the field at the top of the hill; car access to launch is not permitted.

Getting there & local rules

Coming from the Col du Mollendruz, park on the left side of the road at the crossroads before the routes to Le Pont or Le Brassus, then walk across the road and up the small hill track (about 5 minutes).

Local rules & hazards

The site only operates from October to April, when the field is free of livestock — it's closed the rest of the year because of tall grass and grazing animals. The landowner tolerates flying only during that window, so respecting the seasonal closure is essential to keeping access open. Wind that's too strong pushes pilots back behind launch into rotor and produces strong turbulence — treat marginal conditions with real caution here.

Check conditions before you fly

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