Suossa, San Bernardino

Suossa, above San Bernardino in Switzerland, launches from around 1,700 m and is built for thermal, soaring and cross-country flying on a south-easterly to southerly wind. Take-off sits close to the Du Lac parking area, and its west-facing terrain makes it a good choice for summer evening thermal flights when the day's heat is still working the slope. Getting there means leaving the A13 at the San Bernardino exit, driving south through and past the village until the road starts descending again, then parking on the left at the Du Lac lot — from there, a private track climbs to launch and is reachable on foot only. This is a small valley just south of the main alpine ridge, so read the weather carefully before committing: a north wind here is genuinely dangerous and has been described as potentially deadly, so it is not a direction to fly in. Land only in the low-grass areas or on the east side of the field, near the bridges.

Launch & conditions

Take-off sits close to the Du Lac parking area, with west-facing terrain that works well for summer evening thermal flights.

Getting there & local rules

Leave the A13 at the San Bernardino exit, drive south through and past the village until the road descends again, and park on the left at the Du Lac lot — a private track then climbs to launch, on foot only.

Local rules & hazards

This is a small valley just south of the main alpine ridge, so check the weather carefully before flying: a north wind here is genuinely dangerous and has been described as potentially deadly. Land only in low-grass areas or on the east side of the field, near the bridges.

Check conditions before you fly

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