Arcones

Arcones launches at 1,853 m in the Sierra de Guadarrama, north of Madrid in central Spain, and flies with wind from the north, northeast, south and northwest, making it a genuinely multi-directional mountain site. Takeoff is wide and forgiving in terms of space, which helps on busy days with several wings rigging at once. The window for flying tends to be a morning-to-midday one: wind here often builds to more than most pilots want by around 2 p.m., so an early start pays off. Airspace above the site is controlled, with a maximum altitude of roughly 2,440 m over launch, rising to about 2,895 m further north, so pilots working the ridge or heading out cross-country need to track their height carefully as they move. With good thermal days, the site supports proper cross-country and flatland-style flying beyond the immediate ridge, not just local soaring.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is wide, with room for several wings to rig alongside each other.

Local rules & hazards

Airspace above the site is capped at roughly 2,440 m over launch, rising to about 2,895 m further north; track your altitude, especially heading north or on a cross-country line. Wind often builds beyond comfortable strength by around 2 p.m., so mornings tend to be the more reliable window.

Check conditions before you fly

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