Darro – Sierra Arana – el Puntal

Darro – Sierra Arana – el Puntal is a hike-access thermal and soaring site in the Sierra Arana range near Granada, Spain, sitting at around 1,145 m. Take-off is small and needs precision: the wind has to be blowing more or less straight on into launch, or the site turns tricky to get off from. Reaching it on foot is possible from two directions — the north face is a direct line but steep, stony and overgrown with scrub, while the east face offers an easier, more manageable hike up. Landing is flexible; pilots can put down more or less anywhere in the valley, with one clear rule: stay out of planted fields. The main A-308 road runs close by and stays within gliding distance for most of the flight, which is a reassuring bailout option if conditions turn or height runs low. It's a modest, locally-flown site rather than a big-name destination, best suited to pilots comfortable judging a small, wind-sensitive launch and picking their own line down.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is small and wind-sensitive — it needs to blow close to straight on into launch, or the site gets tricky. Landing is open: put down more or less anywhere in the valley, but stay out of planted fields. The A-308 road stays within gliding distance for most of the flight.

Getting there & local rules

Reachable on foot from two sides: the north face is direct but steep, stony and bushy, while the east face is an easier climb.

Check conditions before you fly

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