Le Grand Replomb

Le Grand Replomb is a serious hike-and-fly site in the Belledonne range near Grenoble, France, and the source is blunt about it: this mountain isn't for beginners, whether you're flying it or walking up to it. Reaching the roughly 2,450-meter summit launch means a 4-hour hike with about 1,700 meters of elevation gain from the landing area — follow the path to the Jean Collet refuge, continue toward the Col de la Mine de Fer pass, but leave the marked path at 2,100 meters and head north, off-trail, to the summit. That off-path navigation is exactly the kind of thing that makes this a hike-and-fly site for experienced mountain pilots rather than a casual outing. South wind in the Belledonne mountains is generally unfriendly and worth real caution once you're airborne. Getting to the base means driving from Grenoble to Villard-Bonnot, then on to Saint-Mury-Monteymond and to the end of the valley; the landing zone, at about 840 meters near the hamlet of La Gorge, is unofficial, so be considerate of the neighbors and never land in a field with horses or other livestock.

Launch & conditions

Summit launch at about 2,450 m, reached by a 4-hour hike (~1,700 m of elevation gain) from the landing area — follow the path to the Jean Collet refuge, then toward the Col de la Mine de Fer, leaving the marked path at 2,100 m to go off-trail north to the summit.

Getting there & local rules

From Grenoble, drive to Villard-Bonnot, then continue to Saint-Mury-Monteymond and on to the end of the valley.

Local rules & hazards

South wind in the Belledonne range is generally unfriendly here, so treat it with real caution. This is an unofficial site — be considerate of the neighbors near the landing, and never land in a field with horses or other livestock.

Check conditions before you fly

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