forcella

Forcella launches at 1,099 m above Lake Garda's eastern shore, on a wide meadow with a regular, even slope facing south-west that makes for a straightforward inflation compared with steeper Alpine launches. The site needs a south-west wind component to work, matching the exposure of the take-off itself. Landing is at a spacious area near Portole, roughly 560 m lower down, giving pilots a generous margin for the approach rather than a tight target to hit. Because the landing zone sits among working fields, pilots are asked to respect the neighbouring meadows on the way in — especially where the grass is left tall for hay — rather than cutting across them. With an easy, regular launch slope and a wide landing area below, Forcella is an approachable option among the sites above Lake Garda, provided the final approach stays clear of the surrounding farmland.

Launch & conditions

Wide meadow with a regular, even slope; faces south-west.

Getting there & local rules

Landing is at a spacious area near Portole, about 560 m lower than launch.

Local rules & hazards

Respect the neighbouring fields on the approach and landing, especially where the grass is left tall.

Check conditions before you fly

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