Monte Tovo

Monte Tovo launches at 1,238 m above a bend in the river near Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, and is best known locally for having an unusually generous landing field, complete with a windsock, set inside a loop of the river below. Reaching the launch involves driving up to a set access point, then continuing about 300 m on foot past a barrier near a local pub before climbing a short embankment on the left to the take-off. Parking is available a short distance below that final vehicle access point, keeping the walk-in manageable even though the last stretch is on foot. The site works with wind from the east through south-east to south, and its landing field's generous size and river-loop setting make spotting and judging the approach easier than on many hill sites, which is a real asset for pilots still building landing confidence. Beyond the approach details, Monte Tovo is a straightforward launch-and-land site: the main things to plan for are the short walk-in past the barrier and picking the right access point by car before you arrive.

Getting there & local rules

Drive up to the marked access point, then walk about 300 m past a barrier near a local pub and climb a short embankment on the left to the launch; parking is a short distance below the final vehicle access point.

Check conditions before you fly

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