Vergel de la Sierra

Vergel de la Sierra is a thermal, soaring and cross-country site above the Sierra de Lobos in Guanajuato, Mexico, launching from around 2,610 m (7,800 ft) facing west. The site is flyable from September through April, and works all day in that window, though mornings bring notably strong conditions — most pilots find the sweet spot in the afternoon, roughly three to four hours before sunset, when things settle. Take-off is generous and grassy with plenty of room to land back on it if needed. Getting there takes about 55 minutes from León/Bajío international airport, heading north through San Felipe Torres Mochas and Ocampo to La Sierra de Lobos. Landing options are flexible: down about 1,100 ft below take-off, back on take-off itself, at a nearby golf course, or simply flying out cross-country. Some days bring more wind than the average would suggest, so it pays to check current conditions rather than assume a calm day. With reliable west-facing thermals through much of the year, Vergel de la Sierra is a solid XC launch for pilots working the Bajío region.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is generous and grassy, west-facing, with plenty of room — you can even land back on it if needed. Mornings bring notably strong conditions; most pilots prefer the afternoon, roughly three to four hours before sunset.

Getting there & local rules

About 55 minutes from León/Bajío international airport: head north through San Felipe Torres Mochas and Ocampo to La Sierra de Lobos. Landing options include down-slope, back on take-off, near a golf course, or flying out cross-country.

Local rules & hazards

Wind can run stronger than expected on some days, so check current conditions rather than counting on the average before committing to launch.

Check conditions before you fly

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