Bellyache Ridge

Bellyache Ridge is a registered soaring and cross-country site in Colorado's Vail Valley, with paved drive-up access to both launch and landing, which keeps logistics simple compared to many mountain sites. It's rated for P2 pilots and above, and flying it requires registering with the local soaring club that manages the site — visiting pilots and tandem passengers should get in touch with the club in advance to arrange access. The site is best flown in the mornings, before the prevailing wind shifts and starts blowing over the back of the ridge, which turns the site unflyable and even hazardous if a pilot is caught out by it — watching for that shift is the single most important thing to manage here. Landing and the tandem passenger meeting point are set up with clear local directions available from the site's managers. With straightforward drive-up access at both ends and a well-defined morning flying window, this is a manageable ridge site for pilots who respect the wind-shift timing and follow the local club's registration process.

Launch & conditions

Paved drive-up access to launch. A P2-rated site registered with the local soaring club — visiting pilots and tandem passengers should arrange access with the club in advance.

Getting there & local rules

From I-70, take the Wolcott exit and follow Bellyache Ridge Road up to launch. For the landing zone, take a different I-70 exit and follow local roads across the Eagle River to the site, which sits between the interstate and the river.

Local rules & hazards

Best flown in the mornings before the wind shifts and starts coming over the back of the ridge — that shift is the main hazard to watch for and can make the site unflyable or dangerous if missed.

Check conditions before you fly

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