Bellwald – Steibenkreuz

Bellwald – Steibenkreuz is a high alpine launch above Bellwald in the Goms valley, Valais, Switzerland, sitting close to 2,400 m — a genuinely big mountain start compared with most sites in the area. It flies on southwest wind, and being flagged for thermal and cross-country flying rather than short local hops, it reads as a launch pilots use to get high and go somewhere across the surrounding Goms terrain, not a first-flight hill. At this altitude, expect thinner, cooler air, a longer walk or lift ride to reach launch, and conditions that can change faster than at lower sites as the day heats and cools. As with the neighboring Bellwald launches, the documented detail here is thin — no recorded access route, landing field or specific local hazards — so this page is a starting point rather than a full briefing. Confirm current access, landing options and any local restrictions with a Valais flying school or club before flying here for the first time.

Check conditions before you fly

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