Chalais
Paragliding site · France
- Launch altitude
- 1,003 m
- Level
- Experienced pilots
- Best season
- —
- Landing
- —
Works on SE · S
94% landed within 10 km/h
Every OutDare forecast for this site is compared afterwards with real readings from wind stations nearby (a hit = wind within 5 km/h). This score is measured, not promised. How we measure this
Where it is
Chalais is an easy-launch thermal and soaring site about 20 minutes on foot from Chalais village, roughly 5 km east of Voreppe and 15 km northwest of Grenoble, France, with a takeoff at around 1,003 meters facing southeast to south. The launch itself is straightforward, but don't let that fool you into treating the whole site casually — the landing zone isn't visible from takeoff, and it moved some time ago to a field near the Château de Beauplan, so first-time visitors should walk down and scout it before committing to fly. Valley thermal wind here builds quickly once the sun is up and can turn strong between roughly 9:30 and 12:00, which makes this fundamentally a morning site — plan to be flying early or wait for genuinely stable conditions later on. Flying over the national road near the landing is strictly forbidden, and the landing itself is firmly not suited to beginners, so this is a site for pilots who can handle a technical approach into an unfamiliar field under building thermal conditions.
Launch & conditions
Easy takeoff at about 1,003 m facing southeast to south, about 20 minutes on foot from Chalais village (5 km east of Voreppe, 15 km NW of Grenoble).
Local rules & hazards
The landing zone moved to a field near the Château de Beauplan — scout it first for hay in the field and how the thermal wind is behaving, since that wind builds fast with the sun and can get strong between roughly 9:30 and 12:00. Fly here in the morning or in stable conditions only, and never over the national road, which is strictly off-limits. This landing is firmly not one for beginners.
Check conditions before you fly
A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Chalais, 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 Chalais with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.
Conditions right now
Live — the same sources the OutDare app uses
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Is it usually flyable? The 12-month record
In a typical 12–35 km/h wind range, Chalais offered a flyable window on 40 of 365 days (11%) over the last 12 months. Best month: February (29%).
| January23%7/31 | February29%8/28 | March0%0/31 | April3%1/30 | May0%0/31 | June0%0/30 |
| July10%3/31 | August16%5/31 | September0%0/30 | October10%3/31 | November23%7/30 | December19%6/31 |
A day counts as flyable when the surface wind held in your range, from a direction the site flies, with no rain, for at least 2 hours in a row (08:00–20:00) — from hourly 10 m wind over the last 12 months. A seasonal wind guide only: it can't judge gusts, thermals or turbulence, and never replaces the live forecast, airspace checks and your own judgement.
Is it usually flyable?
Set your wing's wind range once — the live 7-day outlook and the last 12 months both answer for Chalais.
Surface wind (10 m) in km/h — the same number you read on any forecast.
The 7-day outlook and the 12-month history below both update to your range.
7-day wind outlook
High-resolution models — the same OutDare uses.
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Over the last 12 months
11% of days flyable
40 of 365 days had a dry 2-hour+ window in your range, from a direction this site flies
Best month
Feb · 29%
Flyable days by month
A day counts as flyable when the surface wind held in your range, from a direction the site flies, with no rain, for at least 2 hours in a row (08:00–20:00) — from hourly 10 m wind over the last 12 months. A seasonal wind guide only: it can't judge gusts, thermals or turbulence, and never replaces the live forecast, airspace checks and your own judgement.
Nearby flying sites
Site facts from the OutDare flying-site database. Always verify current access and regulations with the local club before flying.