If you've spent enough time flying popular alpine XC routes, you know the drill: you launch from a crowded, well-marked site, spend the first 20 minutes dodging other wings as you scratch for height, and fight for every thermal that's already been broken apart by a dozen other pilots before you. The best flights---the ones where you catch 3m/s unbroken lift, glide 10km without seeing another wing, and soar over peaks almost no one has seen from the air---don't happen at the tourist-favorite launches. They happen at the hidden, unmarked spots that require a few hours of hiking, a solid grasp of alpine navigation, and a willingness to skip the easy cable car access.
I've spent the last 6 years hunting for these remote alpine launch sites across the European Alps, and the reward is worth every extra hour of hiking. These spots don't just offer untouched thermals---they offer silence, solitude, and a connection to the mountains that you can't get when you're sharing the sky with 20 other pilots. All of the sites below are for advanced pilots only: they require solid XC skills, alpine route-finding experience, and self-rescue preparedness, as most are hours from any formal rescue service, and cell service is non-existent at almost all of them. Always check local airspace rules and NOTAMs before you fly, and never push conditions beyond your skill level.
7 Hidden Alpine Launch Sites for Untouched Flights
1. Col de la Seigne Hidden Talus Launch, Mont Blanc Massif (France/Italy Border)
Most paragliders crossing the Mont Blanc massif stick to the Chamonix or Courmayeur launches, but this tiny, unmarked talus patch sits 2800m up on the Italian side of the Col de la Seigne, 45 minutes' hike from the main tourist pass. You'll have to bushwhack off the main trail to find it, and there's no sign or marker to point you in the right direction---if you're not looking for it, you'll walk right past.
Why it's worth it: The launch faces west, so it catches afternoon sun that bakes the surrounding granite and glacial ice, creating consistent, strong thermals that rise well above 3000m almost every summer day. Because almost no one knows this launch exists, you'll almost never have to share the sky here. On my best flight from this spot, I caught a 3.2m/s thermal that took me 14km north over the Mont Blanc south face, gliding past the Tour Ronde and the Aiguille de la Vanoise without seeing a single other wing.
Pro tip: Bring a headlamp for the approach if you're hiking in early to beat the crowds at the main Col de la Seigne parking lot. The launch is only 15m wide, so wait for a lull in the wind to inflate---off-glacier winds can gust hard here with little warning. Safety note: Airspace around Mont Blanc is heavily restricted. Check NOTAMs 24 hours before you fly, and stay well clear of the glacier flight zones.
2. Piz Scerscen North Face Launch, Bernina Range (Switzerland/Italy)
The popular St. Moritz and Pontresina launches are almost always crowded with tourist pilots and tandem flights, but this tiny launch sits 2700m up the north face of Piz Scerscen, accessible only via a 1.5hr via ferrata approach from the Diavolezza cable car top station. The approach is committing, but it filters out almost all casual pilots.
Why it's worth it: The north-facing slope catches early morning sun as early as 7am in summer, even when the lower Engadin valley is still socked in with fog. The thermals here rise off the dark granite of the north face, creating smooth, consistent lift that's perfect for early morning XC flights. On a good day, you can glide 80km south over the Italian Valmalenco, or loop back north over the Morteratsch Glacier for a 60km flight without seeing another pilot.
Pro tip: Bring a full via ferrata set for the approach---there are a few exposed sections with metal cables, and a slip here would be fatal. The launch is only 10m wide, so practice your inflations in wind before you commit to bringing your full gear here. Safety note: The north face holds snow and ice well into July. Check avalanche and ice fall forecasts before you approach, and never launch if there's any sign of recent rock or ice fall.
3. Tête de la Cicle Launch, Écrins Massif (French Alps)
The Écrins are less crowded than the Mont Blanc or Chamonix areas, but almost all pilots stick to the Alpe d'Huez or Grenoble-area launches. This launch sits 2650m up in the southern Écrins, 2 hours' hike from the tiny village of La Salle les Alpes, with no marked trail after the first hour.
Why it's worth it: It's tucked between two 3000m+ peaks, so it's fully sheltered from the prevailing westerly winds that sock in all the popular northern Écrins launches. The thermals here rise off high-altitude meadows and rocky outcrops that almost no other pilots have flown, so they're strong, consistent, and rarely broken up by other traffic. I've caught 4m/s thermals here that took me straight to the Italian border, 90km away, without seeing a single other wing.
Pro tip: The launch faces east, so plan for morning flights---by 1pm, the afternoon valley winds pick up and make landing tricky in the surrounding valleys. Bring a satellite messenger: there's zero cell service in this area, and the nearest village is 3 hours' hike away. Safety note: This area is part of the Écrins National Park. You can only launch from the designated unmarked slope, and landing in protected alpine meadows is strictly prohibited.
4. Kreuzeck South Launch, Hohe Tauern (Austria)
Most XC pilots in the Hohe Tauern stick to the Zillertal or Kitzbühel launches, but this south-facing launch sits 2400m on the lower slopes of the Kreuzeck massif, 3 hours' hike from the village of Matrei in Osttirol. There's no marked trail to the launch, and the approach is fully exposed, so it's rarely visited by anyone other than local hunters and mountain goats.
Why it's worth it: It's one of the only south-facing launches in the central Hohe Tauern, so it catches sun even in shoulder season (late May and early October) when all the other Tauern launches are still buried under snow. The dark volcanic rock of the slope heats up fast in the sun, creating super strong, consistent thermals that rise well above 3500m. On a good late spring day, you can fly 120km loops over the Hohe Tauern National Park, gliding past the Grossglockner without seeing another pilot.
Pro tip: Bring extra water and sun protection---the approach has zero shade, and the sun can be brutal even in May. The launch is small and surrounded by scrub, so wait for a calm lull to inflate your wing. Safety note: This is inside Hohe Tauern National Park, so you're not allowed to land in any of the protected alpine meadows or glacial zones. Stick to the designated landing zones marked on the national park map.
5. Monte Baldo East Launch, Lake Garda (Italy)
The west side of Monte Baldo is one of the most crowded paragliding spots in the Alps, with dozens of tandem flights and tourist pilots launching from the cable car top every day. But the east launch, 1800m up the remote eastern slope, is almost completely unknown to all but local advanced pilots. It's a 1.5hr hike from the village of Ferrara di Monte Baldo, with no marked trail after the first 30 minutes.
Why it's worth it: It faces east over Lake Garda, so you get lake-effect thermals that are smooth, consistent, and rarely used by other pilots. Because everyone flies the west side, you'll almost never have to share the sky here. On a good summer day, you can glide 70km south over the lake to the western shore, or catch thermals north to the Dolomites for a 100km XC flight.
Pro tip: Launch before 10am---by early afternoon, the lake creates strong, unpredictable wind shear that makes landing on the eastern shore tricky. Check the lake wind forecast before you fly, and never launch if winds are over 15km/h from the west. Safety note: The landing zones on the eastern shore are small and surrounded by olive groves and vineyards. Make sure you have enough height to make it to the designated LZs, as emergency landings in the groves can damage your wing and put you at risk of injury.
6. Sasso di Santa Croce Launch, Northern Dolomites (Italy)
The Seiser Alm and Val Gardena launches in the Dolomites are almost always packed with pilots, but this tiny north-facing launch sits 2200m up the face of Sasso di Santa Croce, accessible only via a 1hr via ferrata approach from the village of Santa Cristina. The approach filters out almost all casual pilots, and the launch is so small that most people who find it don't even attempt to fly from it.
Why it's worth it: It's north-facing, so it's fully sheltered from the hot afternoon thermals that create brutal turbulence in the popular southern Dolomites launches. The thermals here rise off the limestone cliffs and alpine meadows, creating smooth, gentle lift that's perfect for long XC flights. On a good day, you can fly 70km loops over the Odle Group, or cross the border into Austria for a 90km flight over the Zillertal Alps.
Pro tip: Bring a via ferrata set for the approach---there are a few exposed sections with steel cables, and the trail is unmarked after the first 20 minutes. The launch is only 8m wide, so wait for a dead calm to inflate your wing, as even a light breeze can send you sliding down the steep limestone slope. Safety note: The Odle Group is a strict nature reserve, so you're not allowed to fly over the core protected area. Check the local airspace rules before you fly, as there are often temporary restrictions in place during alpine hiking season.
How to Find Your Own Hidden Alpine Launch
Once you've flown a few of these spots, you'll want to hunt for your own secret launch sites. Here's what I've learned from years of scouting:
- Skip the paragliding club guides and talk to local mountain guides instead. They know every remote talus slope and meadow in the Alps, and they're usually happy to share spots that are too remote for casual pilots.
- Use high-resolution satellite imagery to scan for flat, wind-facing slopes above 2000m that are at least 50m long, away from popular trailheads and cable car stations. Most hidden launches are old military glider sites from WWII, so look for flat patches on south or east-facing slopes that have no marked hiking trails leading to them.
- Scout in late spring or early autumn, when snow melts off lower slopes and reveals new launch spots that are buried under snow in peak summer.
- Always hike the approach first without your gear, so you know how long it takes, what the hazards are, and whether the launch is actually usable in wind.
A Note on Responsibility
These hidden spots exist because they're hard to find, and they stay untouched because only a small number of skilled, respectful pilots make the effort to get to them. If you do visit these sites, follow leave-no-trace principles: pack out all your trash, don't damage the alpine vegetation, and never post the exact GPS coordinates of a hidden launch on social media. The last thing any of us want is for these secret spots to become overrun with crowds, just like the popular launches we're trying to escape.
The best paragliding flights of my life have all started at hidden launches like these: no crowds, no broken thermals, just me, my wing, and the Alps stretching out as far as the eye can see. If you've got the skills and the willingness to put in the work, these spots will give you flights you'll never forget.