Hochzeiger Startplatz 1

Hochzeiger is a high-altitude flying area in Austria's Pitztal valley, with launches close to 2,434 m near the top station of the chairlift. Take-offs face east and west and the terrain allows launching in almost any wind direction, and the site flies through both summer and winter. The main landing field sits in Wenns behind the local leisure centre — large enough to work with, but its gentle slope makes the touchdown trickier than it looks, with little room to bail out if the approach doesn't line up. High-voltage power lines cross the valley close to the field, and a house, a small church and an outdoor pool all sit nearby. This landing field is available only in winter and can be withdrawn at any time; outside that season, or as a backup, any other landing area needs the landowner's permission arranged in advance, including a flat riverside meadow near a local campsite. From the winter field it's a three-minute walk to a bus stop with an hourly service to the valley station.

Launch & conditions

Launches face east and west near the top chairlift station, with the terrain allowing take-off in almost any wind direction; the site flies in both summer and winter.

Getting there & local rules

An hourly bus from the valley station stops three minutes' walk from the winter landing field.

Local rules & hazards

The main landing field, in Wenns behind the leisure centre, is available only in winter and can be withdrawn at any time — its gentle slope makes the touchdown trickier than it looks, with little room to bail out and high-voltage power lines crossing the valley close by. Any other landing area, including a riverside meadow near a local campsite, needs the landowner's permission arranged in advance.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Hochzeiger Startplatz 1, 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 Hochzeiger Startplatz 1 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.