Liezen

Liezen is a straightforward flying mountain in the eastern Ennstal valley in Styria, Austria, launching from 1,069 m and used by both hang glider and paraglider pilots. The site earns its reputation as an easy, low-key local hill rather than a demanding thermal venue, which makes it a popular after-work or weekend option for pilots based in the Enns valley. Wind from the southeast is what the launch is set up for, so conditions outside that window are best left alone. The one detail worth planning around is the glide back to landing: on stronger wind days, the flight path passes directly over the town of Liezen on the way down, and pilots should not underestimate how much that leg can shift or shorten in gustier conditions. The landing field itself is generous and open, sitting at the southwest edge of town, so the approach is forgiving once a pilot has actually crossed the town safely.

Launch & conditions

The launch is an evenly inclined grass meadow next to a hay barn, uncomplicated to rig and walk up.

Check conditions before you fly

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