Wildkogel Startplatz 3

Wildkogel Startplatz 3 sits behind the Gerlos Pass in Austria's Pinzgau region, launching from around 2,117 m into south-facing wind. It has a reputation as an easy, welcoming site — locals describe it as flyable by pretty much anyone, and it doubles as a genuinely useful cross-country launch thanks to the wide valley below and the string of outlanding fields that make committing to a long glide feel safe rather than risky. Zell am See sits nearly 50 km away in a straight line, a distance plenty of pilots choose to cover by wing rather than by road. Even newer cross-country pilots gravitate here, drawn by dependable conditions and views toward the Großvenediger that make even a short sled run feel worthwhile. One thing to know before you go: the official landing field has been relocated to a damp meadow in the river floodplain next to the railway line, and online maps in the area haven't caught up with the change.

Launch & conditions

South-facing natural launch at about 2,117 m, east of the mountain station toward the summit — an easy, low-stress site that also works well as a cross-country start point given the wide valley below.

Getting there & local rules

The landing field was relocated to a damp meadow in the river floodplain next to the railway line — don't rely on map apps for the old location, since online maps in this area haven't been updated.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Wildkogel Startplatz 3, 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 Wildkogel Startplatz 3 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.