Brienzer Rothorn

Brienzer Rothorn is a high alpine launch above Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland, sitting at 2,340 m with a reputation among local pilots for excellent thermals, soaring and cross-country potential in a south wind. Getting there is part of the experience: most pilots ride the historic steam cog railway up from Brienz, or take the cable car from Sörenberg on the other side of the ridge. The take-off itself is steep and technical, not a place to learn the ropes — this is an experienced pilots' site. Wildlife protection is taken seriously here, so flying respectfully around the mountain matters. Airspace is genuinely complex: the site sits near the military airfield around Unterbach and Meiringen, with minimum-altitude restrictions close to the train station, and flying tends to be far more relaxed on weekends when military activity eases off. Get a full local airspace briefing before your first flight.

Launch & conditions

Steep, technical take-off near the summit — this is not a beginner launch. Best flown in a clean south wind.

Getting there & local rules

Reach launch via the historic cog railway from Brienz, or the cable car from Sörenberg on the far side.

Local rules & hazards

This is a sensitive wildlife-protection area, so fly considerately around the mountain. Airspace here is genuinely complex — minimum-altitude restrictions apply near the train station, and the site sits close to the military airfield around Unterbach/Meiringen, so flying is generally easier on weekends when military traffic eases. Get a full airspace briefing before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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