Röti (Weissenstein)

Röti is a launch above Weissenstein in the Swiss Jura, reached by a 20-minute waymarked walk from the Weissenstein cable car station rather than a long hike. The takeoff itself is fairly steep, though pilots describe it as straightforward once there's a decent wind to work with — it's the light-wind days that ask more of a pilot here than a strong one would. Wind direction matters more at Röti than the raw speed does: the site works from northwest through to northeast, but on a very weak northerly, it can actually pay off to launch from Weissenstein itself and work into the thermic cycles rather than forcing a marginal exit from the steeper Röti takeoff. Airspace is the other planning factor: Basel's controlled airspace (the 'Tango' sector) sits close enough to matter here, and the standing local guidance is to stay below 1,750 m ASL whenever there's any doubt about the boundary. Altitude tops out at 1,395 m at the launch itself, giving a reasonable buffer under that ceiling on a normal flight.

Launch & conditions

Fairly steep launch, straightforward with a decent wind — light-wind days ask more of a pilot here than strong ones do.

Getting there & local rules

A 20-minute waymarked walk from the Weissenstein cable car station.

Local rules & hazards

Basel's controlled 'Tango' airspace sector is close by — when in doubt, stay below 1,750 m ASL. In very weak northerly wind, launching from Weissenstein into the thermic cycles instead can work better than the steeper Röti takeoff.

Check conditions before you fly

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