Bannholz

Bannholz is a paragliding launch in Germany that is not open to visiting pilots — flying here is restricted to club members. The site has a genuinely tricky takeoff, which is why local rules require every pilot, member or not, to complete a hazard and terrain briefing from the site operator before flying. The takeoff sits beside forest on its left side, and pilots need to watch for lee effects generated by the tree line as the wind curls around it — a common trap at forest-edge launches that catches pilots who assume the wind reads the same as it does in the open. At 285 m, Bannholz sits low compared with many alpine sites, with a west-facing orientation. The landing is at Bannholz Landeplatz. Because access is member-only and the terrain has real hazards, this is not a site to try without local introduction — treat this listing as reference rather than an invitation to fly if you are not already part of the resident club.

Launch & conditions

The takeoff has forest immediately to its left; watch for lee effects as the wind curls around the tree line.

Getting there & local rules

Bannholz is closed to visiting pilots; flying is restricted to briefed club members only.

Local rules & hazards

The launch is considered tricky, and every pilot — member or guest — must complete a hazard and terrain briefing from the site operator before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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