Criesbach Startplatz 1

Criesbach Startplatz 1 is a southeast to southwest-facing paragliding launch in Germany at around 350 m, run under an arrangement rather than open access: flying here is only possible with prior agreement from the site's landholder, so this isn't a drop-in local hill. Both launching and landing depend on the state of the vegetation on the fields in use — if the crops or grass are too high or the timing is wrong for the farmer, flights simply aren't possible that day, whatever the wind looks like. The site also sits close to Ingelfingen-Bühlhof airfield (EDGI), and flight operations here are governed by a formal 2020 agreement between the landholder and that airfield's operator, meaning paragliders share this airspace with powered traffic under agreed rules rather than by informal courtesy. Given the access conditions, this is a site to fly through an established local contact rather than show up at cold — check current status before planning a session.

Local rules & hazards

Flying is only possible with prior arrangement from the site's landholder, and depends on the field vegetation allowing safe use for both launch and landing. The site's flight operations are governed by a formal 2020 agreement with the operator of the nearby Ingelfingen-Bühlhof airfield (EDGI), since paragliders share airspace with that field's powered traffic.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Criesbach Startplatz 1, 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 Criesbach Startplatz 1 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.