Fröhnd Ittenschwander Horn Startplatz

Fröhnd Ittenschwander Horn is a launch point in the Hochschwarzwald, southwest of the Feldberg in Germany's Black Forest, at about 1,000 m, flying northeast, east and southeast wind. The launch has a few obstacles to watch — a ski lift, a light pole, an antenna mast and a fence — and on the shallow southeast launch pilots must confirm the farm track running underneath is clear before taking off. The northeast launch closes whenever the ski lift is running, and pilots soaring that side are told to give the wind turbine there a wide berth. Top-landing is genuinely demanding here because of the obstacles, so if clearing the large overhead power line on the way to the main Kastel landing field isn't certain, pilots divert instead to the Hof field between the ski lift and the barbecue huts. The best flying window is short: 10:30 to 11:30 in the morning. At the main landing field, parking and the shuttle stop sit 400 m south in the village — there's no parking at the field itself, and driving on the meadow, even to turn around, is banned.

Launch & conditions

Best flying window is short: 10:30 to 11:30 in the morning. Watch for a ski lift, light pole, antenna mast and fence right at the launch.

Getting there & local rules

By car from the Kastel landing field, drive uphill through Ittenschwand to the hiking car park at the barbecue hut at Tannenboden, then walk the final 250 m of altitude (about 30 minutes) — follow the initially paved path, keep right where the pavement ends, then left at the next fork.

Local rules & hazards

The launch has obstacles to watch — a ski lift, a light pole, an antenna mast and a fence — and the shallow southeast launch requires confirming the farm track below is clear before taking off. The northeast launch closes whenever the ski lift is running, and pilots soaring that side should give the nearby wind turbine a wide berth. Top-landing is genuinely demanding because of the obstacles; if clearing the large power line on the way to the main landing field isn't certain, divert to the Hof field between the ski lift and the barbecue huts instead.

Check conditions before you fly

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