Hochgrat

Hochgrat rises to about 1,820 m above the Allgäu near Immenstadt, with roughly 1,000 m of height difference to work with and some of the most scenic flying in the area — though the site sees far less traffic today than it used to. A cable car gets pilots most of the way up, followed by a short walk of around 20 minutes to the summit launch, which needs southeast or south wind to work. The tricky part comes right after launching: pilots have to commit early to a route toward the landing, either east over the Brunnauscharte pass into the valley or west past the upper cable-car station, and either way there's a short stretch flown in lee. Cross-country flights toward Immenstadt are possible for pilots who get away cleanly. Inland landing meadows exist as a backup, but reaching them means a long walk out afterward. Two wildlife reserves opposite the launch, Prodelalm and Holzschlag, are off-limits to overflight, and the main landing beside the valley-station car park also sits somewhat in the lee.

Launch & conditions

Needs southeast or south wind at the summit launch. Decide your route immediately after launching — east via the Brunnauscharte pass, or west past the upper cable-car station — since both involve a short stretch in the lee.

Getting there & local rules

The cable car covers most of the ascent; a roughly 20-minute walk gets you the rest of the way to the summit launch.

Local rules & hazards

The Prodelalm and Holzschlag areas opposite the launch are protected wildlife reserves and must not be overflown. Expect a brief stretch in the lee on both landing routes, and note that inland landing meadows exist only as a long-walk-out backup, not a normal option.

Check conditions before you fly

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