Hockenberg

Hockenberg is a welcoming site at 380 m in Germany for both hang glider and paraglider pilots, and it's explicitly aimed at beginners — the site is described as especially good for pilots getting their first experience flying in an unfamiliar area, with a strong focus on launch and landing training rather than long airtime. Thermal connections are rare here and soaring opportunities are limited, so don't expect a big cross-country day — treat it as a skills site. A briefing is required before you fly, and one rule is absolute rather than a guideline: launching in a south wind is completely forbidden at this site, no exceptions. With north, northeast, east, west and northwest all workable, there's a wide spread of usable directions outside that one hard no.

Local rules & hazards

Launching in a south wind is completely forbidden here — no exceptions. A briefing is required before your first flight.

Check conditions before you fly

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