Hornisgrinde – Katzenkopf

Hornisgrinde–Katzenkopf is a high ridge launch at 1,123 m in the northern Black Forest, reached on foot from the Mummelsee car park, with a wide view down into the Rhine valley. It only works in narrow conditions: paragliding operations are limited to wind speeds under 10 km/h, from a direction between 230° and 280°, and every pilot has to set a personal abort line before the rocky drop-off — the last point a launch can still be safely stopped. Flying here needs a B-licence and day membership with the local club, plus a site briefing, because the glide to the landing field is long, runs mostly over forest, and offers almost no emergency landing options along the way. Training flights happen only for students who already have at least 20 altitude flights of experience elsewhere, and only with an instructor stationed at both launch and landing. Cross-country flights suit experienced pilots well from here. On the glide out, don't chase thermals right to the end — head for the landing field in good time, since the distance is easy to underestimate.

Launch & conditions

Launches only in wind under 10 km/h from 230°–280°; every pilot sets a personal abort line before the rocky drop-off. Training flights need at least 20 prior altitude flights elsewhere plus an instructor at both launch and landing.

Getting there & local rules

Reached on foot from the Mummelsee car park.

Local rules & hazards

Flying here needs a B-licence, day club membership and a site briefing. The glide to the landing field is long, mostly over forest, with almost no emergency landing options — don't chase thermals to the end, head for the landing field in good time.

Check conditions before you fly

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