Waltersberg

Waltersberg is a winch-launch flatland site at about 530 m open to flying in almost any wind direction, and hang glider pilots are explicitly welcome alongside paragliders. Step-towing here — where pilots are winched up in controlled stages — only runs outside military low-flying training hours, since the site sits close to the Hohenfels training area and increased military air activity is a real factor to plan around. Before towing starts, the paths leading to the tow route are secured against unauthorised access, and only the specific plots marked on the site's map may be overflown with a hooked tow rope — never past the site's own boundaries. A constant radio link between pilot and winch operator is required throughout step-towing, an altimeter is mandatory to track release height, and a minimum 150 m altitude applies at the turn back toward the field. Crop height on the tow fields matters too: with a hooked rope flying low over the ground at a shallow angle, tall crops can snag it, so towing has to account for the season's growth. The whole area falls under a species and habitat protection programme for the White Laber valley — a 50 m buffer from the forest edge is required, and the valley's actual nature reserve may not be overflown at all below 150 m AGL.

Local rules & hazards

Step-towing only runs outside military low-flying training hours, since the site sits close to the Hohenfels training area and real military air activity is a factor. Only the plots marked on the site's map may be overflown with a hooked tow rope — never past the site boundaries — with a constant radio link between pilot and winch operator, an altimeter to track release height, and a minimum 150 m altitude at the turn back toward the field. The area falls under a species and habitat protection programme: a 50 m buffer from the forest edge is required, and the valley's nature reserve may not be overflown at all below 150 m AGL.

Check conditions before you fly

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