Wenholthausen

Wenholthausen is a well-regarded launch at about 571 m facing south to southwest, with a launch area that grew significantly larger after storm Kyrill cleared trees back in 2007; access is by group transport only, with parking limited to designated areas and top-landing allowed. This south/southwest launch sits in a forest clearing and only operates in wind from 190° to 230°; paraglider launches need specific permission and a briefing from the site's DHV-appointed airspace supervisor first, covering local hazards including the minimum glide angle needed to clear the terrain, and training flights aren't permitted. Access to the launch and landing areas follows a long-standing usage agreement with the local land-consolidation authority, and vehicles have to stay on paved paths under the surrounding landscape-protection rules. A second, west-facing launch that once operated here — usable only from 15 August to 31 October each year for species-protection reasons, in a proper headwind, and reachable only on foot via existing timber tracks — has been closed since the landowner withdrew permission in October 2019, so the south/southwest launch is now the site's only active takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

The active south/southwest launch sits in a forest clearing and only operates in wind from 190° to 230°; paraglider launches need specific permission and a briefing from the site's DHV-appointed airspace supervisor, covering local hazards including the minimum glide angle needed to clear the terrain below, and training flights aren't permitted. A separate west-facing launch that once operated here, usable only from 15 August to 31 October in a proper headwind, has been closed since the landowner withdrew permission in October 2019 — it's no longer usable.

Check conditions before you fly

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