Rosengarten/ Catinaccio – Kölnerhütte

Rosengarten/Catinaccio's Kölnerhütte launch sits right below the gondola station in the heart of the Dolomites, with a steep take-off that demands respect but rewards with genuine alpine thermic and soaring flying, plus solid cross-country potential. Access is by cable car from Tiers/St. Cyprian and/or gondola from Frommeralm — worth planning ahead, since a single ride up from St. Cyprian runs about 24 EUR, and the ride back down costs the same again if you end up not flying, so a day ticket at around 36 EUR for unlimited rides can be the smarter buy if conditions look uncertain (2024 prices). Two landing options exist: Frommeralm, where gondola cables overhead need real attention, and St. Cyprian in Tiers, where the field slopes gently — in calm wind you need to land across the slope rather than straight down it, or risk overshooting. Fold your wing up on the path cutting through the landing field, not out on the meadow.

Launch & conditions

Launch sits just below the gondola station — a steep take-off that demands respect.

Getting there & local rules

By cable car from Tiers/St. Cyprian and/or gondola from Frommeralm; a single ride up from St. Cyprian costs about 24 EUR, and the trip back down costs the same again if you don't fly, so a roughly 36 EUR day ticket for unlimited rides can be worth it if conditions look uncertain (2024 prices).

Local rules & hazards

At the Frommeralm landing, watch for gondola cables overhead. At St. Cyprian, the landing field slopes gently — in calm wind, land across the slope rather than straight down it, or you'll overshoot; pack up your wing on the path that cuts through the field, not on the meadow itself.

Check conditions before you fly

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