Rosengarten/ Catinaccio – Paolina (Karersee)

Rosengarten/Catinaccio – Paolina launches at 2,187 m above the Karersee (Lago di Carezza) in the Dolomites, right above the Paolina gondola station, with space for only two or three gliders at a time on uneven ground. Pilots ride the gondola up from Karersee, where parking is also available, then hike a further 15–20 minutes to reach the actual launch point above the station. The site catches wind from the south-west, west and north-west, and offers thermal, soaring, cross-country and hike-oriented flying against one of the most scenic backdrops in the Dolomites, at the foot of the Rosengarten/Catinaccio massif. Because launch space is tight — room for just two or three wings — this is not a site for a crowded morning; timing your arrival matters as much as the wind direction. The combination of gondola access, a short uphill hike and a limited but usable launch pad makes this a rewarding but somewhat exposed high-altitude flight, best approached with the terrain's unevenness and the tight take-off space in mind.

Launch & conditions

Uneven terrain above the Paolina gondola station, with space for only two or three gliders at a time.

Getting there & local rules

Gondola from Karersee (parking available there) up to Paolina, then a 15–20 minute hike to launch.

Check conditions before you fly

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