Best Paragliding Spots in Innsbruck! Float Through Mountains and Take an Aerial Selfie

The best Paragliding spots around Innsbruck/Tyrol. Find out where to fly as a beginner, which location to choose as an advanced frequent flyer, and what to look out for photography-wise.

After hiking, skiing, and mountain biking in Innsbruck, the capital Tyrol (Austria), let’s move on to activity with the least amount of friction, and arguably the most amount of adrenaline. Feel like a bird for once and soar through the air – paragliding will sweep you off your feet. Find out where to fly as a beginner, which location to choose as an advanced frequent flyer, and what to look out for photography-wise. Join Mountain Moments on this incredible adventure.

If there are mountains all around, which not only offer exciting views, but also hold plenty of thermals and excitement, then flight artists are happy. 

With its steep mountain slopes and gentle alpine meadows, flying in the Inn Valley and Tyrol is an extraordinary experience. In one day, you can easily reach different mountain regions and are thus relatively independent of the weather and also have many starting points easily accessible by mountain railroads to choose from. The good public transport connections make the coveted cross-country flights over further distances along and over mountain ranges an easy organizational exercise.

Due to the high entry hurdle and special dangers, beginners are well-advised to be introduced to the matter in a tandem flight or pursue their own first wing beats under the expert guidance

Stubaital – Elferlifte

At the Elfer, flying is suitable for beginners. The start is unproblematic and the winds are easy to calculate. The flatter upper part allows short glides and practice flights. The high mountain ranges around keep bad weather away and often provide pleasant flying conditions.

Takeoff point is directly above the mountain station. Student pilots take off below the trail. Get a free instruction card before your first flight. The area is suitable for flying all year round. In winter there is a lot of flying activity, good thermals are often found in late winter and spring.

The landing point is the meadow northeast of the parking lot and the lift station.

Seefeld – Härmelekopf 

An exciting flying area for advanced paragliders is Seefeld in Tyrol with good thermal conditions. The launch site is right next to the Härmelekopf mountain station a flat launch meadow lined with mats for a maximum of three gliders. The takeoff abort possibilities are only average, therefore this flying area is not suitable for beginners. When the wind is from the west, flying conditions are usually good. Generally watch out for the Inntal wind. The best time is in spring and summer.

The landing area is located next to the golf course in Seefeld (marked by flags, about 20 min walk to the valley station). In case of an outside landing in the area of the golf course, please leave this area immediately and fold the glider on the landing area. Caution: Power line parallel to the main road must be flown over.

Other busy flying spots: Nordkette, Schlick, Achensee

Photo tips that will make your Instagram pop – unlikely selfie with an ultra-wide-angle lens

During as well as shortly before and after takeoff just before landing the paragliders are in relative proximity, so you can shoot exciting photos. Here you have to be quick. As a flyer yourself, the selfie perspective with an ultra-wide angle and your own feet is exciting.

Mountain Moments Photo Workshops provide Photo Tours for everybody, Alpine Experience for beginners and intermediate-level photographers with 3 to 6-hour routes, as well as Summit Experience for more advanced photographers and hikers. We have private workshops and group classes.

More information about your aerial adventure in Innsbruck  

Getting there: 

How to get there by public transportation: 

Rosshütte/Seefeld: By train to Seefeld, continue by bus or walk a few hundred meters to the Rosshütte Bergbahn valley station. 

Elferlifte/Stubai: By bus 590 from Innsbruck main station to the stop Neustift Abzw. Elferlifte. Walk about 150 meters to the Elferlifte valley station.

Best time: May-Oct

Elferlifte

Starting point: mountain station Elferlifte, 47.098515,11.324088

Landing point: Meadow next to Elferlifte valley station, 47.112393,11.314979

Rosshütte

Starting point: mountain station Härmelekopfbahn/Rosshütte, 47.098515,11.324088

Landing point: Seefeld golf course (east of it), 47.324883,11.195535

Tips: Information e.g. at the Innsbruck Paragliding Association Weather data at www.zamg.at www.innsbruckergleitschirmfliegerverein.org, https://lawinen.report/ (official weather data well prepared) www.elfer.at 

Note: The related sports of base jumping and wing suit flying are prohibited by law, but are still practiced near Innsbruck. 

Special dangers: 

Attention: Beginners should (or must by law) learn the first flight prohibitions under expert guidance. A pilot’s license or a completed flight course is a prerequisite for independent flying. Danger to life!

Attention: Every pilot must inform himself about the flight legal conditions and should inform himself about weather developments before starting a flight! Pay attention to the classic weather conditions in the Alps. Especially in case of Föhn, there is danger to life.

Attention: Near airports! Flight control zones (Innsbruck airspace) and take-off site restrictions, wind and weather conditions must be observed! Most of the flight areas are located near or at the edge of the CTR Innsbruck.

The best Summer Adventures in and around Innsbruck – Hiking, Mountainbiking, Trekking, Climbing and more

Fancy more Summer Adventures in Tyrol and around Innsbruck? We got you covered! The best outdoor sports activities for Summer Enthusiasts as eBook: Innsbruck Summer Outdoor Guide.

Here we have compiled the most beautiful locations and photo opportunities. 30 activities with numerous photo spots are selected and described in such a way that you can easily experience these wonderful adventures around Innsbruck for yourself – including track infos, and maps and all other information that you need.

You can take a closer look at the Innsbruck travel guide ebook here – why not share it with your adventure partner?