All of the ski areas are sites that have been secured through the efforts of the Jackson Hole Paragliding Club.  The club also pays the premium on the insurance policies that cover the three sites.  As such, any paraglider pilot wishing to use the uphill facilities must possess a local club sticker as well as a current USHGA membership card.  Membership in the Jackson Hole Paragliding Club costs $25.00 a year.  Visiting pilots may buy a temporary 30 day membership for $15.00  They are also encouraged to contact the local club upon arrival for further information.  Please contact Big Wally at Jackson Hole Paragliding

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Riding the Aerial Tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has grown in popularity for Level P3 pilots. The Aerial Tram will bring you up 4,139 ft. above the valley floor to your launch site. With wind conditions of South, Southeast, and North you will be able to depart the top with a wonderful ride down to several landing sites. Before taking off please contact the Guest Service Office right by the ticket windows, or feel free to call 307.739.2626. Also, please  read the Site Rules for Paragliding and Hang Gliding at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Snow King Mountain

Ride the chair lift up Snow King Mountain to the Panorama House at 1680 ft. Just west of the Panorama House. To fly at Snow King you must be a P3 or higher rated pilot and provide proof of such in the form of an up to date USHGA membership card, as well as a local Jackson Hole Paragliding Club sticker to the ticket office at the bottom of the lift.  P2 pilots are only permitted on the lift with their gear when accompanied by a P4 rated pilot.  Make your arrangements ahead of time.

Tandem flying with friends is OK at Snow King but commercial tandem flying is not allowed as the details of a concession are currently under negotiation with the management at Snow King.   Until that is worked out...sorry.

Always make sure that you have a place to land before you launch, as the landing zones can be quite chaotic at times; such as the rodeo grounds during the Teton County Fair.

GUIDELINES ON LANDING IN THE FAIRGROUNDS.

Scotty's Ridge

Scotty's Ridge is in the Snow King Mountain Area. You may take the chair lift up and walk half a mile to a mile west of the Panorama House, or hike up the hill from Millward Street. A Level 2P pilot can launch this 1,300 ft. vertical ridge and thermal afternoon site when the winds are prevailing from the Northwest.

Haystack Butte

Between Snow King/Scottie's and Mr. Nelson's Butte is this popular evening site. This works well with a Westerly flow. You can park at the entrance to Adams Canyon and approach Haystack from the back by hiking up the canyon, or you can straight line it up the steep front side and hopefully be able to bench up without having to hike to the summit. Great glass-off soaring conditions and spectacular sunsets are the rule here. New road construction and irate landowners have made landing at the bottom of the hill difficult. Land near the Adams Canyon recycling center or in Dave Curry's backyard in Rafter J subdivision; he has cold beer on tap.

Phillips Ridge

A classic east-facing leeside thermal site which has been the launch site for many long distance flights. Sitting, as it is, out in the valley in front of the Teton Range, this site is more protected from the high elevation southwesterly winds which sometimes plagues the top of the tram. This allows for launchable conditions when the village tram is blown out. Conditions range from smooth sled rides early in the morning to a full on thermal battle zone by 1:00 P.M., which is sometimes the magic hour. As is Lake Elsinore success here is determined by whether you can launch and reach elevations high enough to take advantage of the convergence lift created when the westerly winds finally move in over the high peaks. You must launch before it blows over the back. If you can fly high-pressure thermals at Phillips and get up you'll be able to fly thermals anywhere in the world. Access is via the gravel road on the right, two thirds of the way up Teton Pass on Hwy. 22.

Grand Targhee Ski Area

This is actually a huge, mountain, flying site and as such needs to be treated with respect. There are times when its is more suitable for a sailplane than a paraglider due to the strong uplifting winds. Jon Patterson flew from here, over the Tetons and all the way to the end of Fantasy Ridge and the Green River for 69.2 miles so the XC possibilities are very real, but beware, as these are very big mountains behind launch. Also, of note is that it is very technical trying to land near the bottom of the ski hill in the middle of the day, due to the thermal turbulence coupled with the fact that you're trying to land in a hole and rotors abound. Be careful! Please check in with Guest Services, show your USHGA card and sign a release before getting on the lift. Light westerly winds are what make this place go off. Sometimes the thermals are huge. A P3 rating is essential for flying at this site.

Beaver Mountain

When it's been hot and the prevailing winds are light and westerly Beaver Mountain is the place to be for a beautiful evening session. Thermals can be strong early on and the launch is very steep, but the glass-off normally lasts until sunset. Drive up the Hoback canyon about 3 miles east off of Hoback Junction, turn right at the windmill and moose stature, cross the river and pass the Bourbon Whiskey Ranch to park near the forest access cattle guard. Follow a local pilot to find the trail to the launch. The hike is approximately 45 minutes in the shade with an elevation gain of about 900 feet. From launch you can bench up to the top of the mountain which is just under 10,000 feet or possibly thermal up to 14,000 feet or higher. The views from there are awesome with the Gros Ventre, Wind River, Teton, Snake River and Wyoming mountain ranges right in your face. Care should be taken on launch as it's rather technical, especially if the winds switch and it's a little cross from the south.

Mr. Nelson's Butte

Named after the famous ski patrolman who pioneered hang gliding in Jackson Hole, this is probably the most consistent evening flying site as it faces southwest and receives plenty of late sunshine. You'll definitely notice that on the hike up as it's steep and hot with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain and no shade. Take highway 89 south of town several miles, turn left at the South Park Service Center and park near Media Works. You'll notice how congested the LZ is there with power lines, some antennas and buildings in tight quarters. There are several other landing options available uphill of the power lines. Often the glass-off conditions are strong enough that it's possible to fly to Haystack and Little Horse Thief or even to Game creek in the magic air.

Astoria

Access here is via 4WD off of Pritchard Pass near the southern end of Fall Creek Road. You can drive to the old hang glider launch and then decide whether you need to hike up to the summit for launching or remain where you're at. This site works well with a South wind and the added flow of the Snake River Canyon. With this site's Southern aspect it will work late in the season when other sites don't heat up enough to produce good thermals. Many XC flights have taken place here. A good route might be Astoria to Munger Mountain, Munger to Game Creek, Game Creek to Jackson Peak, then onto Sleeping Indian. A shuttle driver here makes things considerably easier. Just a side note, don't try to climb the road when it's muddy, you may be sorry.

High School Butte

One of the smaller buttes in the area, it is often used for training flights for students in light wind conditions or for an Andre Bucher session if all the higher peaks are blown out. For landing you have to cross powerlines and two roads to get there. The launch area is clear and it can be flown under Southeast, South or Westerly winds. It's just a quick hike up from the middle school

Curtis Canyon

There are two different flying sites here, which are used primarily by beginning pilots, as short flights are possible most days. Winds from the West or even Northwest will bring in the heat from the Elk Refuge and soaring or thermal flights are possible in the late afternoon. From the East end of Broadway take a left on the Elk Refuge road and follow the signs toward the Curtis Canyon campground. A short hike takes you to the face above the campground or you can drive a bit further to access the training hill. Pilots should be aware that it's possible to overshoot their primary LZ as it's on a sloping hillside.

Squaw Creek

Another small butte facing the valley floor that works well in the evening. A nice place to fly when you need a change of scenery and a bit of solitude. You'll most likely be the only one flying here. It works under the same conditions as Haystack Butte predominantly with a westerly flow. The hike is relatively easy and access is off of the road to Porcupine Creek and then a small road that goes diagonally up the first steep hillside. There is private property you have to cross and land on, so respect their fences, gates, horses, etc.

Ferry Peak

This site is a long hike up above Alpine Junction and is seldom flown. However, it works well in thermal conditions supported by a South/Southwesterly flow. If you get up you can fly the Snake River Range/Palisades Wilderness Study Area and get a different perspective than most people see.

Heise Hot Springs

On the way to Idaho Falls you can launch here, thermal over the low foothills and try to use the Southwest wind to your advantage. If all of this works out possibly attempt to get back to the Tetons. Jon Hunt has landed in the town of Jackson from Heise. See if you can make it. It's a long way!

Afton

 Jon Hunt launched from the Afton hill with the star on it at 2:30 in the afternoon and flew to Togwotee Pass for 82 miles. The highest elevation gained was 19,400 feet so obviously the Star Valley produces some heating. Best conditions are probably under a South/Southwesterly flow.

Crawford Mountain

Popular drive-up hang gliding sites just North of Evanston, WY. Actually you can find it by locating Gator's Drive-In in Randolph, Utah and then catching the road that goes east across the valley about half a mile north of Gator's. It's a decent road that services some antennas on top of the mountain. It's a very good place to fly under westerly winds as the ridge is 17 miles long and the lift can be abundant.

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For further information please email Jackson Hole Paragliding

Or telephone Big Wally 307.690.3563, Tom Bartlett 307.690.4948 or Scott Harris 307.690.8726