Flying Sites

The following is a list and description of the most popular paragliding flying sites in the Salt Lake Valley and in Utah Valley. Please keep in mind, that all of these sites can be dangerous and even life threatening if flying is attempted in unfavorable conditions. All of these mountain sites should only be initially flown after in-depth consultation or with expert guidance of someone who is very familiar with each of the sites.

Ken Hudonjorgensen, a master-rated pilot, holds the best official safety record in the US and has pioneered many of the paragliding sites in the Salt Lake Valley and in Utah Valley, as well as many others sites throughout Utah. His knowledge is vast of not only these specific sites listed, but of other flying locations far and wide. Ken offers custom-mountain flying tours, guide services of all types, and all levels of paragliding instruction. If you have any further questions about any of these flying sites or paragliding in general, don’t hesitate to contact Ken. He’d feel privileged to try and help you out, in any way that he possibly could.

Most pilots think first of the Point of the Mountain when they think of Utah and in terms of foot launched aviation. Point of the Mountain is widely recognized as the top paragliding training site in the United States and is a great location for gathering experience for novice and intermediate level pilots, although even experts always enjoy its predictable and consistent conditions. Point of the Mountain is not just one flying site, but two: The North Side and The South Side.

The North Side
Location: Draper, UT
Altitude: 5300’
Vertical: 900’ from the top to the bench. 300’ from the bench to the bottom. 1200’ total vertical.

The South Side
Locaton: Draper, UT
Altitude: 5300’
Vertical: 300’

Directions to the North Side:
The Point is 20 miles south of downtown Salt lake City, UT.

1. Access from I-15 between Salt Lake City and Provo, UT.
2. Take exit 288, Draper/Bluffdale (prison exit).
3. If you are southbound on I-15 take an immediate left and go under the Interstate.
4. If you are northbound on I-15 take an immediate right.
5. You are now eastbound on Highland Drive.
6. Go straight through the four way stop at Minuteman Drive.
7. Go .75 mile and take your first right on Traverse Ridge Rd.
8. Take a Right on Manila Drive.
9. Take another right on Steep Mountain Drive.
10. Steep Mountain Drive travels uphill and winds to the right through a neighborhood on the North Side Bench.
11. Go 1.4 miles on Steep Mountain Drive until you reach the flight park.

Directions to the South Side:
The Point is 20 miles south of downtown Salt lake City, UT.

1. Access from I-15 between Salt Lake City and Provo, UT.
2. Take exit 288, Draper/Bluffdale (prison exit).
3. If you are southbound on I-15 take an immediate left and go under the Interstate.
4. If you are northbound on I-15 take an immediate right.
5. You are now eastbound on Highland Drive.
6. Turn right at stop onto Minuteman Drive (or may be called Frontage Rd). This road runs parallel with the freeway going southbound.
7. You will pass the Geneva Rock entrance.
8. Go approximately 2.7 miles, and when the road veers sharply 90 degrees to the east, turn left off of Minuteman Drive (or Frontage Road) into a truck loading area at the base of the hill.
9. Follow the gravel road along the base of that hill until the road becomes paved, and then drive up the hill. At the top, turn left onto a gravel road that heads west out onto the top of the hill until you reach a parking lot and the launch area.

Location: Above Orem, UT -1 hour south of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 6700’
Vertical: 1800’
This site is the most popular after the Point of the Mountain. There is a paved road to launch. Good cross-country potential and very consistent thermalling conditions. A favorite of newer thermalling and cross-country pilots. Climbs to 15,500’ on the best of days. Can turn into a very advanced site. The site’s LZ can only be used when school is not in session. It is very important that all pilots understand this and comply with this rule. No landings within the school grounds are allowed during school hours!

Location: W/NW of Milford, Utah- 4 hours south of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 9600’
Vertical: 4000’
Easily the “biggest air” site in Utah currently used for paragliding. Climbs to 18,000’(+) if you’re not careful! Excellent cross-country potential! Take a tarp along for launching.

Location: Above Springville, Utah-2 hours from Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 7800’
Vertical: 3500’
“Gnarly” dirt road!  Some cross-country potential. Good for newer mountain flying and thermalling pilots.

Location: 10 minutes E/SE of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 5600’
Vertical: 400’
Excellent beginner to advanced thermal and cross-country site for pilots with any rating. Must have very good tight landing skills.  13-mile cross-country flights to the “Point” are done almost daily in the summer.

Location: Grandeur Peak is the mountain north of Olympus, south of I-80.
Altitude: 5900’
Vertical: 1000’
This is a 30-minute “walk up” site near Olympus and has a good LZ. This site appears to offer many great flights for pilots. People have flown to the Point of the Mountain from here. This site’s LZ can only be used when school is not in session. It is very important that all pilots understand this and comply with this rule. No landings within the school grounds are allowed during school hours!

Location: Randolph, Utah-2 ½ hours north east of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 8000’
Vertical: 1800’
Excellent beginner to advanced site for pilots with any rating. Good cross-country potential. This site is excellent for ridge soaring and offers plenty of choices for landing zones.

Location: Bountiful, Utah-1 hour from Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 6200’
Vertical: 1900’
Good beginner mountain flying and thermalling site. Long glide to the landing zone, but there is an alternate LZ at the base of the mountain. Don’t climb above the mountain peaks (commercial air traffic).

Location: 1½ hours south of Salt Lake City on south edge of Utah Lake.
Altitude: 6900’
Vertical: 2300’
This site requires some caution, but can be good for new mountain flying pilots. The LZ is huge!  Good to great thermalling possibilities, but poor cross-country potential. Turbulent air problems can be associated with higher winds or stronger thermal conditions. There is also a north-facing launch on the other side of the mountain that looks down on Utah Lake.

Location: Above Midway, Utah -1½ hours east of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 8600’
Vertical: 3000’
Excellent cross-country potential. Advanced pilots only. Climbs to 17,000’ on the best of days. Launch slope quite shallow. Strong thermal activity is possible at times, and may require advanced piloting skills.

Location: Hurricane, UT-6 hours south of Salt Lake City.
Altitude: 7300’
Vertical: 900’
Some cross-country potential.  Definitely a desert environment! With great care, this could be a good site for new thermalling and cross-country pilots.  Take along a tarp for launch.