Wonderwind
All sites Arizona

Box Canyon (Tucson)

AZ

Paragliding and hang gliding weather and wind forecast for Box Canyon (Tucson), Arizona.

31.8172°, -110.7870° Directions ↗
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Showing Paragliding. Switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Low confidence · · Run: HRRR
Wind SSW (194°) is outside the window — expect cross/tail or rotor
NESW 194° SSW
Flyability score
10
/100 · paragliding
Wind
27
mph base
Gusts
42
mph
Temp
65°
F
Dew point
51°
F
Elevation
6,096
ft MSL
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Location

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What we look for at Box Canyon (Tucson)

Wind direction

SW (235°) → NNE (15°)

The wind must blow from within this arc. Direction is the same for both wings.

Ideal speed

4–12 mph

Ceiling · Paragliding

≤ 19 mph base · gusts ≤ 23

Top of the range for paragliding (any rating). Switch wings up top to compare. Hang gliders hold roughly 10 mph more than paragliders.

Box Canyon is a multi-launch site on the W side of the Santa Rita Mtns, ~40 min S of Tucson; the given 6096 ft coords correspond to the Top Launch. SAHGA club guide gives explicit per-launch "Go"/"Caution" arcs (wind FROM, met deg): Lower SW launch 235-265 (caution 225-275); Lower NW launch 320-350 (caution 310-360); Lower N launch 350-15 (caution 345-25); Mid launch (5700 MSL) 265-310 (caution 255-320), requires 4WD/high-clearance; Top launch (6100 MSL) 335-350 (caution 320-360). Aggregated, the site works across a broad W-through-N arc (~235 to 15). Pilots should "really look for northwest winds" - NW is the prime direction. With NNW follow the E-W ridge S of launch; with W use the smaller ridge N of launch. Speed: 4-16 mph, ~8-10 mph ideal, MAX GUST FACTOR 5 mph over 5 sec (a hard limit - very low-gust site). HAZARD: rotor at lower launch when winds from the WEST; the due-W sector (~275-305) is a no-go at lower launch (mid launch covers W). Rocks, shrubs, cactus below each launch are hazards in weak winds. Ratings: lower launches P2; mid H3 (or H2 w/ sponsor), P3; top P3 (or P2 w/ sponsor); ridge soaring needs RS endorsement. ACCESS: current SAHGA/AZHPA + USHPA membership required, mandatory site briefing for visitors; site is hard to find/access - fly with a local guide first time. Good conditions year-round.

Window data compiled from sahga.com, public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Sunday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 5:55 PM
6a
33g56
S
7a
31g52
S
8a
30g52
S
9a
24g38
S
10a
18g34
S
11a
25g37
S
12p
22g38
S
1p
27g42
SSW
2p
28g40
S
3p
26g35
S
4p
21g37
SSW
5p
20g39
SSW
Wind's out of the S most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Monday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 5:54 PM
6a
13g22
S
7a
11g22
S
8a
17g28
SSW
9a
16g25
SSW
10a
17g26
SSW
11a
16g26
SSW
12p
16g25
SSW
1p
16g26
SSW
2p
17g25
SSW
3p
17g24
SSW
4p
17g24
SSW
5p
16g21
SSW
Wind's out of the SSW most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Tuesday Caution workable 6am–7am 🌅 sunset 5:53 PM
6a
4g11
SSW
7a
5g13
SSW
8a
6g15
SSW
9a
7g17
SSW
10a
9g21
SSW
11a
10g23
SSW
12p
11g25
SSW
1p
11g26
SSW
2p
11g26
SW
3p
10g25
SW
4p
9g23
SW
5p
7g20
SW
Borderline only 6am–7am — best around 7am: 5 mph SSW, gusts 13. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. gusty (+8 over base).
Wednesday Flyable flyable 6am–7am 🌅 sunset 5:51 PM
6a
2g6
SW
7a
2g7
WSW
8a
1g7
W
9a
1g7
W
10a
0g8
N
11a
1g9
NNE
12p
2g10
NNE
1p
4g12
N
2p
5g14
N
3p
6g15
N
4p
6g15
NNW
5p
6g15
NNW
Flyable 6am–12pm — best around 6am: 2 mph SW, gusts 6. 2 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Thursday Caution workable 6am–7am 🌅 sunset 5:50 PM
6a
3g7
S
7a
3g11
S
8a
4g13
S
9a
4g13
SSE
10a
4g12
SE
11a
5g12
ESE
12p
6g16
SE
1p
7g22
SE
2p
7g26
SE
3p
5g24
SE
4p
3g21
SE
5p
1g18
ESE
Borderline only 6am–7am — best around 10am: 4 mph SE, gusts 12. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. outside the window, light enough for a sledder.
Friday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 5:49 PM
6a
18g6
ESE
7a
17g6
SE
8a
16g10
SE
9a
18g21
SE
10a
20g36
SE
11a
21g43
ESE
12p
21g37
ESE
1p
20g24
ESE
2p
20g17
ESE
3p
20g24
ESE
4p
20g37
ESE
5p
20g45
ESE
Wind's out of the ESE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Saturday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 5:48 PM
6a
10g25
SE
7a
10g24
SE
8a
10g23
SE
9a
10g23
SE
10a
9g22
SE
11a
9g22
SE
12p
8g22
SE
1p
6g21
SE
2p
5g21
SE
3p
4g21
SSE
4p
3g20
SSE
5p
2g20
S
Wind's out of the SE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.

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About Box Canyon (Tucson)

Box Canyon (Tucson) is a paragliding and hang gliding site in Arizona. The launch faces northwest at 6,096 feet and works best in SW to NNE wind of about 4 to 12 mph. There are 3 more Wonderwind sites within 50 miles, and the closest is Mustang, 19 miles away. Read the site guide on sahga.com for rules and access before you fly.

Conditions are an automated estimate from public forecast models, not a go/no-go call. Always check the sky, talk to locals, and fly within your rating. You are responsible for your own safety.