Empire Bluff
MIParagliding and hang gliding weather and wind forecast for Empire Bluff, Michigan.
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Location
What we look for at Empire Bluff
Wind direction
WSW (250°) → WNW (290°)
The wind must blow from within this arc. Direction is the same for both wings.
Ideal speed
10–18 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.
About a 400-ft west-facing bluff over Lake Michigan in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, flown as a coastal ridge site in onshore westerly flow. Cool lake air keeps the bluff windy and colder than the parking lot; best soaring is early autumn. Landing on the beach below is a commitment — you cannot climb back up, so exit north to Empire Beach or south to Esch Road. P2+/H3+, plus an NPS special-use permit and registration at the Empire ranger station; max 5 gliders at a time and do not climb the bluff face.
Window data compiled from glidemichigan.com, nps.gov, public site guides and club resources.
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Sign in to contributeAbout Empire Bluff
Empire Bluff is a paragliding and hang gliding site in Michigan. The launch faces west at 974 feet and works best in WSW to WNW wind of about 10 to 18 mph. The closest other site we cover is Greenpoint Frankfort, 16 miles away. Read the site guide on glidemichigan.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.