⛔ This site is closed to flying. Henninger Flats was destroyed by the January 2025 Eaton Fire; Eaton Canyon / Mt Wilson Toll Road access trails are closed until Dec 31, 2027 due to fire damage. Revisit after the 2027 reopening. Details ↗
What we look for at Henninger Flats - No Safe Local LZ
Wind direction
S (180°) → WSW (247°)
The wind must blow from within this arc. Direction is the same for both wings.
Ideal speed
6–12 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.
San Gabriel front-range launch above Eaton Canyon on the Mount Wilson Toll Road near Pasadena (~2,500 ft). Faces roughly SSW over the LA basin and favors light-to-moderate anabatic flow; stronger wind off the steep range brings lee rotor. Defining hazard per the site name: no safe local LZ — you must glide well out to reach landable ground, so it's an advanced, committing site. Heavy helicopter/aircraft traffic near Mt. Wilson, and access was affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire — check current access and TFRs.
Flyable 11am–6pm — best around 6pm: 9 mph SSE, gusts 12. 4 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
MondayCautionworkable 1pm–6pm🌅 sunset 6:21 PM
6a
1g4
S
7a
1g5
NNW
8a
8g10
W
9a
6g10
NNW
10a
5g13
E
11a
4g12
ESE
12p
6g14
ESE
1p
9g15
SSE
2p
5g8
WNW
3p
6g9
NW
4p
2g8
NE
5p
3g6
NE
6p
2g5
E
Borderline only 1pm–6pm — best around 3pm: 6 mph NW, gusts 9. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. Outside the window, light enough for a sledder.
TuesdayFlyableflyable 9am–11am🌅 sunset 6:20 PM
6a
5g6
NW
7a
3g3
NW
8a
2g3
NW
9a
2g3
WSW
10a
4g4
SSW
11a
4g5
SSW
12p
2g16
WNW
1p
2g18
NNW
2p
3g19
NNW
3p
3g18
N
4p
2g16
N
5p
2g14
N
6p
2g13
N
Flyable 6am–11am — best around 11am: 4 mph SSW, gusts 5. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
WednesdayCautionworkable 3pm–5pm🌅 sunset 6:19 PM
6a
4g13
N
7a
4g13
N
8a
4g13
N
9a
3g12
N
10a
1g11
NNE
11a
1g10
S
12p
2g10
S
1p
3g11
S
2p
3g11
S
3p
2g10
S
4p
2g9
SSW
5p
1g9
SSW
6p
1g9
NNW
Borderline only 3pm–5pm — best around 12pm: 2 mph S, gusts 10. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
ThursdayNot flyableno window🌅 sunset 6:17 PM
6a
6g20
N
7a
7g19
N
8a
7g19
N
9a
7g19
NNE
10a
8g19
NNE
11a
9g19
NE
12p
10g18
NE
1p
10g17
NE
2p
11g17
NE
3p
10g17
NE
4p
9g18
NE
5p
8g20
NE
6p
8g20
NE
Wind's out of the NE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
FridayCautionworkable 2pm🌅 sunset 6:16 PM
6a
12g15
N
7a
11g14
N
8a
10g14
N
9a
10g16
N
10a
10g20
NNE
11a
9g22
NNE
12p
9g20
NNE
1p
8g15
NNE
2p
7g12
NNE
3p
5g13
NNE
4p
4g16
NE
5p
3g18
NE
6p
4g17
NNE
Borderline only 2pm — best around 2pm: 7 mph NNE, gusts 12. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. Outside the window, light enough for a sledder.
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.
