Wonderwind
All sites Alaska

Knik River Butte AK

AK

Paragliding and hang gliding weather and wind forecast for Knik River Butte AK, Alaska.

61.5083°, -149.0280° Directions ↗
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Showing Paragliding. Switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: ECMWF
Rain likely — 65% chance, 0.00"/hr
NESW 0° N
Flyability score
0
/100 · paragliding
Wind
1
mph base
Gusts
9
mph
Temp
47°
F
Dew point
40°
F
Elevation
528
ft MSL
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Location

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What we look for at Knik River Butte AK

Wind direction

ESE (120°) → WSW (240°)

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

Ideal speed

8–10 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.

South-facing launch (Knik River "The Butte"). Site-guide South Launch data: ideal 8-10 mph from 120-240 deg, max usable ~12 mph base, gust spread small (~3 mph), so keep gusts under ~15. P2 recommended; conditions outside P2 limits can develop. HAZARD: strong SE winds off the Knik Glacier can pick up suddenly and overdevelop the valley/LZ. Watch for dust in the Knik valley as a warning sign - once visible, pilots have ~5 min to land before LZ winds exceed 20 mph. Glide ratio to LZ ~2.7. Launch is a flat, open, grassy south-facing area reached by a hard left off the main (steep, sandy) trail just below the final band of trees beneath the summit, following it west. Best flown in lighter morning/midday conditions before SE glacier flow strengthens.

Window data compiled from paraglidealaska.wordpress.com, arcticairwalkers.com, public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Sunday Caution workable 5pm–6pm 🌅 sunset 6:54 PM
8a
2g13
ESE
9a
3g13
ESE
10a
3g14
SE
11a
3g12
SE
12p
2g10
ESE
1p
1g9
ESE
2p
0g9
E
3p
1g9
N
4p
1g9
NNW
5p
1g8
NNW
6p
1g7
NNE
Borderline only 5pm–6pm — best around 5pm: 1 mph NNW, gusts 8. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Monday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:51 PM
8a
5g15
SE
9a
5g16
SE
10a
5g17
SE
11a
5g16
SE
12p
4g15
SE
1p
4g14
SE
2p
4g13
SE
3p
4g13
SE
4p
3g13
ESE
5p
3g13
SE
6p
3g13
SE
No usable window today.
Tuesday Caution workable 1pm–4pm 🌅 sunset 6:48 PM
8a
5g17
SE
9a
5g17
SE
10a
5g17
SE
11a
4g15
SE
12p
4g13
ESE
1p
3g11
ESE
2p
2g9
SE
3p
1g8
S
4p
1g8
SSW
5p
1g7
SW
6p
1g7
WSW
Borderline only 1pm–4pm — best around 4pm: 1 mph SSW, gusts 8. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Wednesday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:45 PM
8a
4g15
SE
9a
5g17
SE
10a
5g18
SE
11a
5g18
SE
12p
3g17
ESE
1p
3g16
ESE
2p
2g16
E
3p
2g15
ESE
4p
2g15
ESE
5p
2g15
ESE
6p
2g16
ESE
No usable window today.
Thursday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:42 PM
8a
3g22
SE
9a
3g21
SE
10a
3g20
SE
11a
3g24
SE
12p
3g28
SE
1p
3g30
SE
2p
3g26
SE
3p
3g19
SE
4p
3g14
SE
5p
2g12
SE
6p
2g12
ESE
Rain in the forecast — not flyable.
Friday Caution workable 8am 🌅 sunset 6:39 PM
8a
4g11
SE
9a
4g15
SE
10a
4g16
SE
11a
4g15
SE
12p
4g12
SE
1p
3g10
SE
2p
3g11
SE
3p
2g12
ESE
4p
2g13
ESE
5p
2g13
ESE
6p
2g13
ESE
Borderline only 8am — best around 1pm: 3 mph SE, gusts 10. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Saturday Caution workable 12pm–1pm 🌅 sunset 6:36 PM
8a
5g11
SE
9a
5g15
SE
10a
5g16
SE
11a
4g15
SE
12p
4g12
SE
1p
4g10
SE
2p
3g11
SE
3p
3g14
SE
4p
2g16
SE
5p
2g16
SE
6p
3g16
SE
Borderline only 12pm–1pm — best around 8am: 5 mph SE, gusts 11. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.

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About Knik River Butte AK

Knik River Butte AK is a paragliding and hang gliding site in Alaska. The launch faces south at 528 feet and works best in ESE to WSW wind of about 8 to 10 mph. There are 7 more Wonderwind sites within 50 miles, and the closest is Bodenburg Butte, 2 miles away. Read the site guide on paraglidealaska.wordpress.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.