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Knik River Butte AK

AK
61.5083°, -149.0280° Directions ↗
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Showing Paragliding — switch wings up top ↑
Flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: ECMWF
Flyable but demanding — needs P5 P5
NESW 0° N
Current conditions
Flyability score
66
/100 · paragliding
Wind
1
mph base
Gusts
9
mph
Direction
N
360°
Aloft
—
mph
Thermals
Calm
base ~3068ft
Temp
67°
F
Cloudbase
3,596
ft MSL
Elevation
528
ft MSL
Sunrise
5:22 AM
local
Sunset
10:42 PM
local
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Where it is

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Flyable Caution / slim window Not flyable
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

Thursday Flyable flyable 5am–8am
5a
1g5
SE
6a
2g5
SE
7a
2g5
SE
8a
1g6
ESE
9a
1g7
NE
10a
2g9
N
11a
2g10
NNW
12p
3g12
NNW
1p
3g14
NW
2p
4g15
NW
3p
4g15
NW
4p
4g15
NW
5p
4g14
NW
6p
3g14
NW
7p
3g13
NW
8p
2g11
NNW
9p
1g9
N
10p
1g7
ENE
Flyable 5am–10am — best around 5am: 1 mph SE, gusts 5. 4 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 10pm — smooth, light ENE ~1 mph, clear evening sky, weak daytime heating.
– Light, smooth wind✓ Straight in the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)– Day built a thermal layer
Friday Slim window flyable 10pm
5a
2g7
SE
6a
2g8
SE
7a
3g8
SE
8a
2g8
SE
9a
2g9
SE
10a
1g9
E
11a
1g10
ENE
12p
1g10
N
1p
1g11
NNW
2p
2g12
NNW
3p
2g12
NNW
4p
2g13
NNW
5p
2g13
NNW
6p
2g13
NW
7p
2g12
NW
8p
2g10
NW
9p
1g7
NNW
10p
0g5
E
Flyable 5am–10am — best around 10pm: 0 mph E, gusts 5. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 9pm–10pm — smooth, light E ~0 mph, clear evening sky, weak daytime heating.
✓ Light, smooth wind✓ Straight in the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)– Day built a thermal layer
Saturday Flyable flyable 5am–7am
5a
1g5
SE
6a
2g6
SE
7a
2g6
SE
8a
1g7
SE
9a
0g8
E
10a
1g9
NNW
11a
2g10
NW
12p
2g12
NW
1p
3g13
NW
2p
3g14
NW
3p
4g14
NW
4p
4g15
NW
5p
4g15
NW
6p
4g15
NW
7p
4g15
WNW
8p
3g14
NW
9p
2g11
NNW
10p
1g9
NNE
Flyable 5am–10am — best around 5am: 1 mph SE, gusts 5. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Sunday Slim window flyable 5am
5a
1g6
SE
6a
2g8
SE
7a
2g9
SE
8a
1g9
SE
9a
0g9
S
10a
1g9
NW
11a
1g9
NW
12p
2g10
NW
1p
2g11
NW
2p
2g11
NW
3p
2g12
NW
4p
2g12
NW
5p
1g11
NNW
6p
1g11
NNE
7p
2g10
NE
8p
1g9
E
9p
1g8
SE
10p
1g7
S
Flyable 5am–8am — best around 5am: 1 mph SE, gusts 6. 1 clean hr, the rest borderline.
Monday Flyable flyable 7am–12pm
5a
5g15
SE
6a
5g11
SE
7a
5g8
SE
8a
6g8
SE
9a
6g9
SE
10a
6g9
SE
11a
6g10
SE
12p
6g11
SE
1p
6g12
SE
2p
6g13
SE
3p
6g14
SE
4p
6g15
SE
5p
6g14
SE
6p
6g14
SE
7p
6g15
ESE
8p
5g18
ESE
9p
5g22
SE
10p
5g24
ESE
Flyable 6am–2pm — best around 7am: 5 mph SE, gusts 8. 6 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Tuesday Not flyable no window
5a
5g28
ESE
6a
5g28
ESE
7a
4g29
ESE
8a
5g30
ESE
9a
5g32
ESE
10a
6g33
ESE
11a
6g34
ESE
12p
7g34
ESE
1p
7g34
ESE
2p
7g34
ESE
3p
6g35
ESE
4p
5g34
ESE
5p
5g32
ESE
6p
4g29
ESE
7p
3g27
ESE
8p
3g28
ESE
9p
3g30
SE
10p
3g30
SE
Rain in the forecast — not flyable.
Wednesday Not flyable no window
5a
2g18
SSE
6a
2g16
SSE
7a
1g15
SSE
8a
1g17
SE
9a
1g20
NE
10a
1g21
NE
11a
2g19
E
12p
3g15
ESE
1p
4g13
ESE
2p
5g15
SE
3p
5g20
SE
4p
5g23
SE
5p
5g24
SE
6p
4g24
SE
7p
4g23
SE
8p
3g23
SE
9p
2g22
SE
10p
2g22
SE
No usable window today.
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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.