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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 P4 P4
NESW 225° SW
Current conditions
Flyability score
72
/100 · paragliding
Wind
0
mph base
Gusts
7
mph
Direction
SW
225°
Aloft
—
mph
Thermals
Calm
base ~2227ft
Temp
67°
F
Cloudbase
2,755
ft MSL
Elevation
528
ft MSL
Sunrise
5:25 AM
local
Sunset
10:39 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

Friday Caution workable 5am–10am
5a
2g8
SE
6a
3g9
SE
7a
3g10
SE
8a
3g10
SE
9a
2g9
ESE
10a
1g9
E
11a
1g10
NE
12p
1g10
NNE
1p
1g11
NNW
2p
1g11
NW
3p
2g12
NW
4p
2g13
NW
5p
2g13
NW
6p
3g13
NW
7p
2g12
NW
8p
2g10
NW
9p
1g8
WNW
10p
0g7
SW
Borderline only 5am–10am — best around 5am: 2 mph SE, gusts 8. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 9pm–10pm — smooth, light SW ~0 mph, clear evening sky, the day heated up well.
✓ 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
2g6
SSE
6a
3g7
SSE
7a
3g8
SSE
8a
2g8
SSE
9a
0g8
S
10a
1g9
NW
11a
2g10
NW
12p
2g11
NW
1p
3g13
NW
2p
3g13
NW
3p
3g14
NW
4p
4g14
NW
5p
4g15
NW
6p
4g15
NW
7p
4g15
NW
8p
3g13
NW
9p
2g12
NNW
10p
1g10
N
Flyable 5am–10am — best around 5am: 2 mph SSE, gusts 6. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Sunday Flyable flyable 5am–7am
5a
1g5
SSE
6a
2g6
SE
7a
2g7
SE
8a
1g7
SE
9a
0g7
E
10a
1g8
NNW
11a
1g9
N
12p
1g10
N
1p
2g11
N
2p
2g12
NNW
3p
2g12
NW
4p
2g12
NW
5p
2g12
NW
6p
2g11
N
7p
2g10
NNE
8p
1g9
NNE
9p
1g8
NNE
10p
0g7
SE
Flyable 5am–11am — best around 5am: 1 mph SSE, gusts 5. 3 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Monday Not flyable no window
5a
5g19
SE
6a
5g21
SE
7a
6g22
SE
8a
6g24
SE
9a
7g25
SE
10a
7g26
SE
11a
7g27
SE
12p
8g28
SE
1p
8g28
SE
2p
7g29
SE
3p
6g28
SE
4p
5g28
SE
5p
5g28
SE
6p
5g27
SE
7p
4g26
SE
8p
4g27
ESE
9p
4g27
ESE
10p
4g28
ESE
Rain in the forecast — not flyable.
Tuesday Not flyable no window
5a
6g36
ESE
6a
5g32
ESE
7a
5g29
ESE
8a
4g29
ESE
9a
4g31
ESE
10a
3g33
ESE
11a
3g34
ESE
12p
4g34
ESE
1p
4g34
ESE
2p
4g34
ESE
3p
4g35
ESE
4p
4g34
ESE
5p
4g32
ESE
6p
4g29
ESE
7p
4g27
ESE
8p
3g28
ESE
9p
3g30
SE
10p
3g30
SE
Rain in the forecast — not flyable.
Wednesday Not flyable no window
5a
3g18
SE
6a
3g16
SE
7a
3g15
SE
8a
3g17
SE
9a
3g20
SE
10a
3g21
ESE
11a
3g19
ESE
12p
4g15
ESE
1p
4g13
ESE
2p
3g15
ESE
3p
3g20
ESE
4p
2g23
ESE
5p
2g24
ESE
6p
2g24
ESE
7p
2g23
ESE
8p
2g20
SE
9p
2g16
SE
10p
2g13
SE
No usable window today.
Thursday Caution workable 5am–10am
5a
1g8
SSE
6a
1g7
SSE
7a
1g7
SE
8a
1g7
ESE
9a
1g8
E
10a
1g8
E
11a
1g9
NE
12p
1g10
N
1p
2g11
NNW
2p
2g13
NW
3p
2g14
NW
4p
1g15
WNW
5p
1g16
WNW
6p
0g16
W
7p
0g16
SE
8p
1g16
SE
9p
2g16
ESE
10p
2g16
ESE
Borderline only 5am–10am — best around 5am: 1 mph SSE, gusts 8. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
See the full 7-day & hourly forecast
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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.