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Alabama Hills

CA
36.6608°, -118.1300° Directions ↗
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Showing Paragliding. Switch wings up top ↑
Flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: HRRR
Good paragliding conditions P3+
NESW 335° NNW
Flyability score
82
/100 · paragliding
Wind
7
mph base
Gusts
12
mph
Temp
60°
F
Dew point
23°
F
Elevation
5,194
ft MSL
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Location

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What we look for at Alabama Hills

Wind direction

NNW (340°) → NNE (20°)

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

Ideal speed

6–14 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.

North-facing launch above the Alabama Hills (~5,200 ft) in the Owens Valley — an unregulated but very serious site with some of the strongest lift anywhere, for experienced pilots only. Ridge-soar the north face in N wind (ideal ~340-020) until a thermal cycles through, then climb out and head south for XC. The north wind usually switches on around 9:30-10am in summer; keep base wind moderate and watch for fast-building valley wind and lee rotor. Rough 4x4 road that eats tires; H3 recommended. Spring and fall are best for recreational thermal flying.

Window data compiled from bhgc.org, public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Tuesday Flyable flyable 7am–10am 🌅 sunset 6:59 PM
6a
9g18
NNW
7a
9g13
NNW
8a
7g12
NNW
9a
10g12
NNW
10a
6g10
NNW
11a
7g13
SSE
12p
9g15
SSE
1p
15g21
SE
2p
26g32
SSE
3p
28g38
SSE
4p
28g38
SSE
5p
26g37
SSE
6p
25g38
SSE
Flyable 7am–10am — best around 10am: 6 mph NNW, gusts 10.
Wednesday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:58 PM
6a
14g19
S
7a
16g20
S
8a
15g17
S
9a
11g14
S
10a
8g14
S
11a
12g16
SSE
12p
18g23
SSE
1p
24g31
SSE
2p
28g38
SSE
3p
30g40
SSE
4p
30g42
S
5p
29g41
SSE
6p
26g40
SSE
Wind's out of the SSE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Thursday Caution workable 6am–7am 🌅 sunset 6:56 PM
6a
1g9
SW
7a
1g8
SW
8a
0g9
SW
9a
1g12
E
10a
3g17
E
11a
4g21
E
12p
5g25
E
1p
6g28
E
2p
7g30
E
3p
7g32
E
4p
6g33
ESE
5p
5g32
ESE
6p
4g27
ESE
Borderline only 6am–7am — best around 6am: 1 mph SW, gusts 9. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Friday Caution workable 6am–8am 🌅 sunset 6:55 PM
6a
1g7
WNW
7a
1g7
NW
8a
1g8
NW
9a
2g10
NNE
10a
3g13
NE
11a
4g16
ENE
12p
4g17
ENE
1p
4g18
ENE
2p
3g19
E
3p
3g19
E
4p
2g19
ENE
5p
2g18
ENE
6p
2g18
ENE
Borderline only 6am–8am — best around 6am: 1 mph WNW, gusts 7. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Saturday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:53 PM
6a
1g12
WNW
7a
2g12
WNW
8a
2g12
WNW
9a
1g12
NW
10a
1g11
N
11a
1g12
NNE
12p
1g12
NE
1p
1g13
NE
2p
1g14
ENE
3p
1g15
E
4p
1g15
ESE
5p
1g16
SE
6p
1g16
SE
No usable window today.
Sunday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:52 PM
6a
1g9
WNW
7a
1g10
WNW
8a
1g10
NW
9a
1g11
NNW
10a
1g11
N
11a
1g12
NNE
12p
2g12
ENE
1p
4g13
ENE
2p
4g14
E
3p
3g18
E
4p
2g23
ESE
5p
1g26
SSE
6p
1g27
S
No usable window today.
Monday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:50 PM
6a
1g11
NW
7a
1g12
NNW
8a
1g13
NNE
9a
1g14
NNE
10a
2g15
NE
11a
2g16
NE
12p
2g17
NE
1p
2g18
NNE
2p
2g18
N
3p
2g19
NNW
4p
2g19
NW
5p
2g19
NW
6p
2g19
WNW
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.