Wonderwind
All sites Arizona

Box Canyon (Tucson)

AZ
31.8172°, -110.7870° Directions ↗
Site guide ↗ ☆ Favorite

Checking for active TFRs… Verify on the FAA ↗

Showing Paragliding. Switch wings up top ↑
Not flyable
Medium confidence · · Run: HRRR
Wind SSE (152°) is outside the window — expect cross/tail or rotor
NESW 152° SSE
Flyability score
10
/100 · paragliding
Wind
10
mph base
Gusts
13
mph
Temp
62°
F
Dew point
62°
F
Elevation
6,096
ft MSL
Sign in to log whether you flew here today.

Location

Loading map…
What we look for at Box Canyon (Tucson)

Wind direction

SW (235°) → NNE (15°)

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

Ideal speed

4–12 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.

Box Canyon is a multi-launch site on the W side of the Santa Rita Mtns, ~40 min S of Tucson; the given 6096 ft coords correspond to the Top Launch. SAHGA club guide gives explicit per-launch "Go"/"Caution" arcs (wind FROM, met deg): Lower SW launch 235-265 (caution 225-275); Lower NW launch 320-350 (caution 310-360); Lower N launch 350-15 (caution 345-25); Mid launch (5700 MSL) 265-310 (caution 255-320), requires 4WD/high-clearance; Top launch (6100 MSL) 335-350 (caution 320-360). Aggregated, the site works across a broad W-through-N arc (~235 to 15). Pilots should "really look for northwest winds" - NW is the prime direction. With NNW follow the E-W ridge S of launch; with W use the smaller ridge N of launch. Speed: 4-16 mph, ~8-10 mph ideal, MAX GUST FACTOR 5 mph over 5 sec (a hard limit - very low-gust site). HAZARD: rotor at lower launch when winds from the WEST; the due-W sector (~275-305) is a no-go at lower launch (mid launch covers W). Rocks, shrubs, cactus below each launch are hazards in weak winds. Ratings: lower launches P2; mid H3 (or H2 w/ sponsor), P3; top P3 (or P2 w/ sponsor); ridge soaring needs RS endorsement. ACCESS: current SAHGA/AZHPA + USHPA membership required, mandatory site briefing for visitors; site is hard to find/access - fly with a local guide first time. Good conditions year-round.

Window data compiled from sahga.com, public site guides and club resources.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Tuesday Flyable flyable 4pm–6pm 🌅 sunset 6:28 PM
6a
7g14
SSE
7a
6g11
SSE
8a
10g13
SSE
9a
10g13
SSE
10a
12g14
SSE
11a
12g14
S
12p
12g14
S
1p
10g11
S
2p
10g11
S
3p
9g11
SSW
4p
8g12
NNW
5p
7g9
WSW
6p
10g12
WSW
Flyable 4pm–6pm — best around 4pm: 8 mph NNW, gusts 12.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 4pm–6pm — smooth, light WSW ~10 mph, some cloud, 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
Wednesday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 6:27 PM
6a
8g16
S
7a
10g24
SSE
8a
15g28
SSE
9a
13g21
SSE
10a
11g18
SSE
11a
10g17
SSE
12p
14g19
SSE
1p
18g25
SSE
2p
18g25
SSE
3p
16g20
SSE
4p
13g21
S
5p
16g25
S
6p
12g21
SSW
Wind's out of the SSE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Thursday Caution workable 4pm 🌅 sunset 6:26 PM
6a
3g9
SSW
7a
3g8
SSW
8a
3g9
SSW
9a
2g9
S
10a
2g10
SE
11a
3g11
SE
12p
2g11
ESE
1p
1g11
NE
2p
2g11
N
3p
3g11
N
4p
4g12
NNW
5p
4g11
NNW
6p
3g9
NNW
Borderline only 4pm — best around 6pm: 3 mph NNW, gusts 9. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 6pm — smooth, light NNW ~3 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
Friday Flyable flyable 6am–7am 🌅 sunset 6:24 PM
6a
1g4
SW
7a
2g5
SSW
8a
2g6
S
9a
3g7
SSE
10a
3g9
SSE
11a
3g11
SE
12p
1g11
ESE
1p
2g12
NNW
2p
4g12
NNW
3p
5g13
NNW
4p
5g13
NNW
5p
5g13
NNW
6p
4g13
NNW
Flyable 3pm–5pm — best around 6am: 1 mph SW, gusts 4. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Saturday Caution workable 6am 🌅 sunset 6:23 PM
6a
3g7
SW
7a
3g8
SSW
8a
4g9
SSW
9a
3g9
SSW
10a
2g10
SSW
11a
2g11
SSW
12p
2g11
SW
1p
3g12
SW
2p
4g13
SW
3p
4g15
WSW
4p
5g17
WSW
5p
5g19
WSW
6p
5g18
WSW
Borderline only 6am — best around 6am: 3 mph SW, gusts 7. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
Sunday Caution workable 5pm–6pm 🌅 sunset 6:22 PM
6a
4g16
WSW
7a
3g14
WSW
8a
2g13
WSW
9a
0g12
W
10a
1g12
NE
11a
2g12
NE
12p
2g14
NNE
1p
3g17
N
2p
4g18
NNW
3p
5g17
N
4p
6g15
NNE
5p
5g13
NNE
6p
4g12
NNE
Borderline only 5pm–6pm — best around 5pm: 5 mph NNE, gusts 13. All borderline — fly it with a close eye. cross / edge of the window.
Monday Caution workable 6am 🌅 sunset 6:20 PM
6a
3g9
SSW
7a
3g9
SSW
8a
3g10
S
9a
3g11
S
10a
3g12
S
11a
3g13
SSE
12p
3g14
S
1p
3g14
S
2p
3g15
SSW
3p
3g15
SSW
4p
3g16
SW
5p
3g16
SW
6p
3g15
SW
Borderline only 6am — best around 6am: 3 mph SSW, gusts 9. All borderline — fly it with a close eye.
See the full 7-day & hourly forecast
Current conditions are always free. Unlock the hour-by-hour outlook and every model with Wonderwind Pro.
Get Wonderwind Pro

Reviews

Sign in to write a review

No reviews yet. Be the first.

Send feedback about this flying site

Sign in to contribute

Thanks, it’s submitted for review

We’ll check it against the site’s sources and let you know here when the update is live.

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.