Wonderwind
All sites Idaho

Pickle Butte

ID

Paragliding and hang gliding weather and wind forecast for Pickle Butte, Idaho.

43.4920°, -116.7220° Directions ↗
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Showing Paragliding. Switch wings up top ↑
Flyable
High confidence · · Run: HRRR
Good paragliding conditions P3+
NESW 314° NW
Flyability score
82
/100 · paragliding
Wind
12
mph base
Gusts
15
mph
Temp
55°
F
Dew point
25°
F
Elevation
2,995
ft MSL
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Location

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What we look for at Pickle Butte

Wind direction

NW (315°) → NE (45°)

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

Ideal speed

6–15 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.

Prominent ~550 ft butte near Nampa with three launches, flyable year-round including winter. Works on any wind from NW through N to NE; the main launch (Red Rock Rd) has hang and paraglider launches and a windsock, and the west launch covers more westerly days. Ridge-soarable in steady breeze and thermic for XC, but midday can get strong and gusty and the LZ is rocky. Easy 2WD road; private/county land, so respect the rules. Mostly P2-friendly, treat strong days as P3.

Next 7 days How calls are made

Sunday Flyable flyable 2pm–6pm 🌅 sunset 7:10 PM
7a
11g23
WNW
8a
12g26
NW
9a
12g26
WNW
10a
17g24
NW
11a
16g20
NW
12p
17g20
NW
1p
15g18
NW
2p
14g15
NW
3p
12g14
NW
4p
11g14
NW
5p
12g15
NW
6p
10g13
NW
7p
11g18
NNW
Flyable 11am–7pm — best around 6pm: 10 mph NW, gusts 13. 5 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Monday Flyable flyable 11am–6pm 🌅 sunset 7:08 PM
7a
4g7
NW
8a
5g11
NW
9a
5g14
WNW
10a
10g14
WNW
11a
11g13
NW
12p
12g14
NW
1p
11g12
NW
2p
11g12
NW
3p
12g13
NW
4p
11g12
NW
5p
10g11
NW
6p
10g12
NW
7p
6g11
NNW
Flyable 10am–7pm — best around 11am: 11 mph NW, gusts 13. 8 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
🌅 Wonder windGlass-off possible 5pm–7pm — smooth, light NW ~10 mph (a touch cross), clear evening sky, the day heated up well.
✓ Light, smooth wind– Edge of the window– Wind dying off into evening✓ Clear skies (radiative cooling)✓ Day built a thermal layer
Tuesday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 7:06 PM
7a
13g23
WNW
8a
12g23
WNW
9a
13g28
WNW
10a
18g28
NW
11a
20g27
NW
12p
21g26
NW
1p
13g27
NW
2p
13g27
NW
3p
12g26
NW
4p
11g25
NW
5p
10g23
NW
6p
9g22
NW
7p
8g19
NW
Too gusty — gusts past the 22 mph limit through the day.
Wednesday Flyable flyable 7am–10am 🌅 sunset 7:05 PM
7a
2g6
WNW
8a
2g5
NW
9a
2g5
NW
10a
3g7
NW
11a
5g11
NNW
12p
6g15
NNW
1p
8g18
NW
2p
10g21
NW
3p
11g23
NW
4p
11g23
NW
5p
10g22
NW
6p
10g21
NW
7p
9g19
WNW
Flyable 7am–11am — best around 8am: 2 mph NW, gusts 5. 4 clean hrs, the rest borderline.
Thursday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 7:03 PM
8a
1g11
NW
9a
1g12
E
10a
2g12
ESE
11a
2g11
ESE
12p
3g11
ESE
1p
4g13
ESE
2p
5g15
ESE
3p
6g16
ESE
4p
7g16
ESE
5p
8g14
SE
6p
9g13
SE
7p
8g13
SE
No usable window today.
Friday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 7:01 PM
8a
7g15
SE
9a
8g15
SE
10a
10g18
SE
11a
12g21
SE
12p
13g23
SE
1p
14g23
SE
2p
15g21
SE
3p
15g21
SE
4p
14g23
SE
5p
13g26
SE
6p
12g28
SE
7p
11g27
SE
Wind's out of the SE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.
Saturday Not flyable no window 🌅 sunset 7:00 PM
8a
4g24
SE
9a
4g21
SE
10a
4g18
SE
11a
4g14
SE
12p
3g12
SE
1p
3g12
SE
2p
3g13
SE
3p
2g14
SE
4p
2g14
SSE
5p
2g14
SSE
6p
2g13
SSE
7p
1g12
SSE
Wind's out of the SE most of the day — outside the working window, so cross/tail or rotor.

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About Pickle Butte

Pickle Butte is a paragliding and hang gliding site in Idaho. The launch faces north at 2,995 feet and works best in NW to NE wind of about 6 to 15 mph. There are 8 more Wonderwind sites within 50 miles, and the closest is Melba Ridge, 11 miles away.

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.