Colorado is known for its breathtaking mountain ranges, making it a paradise for hang gliding enthusiasts. The state offers several top-rated companies and incredible launch sites for both beginners and experienced gliders.
Top Hang Gliding Locations in Colorado
Crested Butte (Crested Butte, Colorado)
Crested Butte is a popular launch site with amazing views of the Rocky Mountains. It offers ideal conditions for long and scenic flights.
Dinosaur, Colorado
This site in Dinosaur, Colorado, provides vast open landscapes and excellent thermals, making it a great spot for hang gliders to soar high above the countryside.
Kenosha Pass (Jefferson, Colorado)
Kenosha Pass is well-known for its fantastic fall colors and open skies, providing excellent conditions for hang gliders looking for long and picturesque flights.
Mount Zion (Golden, Colorado)
Located near Golden, Mount Zion offers a beautiful launch site with panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and peaks, making it one of the most accessible spots for gliders in the Denver area.
Telluride, Colorado
Telluride, nestled in a box canyon, offers stunning views and challenging flight conditions, making it a must-visit spot for experienced gliders looking for an exhilarating experience.
Villa Grove, Colorado
Villa Grove is a popular spot for both paragliding and hang gliding, with great thermals and open skies that are perfect for long flights over the picturesque landscapes of southern Colorado.
Williams Peak (Heeney, Colorado)
Williams Peak offers excellent thermal conditions and stunning views, making it a prime location for hang gliding in the Heeney area.
Willow Creek (Gunnison, Colorado)
This launch site near Gunnison provides steady winds and great thermals, making it an excellent spot for both novice and experienced hang gliders.
Hang Gliding Companies in Colorado
Airtime Above Hang Gliding
Airtime Above offers lessons and tandem flights, providing a range of options for hang gliding enthusiasts in the Evergreen area.
- Website: www.airtimeabove.com
- Location: Evergreen, Colorado
Front Range Hang Gliders
Front Range Hang Gliders offers hang gliding experiences in the Fort Collins area, though no website is available.
- Location: Masonville, Colorado
Gunnison Gliders
Gunnison Gliders provides hang gliding services in the Gunnison area, though no website is available for further information.
- Location: Gunnison, Colorado
Hang Glide Colorado
Hang Glide Colorado offers tandem flights and lessons at multiple scenic locations across the state, including Byers, Golden, and Silverthorne.
- Website: www.hangglidecolorado.com
- Location: Byers, Golden, Silverthorne
Mile High Gliding Inc.
Located in Boulder, Mile High Gliding offers a variety of hang gliding experiences, including tandem flights and advanced lessons.
- Website: www.milehighgliding.com
- Location: Boulder, Colorado
Pendulum Aerosports
Pendulum Aerosports offers hang gliding and other aerial sports experiences in Salida, Colorado. Currently, there is no website available for more information.
- Location: Salida, Colorado
U.S. Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (USHPA)
The USHPA provides certification, safety guidelines, and resources for hang gliding and paragliding enthusiasts across the U.S., with its headquarters located in Colorado Springs.
- Website: www.ushpa.aero
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Safety Tips and Best Time to Visit
The best time for hang gliding in Colorado is during the summer and early fall, when the weather conditions are most favorable. Make sure to check weather forecasts, follow all safety instructions, and fly with experienced instructors.
Conclusion
With incredible launch sites such as Crested Butte and Mount Zion, combined with top-notch hang gliding companies, Colorado offers one of the best environments for soaring through the skies. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Colorado’s natural beauty and excellent thermals make it a top destination for hang gliding.
Hang Gliding in the US – Choose a State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
