North Boulder

The North Boulder site is located at the west end of Locust St. in the Northern end of Boulder, west of Broadway St.

Revision Jan-2023

Background

The Boulder site is used by pilots of all levels. Boluder is the primary learning site on the Front Range. Advanced XC pilots use Boulder as starting point for journeys north or south. Newer and mid-level pilots can get a good workout hiking while making multiple flights per day. On flyable days students often start flying early. Mid morning is a good time to fly for experienced pilots. Mid day conditions can be strong.

Boulder is best flown when the wind is coming from the East. South can work too. North days can be dangerous as rotor turbulence can shut down the site.

is a thermic site. Soaring flights can happen in thermal cycles from 3 to 15 mph. Each pilot needs to individually determine safe flying conditions. Click here for more information about typical thermal conditions. <

The upper launch is about 600 feet vertical.

Soaring

Generally there is one chance to catch a thermal and climb. If you do catch a thermal, you can fly to the saddle right of launch and ridge soar. If you get about 2000 feet over launch you can try to fly to Lyons which is about 10 miles to the North.

Ideal Wind Range	Max Winds
HG 3 - 12 mph	25 mph
PG 3 - 10 mph	15 mph
MW 3 - 15 mph	18 mph

Each pilot needs to individually determine his/her ideal flying conditions.

Radio Frequency

158.400 MHz DCS 23

Click here to learn more about setting up your radio for DCS.

Mobile Chat

Telegram Chat Group

Weather

Boulder is a lee side thermic site with a launch altitude of 5500 feet. In order to fly safely, pilots need to take the following weather factors into account:

Upper Level Winds
Surface Wind Direction
Thermal Strength

In general a safe flying day at Boulder consists of light winds aloft, easterly winds (NE - SE), and thermal strength safe for the pilot’s skill level.

Boulder sits on the Front Range on the lee side of the Rocky Mountains. Winds have been known to change from east to west (unsafe - over the back). In general pilots look for winds aloft to be less than 17 MPH between 10,000 and 15,000 feet.

Surface winds direction from NNE to SSE are reasonable for Boulder. North winds are potentially dangerous, especially on the North Launch.

Boulder is primarily a thermic site. Typically lift is weak in the morning and strong mid-day especially in the summer. Expect thermal generated winds on launch to range from:

Early Morning: 0 - 7 MPH
Mid Morning: 0 - 10 MPH
Mid Day 3 - 20

To be safe pilots must fly within their abilities.

Weather

Site Map

Landing Zones

Boulder Observers

Dusty Miller
Johannes Rath
Will Stites
Lex Shepherd
Marcos Rosenkjer

Click Here for more information about USHPA Observers

The RMHPA supports hang gliding and paragliding activities within the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks. All pilots must abide by the requirements and follow all of the strong encouragements as well as the City Regulations mentioned below to stay within the spirit of these guidelines and ensure our continued access to OSMP lands. Contact any of the officers of the RMHPA if you wish to record a significant deviation from these guidelines. This will help in the effort to monitor the Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks flying sites. Contact OSMP at 303-441-3440 if you wish to report an illegal activity or call 9-1-1 for an emergency. RMHPA will continue to work with the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks on future recreational-management plans concerning hang gliding and paragliding activities. These guidelines are subject to revision if any new issues arise.

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks General Site Guidelines

1. All pilots are strongly encouraged to wear a suitable helmet while ground handling. All pilots are strongly encouraged to wear a parachute except where explicitly supervised by a USHPA-rated Instructor. Pilots are strongly encouraged to have ratings equal to or greater than those shown for the sites in these guidelines.

2. All pilots are advised that City Regulations prohibit litter, such as flagging, as well as the removal of rocks or plants from their place on OSMP land. Any flagging used must be removed at the end of each flying day.

3. Pilots are strongly encouraged to consider their small incremental impact on the erosion of the land. The following OSMP Site Use Requirements will help to minimize erosion.

Do not use the sites at all when the ground is very wet or muddy
Use only designated trails to get to/from launch and landing areas, stay on the trail
Diversify your exit from landing areas to the nearest designated trail
Do not create a social trails by repeatedly using the same unofficial path to a launch area
When possible, launch from, or close to, a designated trail
Avoid travelling in or through the gullies except on existing designated trails
Shake out your gear in the LZ before going back up to launch to minimize unwanted weeds, like cheat and jointed goat grass, that hitchhike.
If a set-up or launch area is looking worn, diversify your activity to allow the area time to recover.

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Specific Site Guidelines

Guidelines for Wonderland Lakes Area

Parking in the Locust Avenue area is generally not a problem for small numbers of pilots. However, large groups are encouraged to carpool in from the Foothills Nature Center Trailhead at 4201 North Broadway, Boulder.

The Wonderland Lake upper, three-quarter and half-way, or bench, launches are H2/P2 or Supervised H1/P1.

Follow the OSMP site use requirements listed above.

NOTE: Scott Westfall's property is considered Private. Please do not Trespass. Launching from there is by invitation only.

Guidelines for the South Wonderland Lake Launch

This is a drop-off-only launch area. Please do not park on Pine Needle Road or North Cedar Brook Road. Pilots accessing the launch from the west side of the ridge are required to be dropped off with their gear at the pull-out/turnaround area of Pine Needle Road (see map), while the driver returns to the Foothills Nature Center or Locust Avenue parking areas. Illegal parking on Pine Needle Road is enforced by the Boulder County Sheriff and Open Space and Mountain Parks Rangers.

Please review the Pine Needle Road Access guidelines

Please respect the privacy of property owners. Do not drive beyond the pull-out area, as there are no other places to turn around. Do not turn around in private driveways.

This launch area is H2/P2 or Supervised H1/P1.

Follow the OSMP site use requirements listed above.

Miniwings

Excellent training area, reliable sledders, also possible to soar these sites, allow adequate separation from terrain, smallest recommended wing to make LZ: 12m.

Miniwing Rating: P2/M1

Upper Launch Glide Ratio: 4:1

South Launch Glide Ratio: 6:1

Documents

RMHPA Emergency Procedures