South Mountain Park is the largest municipal park in the world. It consists of a range of mountains thirteen miles long across the southern part of Phoenix, Arizona. Hang Gliding has been a recognized sporting activity in the park since the early 1980's.

The Arizona Hang Glider Association and the Parks, Recreation and Library Department have agreed to a set of guidelines for flight operations in the Park. The Master Plan for South Mountain Park, adopted by the City Council confirmed hang gliding as an appropriate use of the park and specified areas for launching and landing hang gliders. As the sport of hang gliding has grown the variety of hang glider types has grown as well. Now known as unpowered ultralights hang glider types include flex wings, rigid wings, paragliders, and ultralight balloons.

The City of Phoenix Parks, Recreation and Library Department has given permission for people to fly from designated launches in South Mountain Park under the following conditions.

1. All pilots must be current members of the Arizona Hang Glider Association (AHGA).
2. All pilots must be current members of the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA).
3. All pilots must sign in at the main entrance on Central Avenue prior to flying.

Description

Location: South Phoenix
Usage: HPRF (Hang Gliding, Paragliding, Rigid Wing, Foot-launch)
Season: Flown all year.
Requirements: H3, H2 sponsored, P2. Must sign in at park entrance and show valid USHGA and AHGA IDs.
Records: 137 miles, South Launch to Tumacacori, AZ.
Affiliation: Arizona Hang Glider Association.
Radio info: USHGA standard business band frequencies. Local weather info on 162.550 MHz.
Land ownership: City of Phoenix Municipal Park.
Other use: Heavily used by general public for sightseeing, horseback riding, hiking, bicycling and more. Can be considerably crowded during special events and on weekends.
Emergency: Several hospitals near park.
Maintenance: Arizona Hang Glider Association.

Launching

South Launch: Faces 180 degrees at 2625' MSL, PG and HG friendly.
Winds: SSE to SSW 0-??mph. Summer evenings are usually too west to fly from the south launch.
Directions: Take Central Ave. south to the park entrance. Follow the two lane, paved road 7.5 miles to the top, following the signs to "Gila Valley Lookout".
Conditions: Two-lane paved road to launch (7 miles). 25 MPH speed limit, no passing.
Parking: Marked for up to 30 vehicles.
Facilities: Ranger station just past park entrance and at most lookouts.
Setup area: Unlimited in parking lot. Don't block road.
Hazards: Unmarked power lines to the right of launch. Very difficult to see. Locate them before you fly.
North Launch: Faces 340 degrees at 2300' MSL, PG and HG friendly.
Winds: NW to NNE 0-20 mph. Can be launchable in the evenings when the south launch is indicating west winds.
Directions: Same as for south launch. Follow road to 2.5 mile marker and park at the next pullout. The Ranger Trail is right at the 2.5 mile marker. Very good trail, moderate slope, about 30 minute hike. Follow trail to the ridgetop on the east side of ravine. Launch is at trail marker. Excellent no wind HG launch is on the left, PG launch on the right.
Setup Area: Don't block trail or damage vegetation.
Hazards: None.

Flying

Type of flying: Thermalling, occasional ridge soaring. Relatively smooth in summer.
Restrictions: Class B airspace starts at 4000' MSL. Please refer to the Phoenix Terminal Airspace Chart.
Hazards: 300' radio towers, unmarked power lines, lots of air traffic under 4000' MSL.

Landing

South Side LZ: Straight in front of launch, just before the houses, visible from launch as a small, circular, bare patch. Has slight downhill slope to the south. Undershooting possible up to 100 yds. Overshooting possible up to 50 yds.
Directions: From I-10, take Pecos Rd. west to Desert Foothills Dr. Take Desert Foothills north for two miles, turn right on Granite View Dr. Drive to north end of street. Walk along rock wash to the main trail, turn left, go west 200 yds to LZ.
Conditions: Paved roads in residential area with schools.
Facilities: Ranger station just past park entrance on North side and at most lookouts.
Hazards: Many tall sahuaros and chollas. Ravine bordering West side of LZ.
Restrictions: Don't walk off trail.
North Side LZ Straight in front of launch, paved parking lot connected to dirt parking lot. Quite large, level. Streamer on southwest corner.
Directions: You pass the LZ on the way to launch, fairly obvious, locked gate, don't attempt to drive in.
Restrictions: Don't walk off trail. Make sure the parking lot and adjacent go-cart track are unused before you fly.

Contacts

Contact Carlos or Jerry Dalen or any AHGA official for more info.