Pine Mountain, located in the High Desert 26 miles east of Bend, Oregon, stands at an altitude of 6,407 feet. This site is renowned for its excellent paragliding conditions, featuring over 15 launch points, desert thermal conditions, and ridge soaring opportunities. The site is suitable for year-round flying, depending on snow levels, but extreme caution is advised during summer due to hazardous midday thermal conditions.
Pine Mountain is a popular spot for both hang gliding and paragliding, with a history of record-breaking flights. The Oregon paragliding distance record has been broken multiple times here, with flights exceeding 100 miles. Notable records include:
- Jeff Huey: 111 miles (7/2/2004)
- Brian Webb: 136 miles (7/15/2008)
- Jared Anderson: 145.8 miles (7/15/2015)
- Matt Henzi: 176.2 miles (8/13/2016) and 181.8 miles (6/21/2018)
- Reavis Sutphin-Gray: 198 miles (6/29/2018)
The site offers various launch options, accommodating almost any prevailing wind direction. The West Launch, situated between 6,400 and 6,200 feet, is a frequently used area. To access it, continue past the 'Y' and drive up into the canyon behind the front of Pine Mountain. A gate on the right leads to a primitive road to the top. Four-wheel drive is recommended to minimize road wear. The west hang glider launch is at the top, with a higher west-facing paragliding launch accessible by hiking around the rocks to the left. The peak also offers a north-facing launch. Ideal conditions for flying include light winds from the west through north, with most flights occurring in the morning or midday.
For camping, the Forest Service’s Pine Mountain Campground near the observatory offers six first-come-first-served campsites. It is a dry campground, so bring your own water. At the base of the mountain, the Rock L landowner requests campers to stay at the Y and use the Rock L for parking and landing only.
Pilots should have a minimum USHPA rating of P2 with a high altitude signoff. The nearest landing zone is at the base of the training hill (private land) or further east at the “Y.” Launching in moderate to strong midday thermic conditions is hazardous and not recommended for beginner or intermediate pilots. Ideal wind direction for launching is between 270-310 degrees.
For more information, visit:
- [Desert Air Riders](https://desertairriders.org/flying-sites/)
- [Pine Mountain Site Guide](http://www.bhgc.org/sites/#site_pine-mountain-or)
- [Weather Forecast](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=43.819690&lon=-120.932574&site=rev&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text#.Y1lggj1Bypo)
For a visual experience, check out the 2022 longest flight in the US with a NNW wind on [YouTube](
Click to watch video
).
