Paragliding Camels Pass 1, UT

Camels is a high mountain paragliding site located above Springville, Utah, with a launch altitude of approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. The vertical drop to the landing zone (LZ) is around 3,200 feet. This site is occasionally used and offers opportunities for cross-country (XC) flying and speedflying. The site tends to experience downwind conditions in the early morning as the sun heats the backside of the launch. As the sun heats the valley below, thermal cycles typically begin to roll in. Camels is not a ridge-lift site, and strong winds can break up the thermals, similar to conditions at Inspiration, which is about 10 miles away on the same mountain range. To reach Camels, take I-15 to the Springville/Rt 77 exit. Head east on Rt 77 (400 S) and follow it to a 4-way stop. From there, you can either go straight and take the first left to reach the LZ or turn right to head to the launch. Follow signs for Hobble Creek Golf Course, and just past the golf course, take the left fork ('Left Fork Hobble Creek Road'). Continue for 2.5 miles and turn left onto a dirt road. Follow this road for roughly 20 minutes to reach the launch, which is a steep left fork in the road. A serious 4-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended for the last 100 feet, but turning around space is limited. The LZ is a piano-shaped field directly below the launch, with a glide ratio of approximately 2.5:1. The launch and the road up are on public land managed by the forest service, while the LZ is privately owned by a friendly local resident known as 'Skinny'. Please be respectful when landing in this area. Camels was one of the venues used for the 2008 Wings Over Wasatch/Mitch McAleer aerobatics clinic. The site offers a scenic drive up, although the road is long and bumpy. The launch provides a wonderful view of the south end of Utah Valley. Flights can range from 15 minutes to an hour, especially if you go up a few hours before sunset. A southwesterly flow aloft is ideal for this site. For more information, you can check out these resources: - [Camels on Hanggliding.org](https://www.hanggliding.org/wiki/Camels) - [Utah Site Guide](http://www.uhgpga.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/UtahSiteGuide-2013_Les_Hooper.pdf) - [Two Can Fly](https://twocanfly.com/flying-sites/) - [Utah Paragliding](https://www.utahparagliding.com/fly-utah/) Watch videos of flights at Camels: - [Video 1]( ) - [Video 2]( )