Parapente Coyote Dry Lake_Sunfair Dry lakebed, CA

At an elevation of 807 meters with a height difference of 80 meters, this ridge soaring site is best and safest during spring and fall. The site is clear of airspace, making it ideal for paragliding. To access the site, start from downtown Joshua Tree. Zero out your trip-meter at the intersection of Hwy 62 and Park Blvd. After 3.9 miles, turn left on Sunfair Rd. Continue for 7.9 miles and turn right onto a dirt road just past a large river rock house. This unmarked road is listed as Aberdeen Dr. on GPS. Follow this road east until the first jog to the right. Take the jog and stay on the most obvious dirt track, heading towards the southern end of the ridge where the launch and landing zone (LZ) are located. Look for a thin metal pole to attach streamers and a large pile of trash against the hill, which is marked with bullet holes. Be cautious on weekends as this area is sometimes used as a shooting gallery directly below the launch. If you encounter shooters, kindly ask them to move elsewhere. Most shooters are cooperative and will relocate without issue. From the LZ, drive around the southern end of the ridge, staying left on all roads. Engage 4X4 mode as needed. The area behind the ridge is flat with large open spaces, making it possible to land if you are high enough. The road going up and left behind the launch is in poor condition, so travel carefully. The Coyote Dry Lake ridge site is known for being unforgiving, with numerous injuries and near-fatal crashes even among experienced pilots. Wind conditions can change rapidly, so single surface aircraft pilots need to be particularly cautious about wind speed. Despite these challenges, the ridge offers a rewarding flying experience in spring and fall when winds are generally less intense. The ridge is about 4 miles long with only one gap to jump, providing ample air time. The LZ is a vast 4-mile wide and 6-mile long dry lake bed, making it hard to miss. The site has been flown since at least 1976 and is located on BLM land with no current flying restrictions. For more information, visit ParaglidingEarth.