Paragliding Box Canyon lower takeoff

Located 30 minutes south of Tucson, on the west side of the Santa Rita Mountains, this paragliding site offers a year-round flying experience. The site is best suited for pilots with a P3 rating, although P2 pilots can fly under the supervision of an instructor or local guide. The conditions are favorable with winds ranging from southwest to north, making it an excellent spot for afternoon flights and evening glass-offs. The launch point is from Alazurra Peak at about 6100 feet MSL, accessible via a dirt forest road. You can either drive a 2WD vehicle to the landing zone (LZ) and hike up the front or use a 4WD vehicle to reach the back parking area for a shorter hike over USFS land. The landing zone is a fairly large field at approximately 4400 feet MSL, situated on Arizona State Trust land under a SAHGA group activity permit. Be aware of the hazards associated with desert flying, especially during hot weather. Dehydration and heat exhaustion are significant risks, so bring plenty of water for the hike. Inexperienced pilots should limit their flights to the evenings and always fly with a local guide. Watch out for overdevelopment, gust fronts, and microbursts, particularly when there is rain or virga in the desert. The desert vegetation can also damage your equipment if you're not careful. Parking is available along the road near the LZ, but there are no facilities on-site. For more information, visitors should contact Aaron Cromer, the SAHGA PG Flight Director, at (520) 490-3333. In case of emergencies, dial 911 for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. The nearest hospital is St. Mary's, located 10 miles north via Rt 19 to Rt 10, taking the Congress St. Exit, and heading west on Congress until it turns north into Silverbell, then 0.5 miles north. For additional details, you can visit the SAHGA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sahgpa/ or check the old site information at http://www.flyinglizardparagliding.com/sites.html.