Paragliding Skinner Mountain, Skinner State Park, MA

Skinner Park, located in Hadley, Massachusetts, offers a paragliding site with a vertical drop of 260 meters and a horizontal distance of 227 meters. This site is rarely used and is primarily suited for walk-and-fly and soaring flights. The site record stands at 10.7 km. Skinner Park has not seen much hang gliding activity recently, although paragliders do fly there occasionally. The site is considered closed unless someone steps up to manage it as a site director. The maintenance book is still available by the shed as of October 2020. The site is rated for intermediate hang gliders and paragliders. Novice hang gliders are allowed under the direct supervision of a USHGA Observer, Examiner, or Advanced Instructor. The launch type is a level to cliff launch in a treed slot, making it a risky site due to the trees below the launch area. The wind direction is primarily NW, with WSW-N also possible. Launch coordinates are 42°17'52.0"N 72°35'33.7"W (42.297789, -72.592680) at an elevation of 984 feet MSL. The landing zone coordinates are 42°17'51.0"N 72°36'10.9"W (42.297510, -72.603039), with a vertical drop to the LZ of 732 feet, offering a 3.8/1 glide ratio. Access to the launch site involves a 2WD paved road to the hotel area, followed by a 500-yard walk on a ridge trail. The site is closed from early November to mid-May, with typical summer hours from 9 am to 8 pm. There is a fee of $2-5 per car on weekends and holidays, with a season pass available. To get there, take Route 47 south off of Route 9 in Hadley. For more information, contact the state liaison, Mark Droy, at 413-221-2053. Pilots must sign in each flying day and sign a waiver once per calendar year. Use the lockbox by the side entrance of the Maintenance Barn at the Half-Way Area. Contact the ranger on duty if you intend to get the site back into operation. Mt. Holyoke, also known as Skinner or Mitch's Mountain, is located on Route 47 in Hadley, Massachusetts, within Skinner State Park. The launch is very shallow and requires a strong run in light conditions. It is a tight launch for paragliders. While the site is very soarable, cross-country flights are challenging due to multiple nearby airports. Pilots should watch for air traffic and avoid restricted airspace. Ensure your vehicle is outside the gate half an hour before closing and avoid flying over the hotel area.