Paragliding Vista Point_Palm Desert, CA

Vista Point, located just up from Palm Desert in Riverside County, USA, is an advanced paragliding site that demands significant caution due to its challenging conditions. It is a lee side site, which can be extremely hazardous and requires extensive local weather knowledge and constant weather checks. Even experienced pilots rarely use this site, opting instead for more reliable locations like Saboba, Marshal, and San Diego. The site record for Vista Point is 33.6 km, but flights here are infrequent. The launch is situated at a turn-off viewpoint on Hwy 74 (Palms-to-Pines highway) from Anza down into Palm Desert. This area is also the essential habitat for the endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, adding another layer of complexity and responsibility for pilots. There have been efforts to reopen Vista Point for hang gliding, with some progress reported. The Monument Advisory Board has initiated an investigation into revising the recommendation that bans hang gliding from Vista Point. However, this process is ongoing and faces opposition. For more information, you can watch a video about Vista Point here: [Vista Point Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNgnl-VABbc).