Paragliding in Aspen, Colorado - Tandem & Solo

Paragliding in Aspen, Colorado, is a dream for paragliding enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors. Enjoy long summer days with clear blue skies shining down on mountainous hills of pine trees. In winter enjoy the snow and freshness of the winter air that crisply brushes past your face as you glide through the air.

The Rocky Mountains of Aspen will provide you with some of the best paragliding in the United States. Have a read of this guide and then start planning your trip, you’ll love it.

There are great locations here for those of all abilities. You might be on holiday and be keen to try something that you wouldn’t normally think of trying. Or you may be an experienced paragliding pilot looking to fly somewhere exciting and new. Either way, you’re looking in the right place.

Aspen is probably the most well known location for paragliding in Colorado, however there are some other great places which we should fill you in on. Colorado Springs, Glenwood Springs, Avon, Lookout Mountain and Telluride are also great paragliding locations which will leave you feeling amazed.

Aspen

Tandem Paragliding Aspen

If you’re staying at the ski resorts and are looking for something different to make your trip really amazing, then you can’t go past paragliding.

One of the most popular providers is Aspen Paragliding. If you’re wondering ‘is paragliding safe?’, don’t worry, these guys have been providing tandem paragliding since 1990. The instructors are also certified from the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association.

You don’t have to worry about jumping off any cliffs, the take-offs are very controlled and beginner friendly. Yourself and your instructor (who is strapped to you) run down a gentle slope which creates enough forward momentum for the paraglider to launch. Once you’re in the air and comfortable, your pilot will guide you up to heights as high as 18,000ft.

This is a very accessible way for people of almost all ages to try human flight and something a little, but not too, extreme. Ages range from three to over eighty years old.

Flights run during Summer and Winter, in Summer they can run up to three sessions per day.

You’ll meet your instructors in Summer from the Aspen Paragliding office at 426 South Spring Street (only a very short walk from the ski resort chair lift). In winter you’ll meet the instructors on the mountain. The launch area is at Sam’s Knob, a ski slope within the Snowmass Ski Resort, with this being one of the few ski slopes which also allows paragliding launches.

Remember to wear warm clothing, as you’ll be taking off from 11,00ft above sea level!

Quotes from customer reviews on TripAdvisor include “Highlight of our vacation!”, “Words cannot describe the thrill, fun and peace of this experience”.

Solo Paragliding Aspen

If you’re not a member of the local paragliding club Parapente Aspen, you can still paraglide at Snowmass provided you meet the minimum requirements. As this isn’t exactly a beginner slope and is part of an area shared with skiers and hikers, these requirements are not only for your safety, they’re for everyone elses safety too.

Rated USHPA P3 (or foreign equivalent)
Colorado CORSAR card
Membership with Parapente Aspen – like most clubs, they offer a short term option for visitors
All pilots must fly with a helmet, radio and reserve parachute
Speed paragliding is not permitted