Back to all spots
Mount Greylock Summit Paragliding Launch
Forecast-ready spotNo ratings yetBe first
Mount Greylock Summit Paragliding Launch
Spot Info
Spot Details
PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Not marked
Club / contract
Required
Launch faces
NE, E, SE, S
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
Mount Greylock is DCR public land, but flying uses a structured annual waiver and daily sign-in process rather than ordinary walk-in recreation. The current PGE site record requires pilots to show a current USHPA card and sign in at the summit facility each flying day, with a new waiver each calendar year. The park is open dawn to dusk; summit auto roads are scheduled May 16-October 30, 2026 and summit facilities from May 23. Confirm the current flight process, launch condition, road status, and any temporary high-visitor advisory with DCR at (413) 499-4262 before travel.
Site rules
- Carry a current USHPA card, complete the current annual Greylock waiver, and sign in through the current DCR/summit process every flying day; verify where sign-in occurs before travel because the source process can change.
- The site is H4/P4. H3/P3 pilots may fly only with a qualified USHPA Advanced Observer, Examiner, or Advanced Instructor present for every launch; arrange that observer before arriving.
- No top landing. Use the designated southeast summit launch and a current lawful LZ; do not improvise on the busy summit or visitor areas.
- Respect visitors and ranger direction, keep the launch clear, and check current DCR advisories. A 2025 foliage advisory restricted flight on specified weekends and holidays; those dates have expired, but current crowd-control restrictions take priority.
- Do not treat PPG as authorized. The reviewed land-manager and site sources document foot-launched PG/HG only.
Launch directions
NE, E, SE, S
Direction notes
The site record identifies a southeast-facing summit launch and says the mountain can work from south through northeast. Southeast is the preferred source direction; all conditions require on-site assessment.
Safety notes
- The southeast summit is a high, exposed advanced launch shared with hang gliders and surrounded by non-flying visitors; maintain separation and abort if the setup or launch lane is not clear.
- The bailout LZ at 42.6282,-73.139 is surrounded by tall trees and power lines and requires an attentive approach. The historic main LZ at The Range is roughly four miles northeast and requires current same-day confirmation and operating coordination before relying on it.
- The site supports thermal, ridge-soaring, and XC flight, but summit wind can differ materially from the valley. Check winds aloft, current airspace, NOTAMs, TFRs, clouds, overdevelopment, and the selected LZ before launch.
- The clean FAA point screen applies only to the launch. Harriman-and-West Airport is 6.595 km away, and any XC route or alternate LZ requires its own airspace and facility review.
Additional notes
Current DCR evidence confirms land-manager recognition of paragliding, while the August 2023 ParaglidingEarth record supplies the detailed pilot process and site operations. Because the fine-grained waiver/sign-in procedure is not restated on the current general park page, pilots must verify it with DCR rather than assume the lodge process is unchanged.
Map pin (exact launch)
ParaglidingEarth point for the mowed summit paragliding launch area above and behind the hang-glider launch; it represents the launch area rather than a surveyed setup mark.
Official website
https://www.mass.gov/locations/mount-greylock-state-reservationReviews
Pilot Experiences
See who rated this spot and which field-condition bubbles pilots selected.
No ratings yetBe first
Review This SpotNo reviews are visible yet. Share the first rating or field note for this spot.
Spot Group
Posting unlocks with an account
You can draft here and preview the composer. Create a Free Account when you are ready to share a post, upload media, or log a flight update. Create Free Account.
No group posts from this spot yet.
Airspace status