Hang Gliding and Paragliding

Launching and landing of hang gliders and paragliders is permitted at several locations within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Pilots must have a current U.S. Hang Gliding Association proficiency rating of H-2 - P-2 or greater. Some designated launch sites require higher ratings than others.

To Apply

Submit a Special Use Permit application, by mail or email.

If you submit by email, DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SSN.

Include a nonrefundable $50.00 application fee with your application or submit the application fee on pay.gov.

If Your Application is Approved

A permit containing applicable terms and conditions will be sent to you.
The permit must be signed and returned to the park for final approval before any hang gliding or paragliding activity can take place.

Permit Conditions

1. The permit holder and guests must comply with all applicable federal, state, county, and park regulations.
2. Entrance fees into the park are not waived for participants or guests since recreational benefit is derived.
3. The approved permit must be in the permittee's possession at the time of the activity.
4. The permit holder must have a current USHPA license for this special use permit to be valid.
5. The permittee is responsible for the cleanup and removal of all trash generated by the activity from the site.
6. The trampling of plants (e.g. Pitcher's thistle, dune grasses) is not permitted.
7. Transporting equipment to takeoff sites will be done by hand carry only at the Dune Climb and the Lake Michigan overlook locations. Carts may be used on established trails at Empire Bluff and Pyramid Point locations.
8. In an effort to safeguard against invasive species, the holder will do the following before their equipment and associated gear are used in the National Lakeshore.
   • Prior to moving any equipment associated with the above services including carts onto and off an activity area, spray, scrape, or brush soils, seeds, plant parts, and invertebrates from exterior surfaces, to the extent practical, to minimize the risk of transporting invasive species.
   • Properly dispose of soils, seeds, plant parts, and invertebrates found during inspection and cleaning. Suggestion: place materials in a bag and send to a landfill, where possible.
9. Access to beaches will be permitted only via formal public access points and trails (i.e. not via informal social trails).
10. Parking is limited in most locations. The use of carpools or shuttles is recommended.
11. If nesting piping plover are present, approved permits for hang gliding and paragliding may be restricted to landing on specific areas on the beach.
12. The use of drones is not permitted.
13. With the signature on this permit the pilot acknowledges that:
    • such flights may present a serious hazard to his/her personal safety,
    • that his/her equipment is in safe operating condition and
    • that he/she is in good physical condition.
14. Hang gliding and paragliding launch sites occur at Lakeshore popular viewing areas and the landing zones at populated beaches. All areas will remain open to the public and disturbance of other park visitors may not occur.
15. Stunt flying, commercialization, advertising publicity and competition flying are not permitted.
16. It is recommended to consider not flying during the busy holidays. On Memorial Day weekend, Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend there can be 150+ spectators at the launch area and it can be difficult to clear the area for a safe launch.
17. Since launch sites can be very crowded with spectators during the summer months especially on weekends and even more so during the major holidays, pilots must not aerially perform for the spectators or increase risk in any manner.
18. Pilots must avoid flying directly over people, vessels, vehicles, or structures and must avoid endangering the life and property of others.
19. Hang gliding and paragliding activity may not disturb or harass wildlife.
20. During some years the beaches can be minimal or non-existent. Pilots should evaluate the landing area physical conditions before launching.
21. Pilots should launch as quickly and safely as possible after set-up is complete.
22. Paragliders should not practice kiting at the Lakeshore launch sites.
23. Pilots should not leave their equipment unattended at any time.
24. Pilots new to these flying sites (and landing areas) should check out site hazards, conditions, and proper use of these sites by knowledgeable local pilots before flying. Information about the local flying club is available on the USHPA website.
25. Aircraft may not be launched or landed from or on areas that are officially designated as Wilderness.
26. Operators should avoid flying over wilderness areas.
27. Pilots should review and understand the USHPA 'Rules of the Ridge' before flying.
28. Standards established by the U.S. Hang Gliding Association will apply. These include:
    • Wear a safety helmet.
    • Have launch assistance.
    • Consider the safety of everyone in the area.
    • Do not fly if five gliders are already in the air.
    • Report all accidents resulting in injury and/or damage to property to the National Park Service.
    • Land only in designated landing zones.
29. All pilots must have a reserve parachute.
30. All flight activities must comply with USHPA protocols and FAA FAR part 103.
31. Tandem flights must comply with current USHPA and FAA regulations. All conditions of the current USHPA tandem exemption must be met.
32. Any wind streamer or tell-tale planted in a launch area should be removed by ground crew shortly after launching.
33. U.S. Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association Proficiency Rating
    • Pilots must have a current U.S. Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (USHPA) proficiency rating meeting the standards listed below, to fly from any SBNL site.
    • The rating system for hang glider and paraglider pilots is now the same, both types being governed by the USHPA.
      • H1 or P1 (Student)
      • H2 or P2 (Novice)
      • H3 or P3 (Intermediate)
      • H4 or P4 (Advanced)
      • H5 or P5 (Master)
    • Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Lake Michigan Overlook
      • Hang glider and paraglider pilots must have an H2, P2 rating or higher to fly at the Pierce Stocking Lake Michigan Overlook.
      • Flights at Lake Michigan Overlook will originate in the blowout area to the south of the main viewing platform (#9). Flights may originate north of the #9 viewing platform but south of the #10 viewing platform ONLY when cross winds at the blowout area make launching hazardous.
      • When landing in the North Bar Lake area, please respect the privacy of cottage owners along the beach north and south of North Bar Lake. Landings may be made at Lake Michigan Overlook only when visitor use is lgiht, and landing presents no hazard to visitors or the pilot. Landing on the face of the bluff is to be avoided.
      • Hang glider pilots are encouraged to set up in the grass zones near the parking area, hook into their glider and then walk their glider along the sidewalk to the launch location.
    • Empire Bluff
      • Paraglider pilots may fly at Empire Bluff with a P2 or higher. Hang glider pilots must have an H3 or higher.
      • All flights at Empire Bluf are to be initiated south of a point where the trail comes to the bluff edge. Take off is to be no more than 15 feet (4.57 meters) from the trail without climbing vertically up or down the bluff face.
      • All pilots landing on the beach below Empire Bluff are to exit via the beach north to Empire Beach or south to Esch Road. The face of the bluff is to be avoided and must not be climbed.
    • Pyramid Point
      • Hang glider and paraglider pilots must have an H3, P3 or higher to fly at Pyramid Point.
      • All flights at Pyramid Point will be initiated from the blowout at the top of the bluff.
      • All pilots landing on the beach below Pyramid Point will exit the area via the trail that ends at the east end of the dune area. The face of the bluff will be avoided and will not be climbed. Pilots may also land in the field east of the Dechow Farm or in the field that is south of Baker Road and east of Port Oneida Road.
    • Dune Climb
      • Hang glider pilots and paraglider pilots must have a minimum rating of H2, P2 to fly at the Dune Climb. Flights are only allowed from November 1st to March 31st of each year.
      • Hang gliding or paragliding is allowed on the east face of the Dune Climb from November 1 to March 31 of each year. Activities will be limited to the sand areas of the dune that do not have plants. Landings will take place either on top of the Dune Climb or in the lawn area below the Dune Climb.
34. Hang glider and paraglider pilots must be experienced in evaluating the following local flying conditions and launch only when safe to do so.
    • The geography of NW Michigan appears to be perfect for flying hang gliders and paragliders and there area occasions when the conditions here are very user-friendly.
    • However, during spring months and sometimes well into the summer there can be a temperature differential that occurs between the water and the air that creates what local pilots call 'spring conditions'. Warm land air coming across from Wisconsin rides up and over the colder dense air of Lake Michigan. This condition can occur when the temperature difference is as low as 5-10 degrees.
    • The larger the temperature difference, the greater the flying risk. As shown in the diagram below, the resulting shear line generally has turbulence below and significantly stronger winds above. Sometimes this 'line' is positioned just below launch so that on launch it can feel soarable, but the lift vector is small because only a small portion of the bluff is in the lift zone. In this situation a launching pilot will quickly find himself/herself in sinking turbulent air.
    • If the shear line is lower on the bluff, the pilot may be able to soar but may also be quickly lifted into much stronger wind velocity than what was measured at launch.
    • It is important to watch soaring birds to help evaluate the possibility of the temperature difference. If the wind is straight in and the birds below launch height are flapping or being rocked by turbulence while birds above launch are easily soaring, then it can be assumed that the dreaded 'spring condition' exists.
    • The water texture is another clue. If the wind on launch is 12+ mph and yet there are no whitecaps on the lake surface or wind lines on the surface near shore, this also indicates a greater possibility of a significant temperature difference between the water and the air. This 'spring condition' does not just offer a quick sled ride to the beach, but often the turbulent air.

Applications should be mailed to:

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Attention: Special Use Permits
9922 Front Street
Empire, MI 49630

Or

Email application* to:
Slbe_permits@nps.gov
*If you email an application, please do not include your SSN.

For more information, email us or call (231) 326-4741.