Section 16
📍 Colorado , El Paso County · Nearest city: Manitou Springs (4 km)
12 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2308 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
Lat / Lng:
38.82440, -104.89700Loading real-time wind…
Takeoff orientations
NNEESE
SSWWNW
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
☀️ Sun times (local · America/Denver)
Best flying hours: thermals start ~2h after sunrise, peak at solar noon, glass-off from golden hour
Sunrise: 06:13
Solar noon: 12:58
Golden hour: 18:42 (last thermal + glass-off)
Sunset: 19:42
Day: 13.5 h daylight hours
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 0 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.00 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.25 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Take off is from St. Patrick's lookout at the top of the Section 16 trail. Park at the trailhead on Lower Gold Camp Road and hike the trail to the top of the saddle. A spur trail goes east along the ridge to the lookout. The Take off can be challenging due to the steepness of the launch slope. The hike takes about 1 hour and about 2 miles with a 1500' alt climb.
Nearby sites
Summit House (28) · Mt Herman (14) · Monkey Face (31) · Lincoln mtn (15) · Bergen Rock (24) · Mt. Zion aka Lookout aka LO (Golden) (15)
Information derived from public data (ParaglidingEarth, kk7). Before flying: contact local pilots, check the METAR of the nearest airport and review today's forecast.