Dry Canyon
📍 New Mexico , Otero County · Nearest city: La Luz (8 km)
47 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2121 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
32.92740, -105.88600Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:27 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~1584 m, viento 25 km/h.
base ~1584m · wind 25 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~2595 m, viento fuerte (27 km/h).
base ~2595m · wind 27 km/hNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~3218 m, viento fuerte (42 km/h).
base ~3218m · wind 42 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 2 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.80 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.39 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Getting there: 105°53'10.00'W x 32°55'38.50'N. Accessible by 4x4 only on a badly eroded US Forest Service Rd. Turnoff from main road is here: 105°53'6.71'W x 32°56'54.82'N. You will have to go to Google Earth to see the road. Ratings: This site is P3 because you have a very short space (< 10 m) to launch because of rotor behind the ridge. HG launch: This is where the F.S. road takes you. This is not the recommended launch for PGs. It is more difficult to inflate the wing there because of the steep hill and rotor. Make sure you have good kiting skills as PG pilot. NO TOP LANDING! PG launch: From the HG launch, hike east to a rock band. There is an opening that allows to walk down to a col where the launch is located. It is clear of bushes and features a perfect 30-40 degrees rolling slope, no rotors, and slightly lower winds. HG to PG launch is a 5-7 min hike. 105°53'3.58'W x 32°55'35.33'N You can soar the ridge for hours, go XC, or do a sledride of about 15 minutes. This is a fun site but there is substantial turbulence, especially in the spring and summer. Paragliders should launch before 10AM or after 4PM during the summer as it often gets blown out in between those times -- hang gliders only. In the fall and winter, PG is often good the whole day. For the longest PG flights, get to launch around noon or 1PM and wait until conditions are appropriate. This is not a crowded site.
Rules and notes
Don't land or fly too near the hospital due to helicopter traffic. There is a large restricted airspace (White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base) west of Hwy 54. There is the civil airport and its class C airspace south of the city. North and east of Hwy 54 is where most XC happens and is ok. Consult a sectional chart before going XC!
Pilot comments
For PG pilots, this web address has some more helpful info & photos: http://elpasoparagliding.com/SiteInfo/DryCanyon/dry_canyon.htm Local club: Rio Grande Soaring Association (RGSA) http://www.rgsa.info
Nearby sites
Agave Hill (13) · Nelson's Launch (17) · Blue Springs ridge (11) · Sandia Peak (22) · Safford AZ (2) · Farleys (aka Grants East Ridge) (13)