Best Hang Gliding Locations In Louisiana

‍‍‍Learn about the best locations and companies in and near the state of Louisiana to go hang gliding and see the state from an entirely new perspective.

The best companies and locations to go hang gliding in (and near) Louisiana are:

• Blackhawk Paramotor Louisiana
• Paramotor Louisiana
• Cowboy Up Hang Gliding (Wharton, TX)
• Lookout Mountain Flight Park (Rising Fawn, GA)
• Little Yancy Hang Gliding Launch (Poteau, OK)

At FlightNotch, we strive to provide you (and our other readers) with the best gliding content that we can. As part of our series of the best places to go hang gliding in every state, we’ve made it to Louisiana. To ensure we’re giving you the best information possible, we’ve researched launch sites, companies, and more to find you the best possible locations in the Bayou state to take to the skies.

‍Is Louisiana A Good Place To Go Hang Gliding?

Determining whether somewhere is a good location for hang gliding depends on three main things: weather, views, and places or businesses that actually offer hang gliding. If you have your own glider and you're experienced enough to take to the skies on your own, then you're most likely worried about the weather and what type of views you'll be treated to. If you're planning on taking lessons or going on a tandem flight with an instructor, then it really matters if those companies exist in that location. So what about Louisiana?

Let's start with the weather. Louisiana has hot, humid summers and mild winters. With a lot of sunshine year-round, the spring and summer months are ideal for hang gliding because the air is warmer. On average, there's less wind in fall and winter so you'll find it more difficult to soar through the skies during those seasons; however, Louisiana still offers plenty of clear days with a light wind that makes hang gliding possible.

When it comes to the views, Louisiana has some incredible sights to offer even though there aren't huge mountains like you'll find in many other states in the country. From shorelines and wetlands to hills, swamps, and forests - there's something for everyone here! Nearby cities like Baton Rouge and New Orleans provide a great backdrop for your hang gliding adventures, and you can also spot some beautiful wildlife in the area.

Unfortunately, one of the biggest things to keep in mind when planning your hang gliding trip is that Louisiana does not currently have any companies that offer lessons or tandem flights. This doesn't mean that you can't still go hang gliding in the state, but it does mean that if you're a beginner then you should consider taking lessons or going on a tandem flight somewhere else before heading out to Louisiana. We'll touch on a few as you get further along in this article!

So while there might be some obstacles when it comes to planning your hang gliding trip in Louisiana, don't let that stop you! With good weather, stunning views, and plenty of other activities to do in the area - Louisiana is still a great destination for hang gliding.

Best Places To Go Hang Gliding In (And Near) Louisiana

As we mentioned above, there are sadly not any companies in Louisiana that offer hang gliding lessons or tandem flights. But don't worry - there are still a couple of ways you can soar through the skies in Louisiana, it just won't be hang gliding. Even though we mostly focus on hang gliding here, we love all types of gliding, and we're excited to talk about two Louisiana-based companies for you. After that, we'll venture outside the state borders and talk about a few of the best hang gliding locations that are a half day's drive or less away.

So let's get right into it!

Blackhawk Paramotor Louisiana

If you're intent on planning a trip to Louisiana (or you live there and want to find something nearby), you'll have to temper hang gliding expectations. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy an experience in the air that's somewhat similar. Blackhawk Paramotor should be at the top of your list if you want to experience the Louisiana skies, which is a company that offers both paramotor flights and powered hang gliding. On top of that, it has locations in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Metairie, and Lafayette, so you'll have no trouble finding a spot no matter where you are in the state.

We have other articles on the site that go into more detail about paragliding and paramotor flying so we won't spend too much time on them here. But they're both somewhat similar (yet different) to hang gliding, so it's definitely worth checking out! Paragliding is more like hang gliding in that you'll be soaring through the air without any power, whereas powered hang gliding and paramotor flying involve using a small motor to help propel yourself higher into the sky.

Blackhawk paramotor offers training sessions and tandem flights, so even if you're a beginner, you'll be able to get in the air and experience powered hang gliding or paramotor flying. The views that you'll get depend heavily on which location you choose, but you should be able to get some great views of the Louisiana countryside.

So if you're in or around Louisiana and want an aerial experience - check out Blackhawk Paramotor!

Paramotor Louisiana

If paramotor flying sounds fun to you, then Louisiana-based Paramotor Louisiana should be another one of your go-to spots. It's located in the small city of Broussard and offers all sorts of paramotor flight packages so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that's perfect for you. When you take to the skies via paramotor, you'll be able to see some great views of the city and surrounding areas.

The weather in Louisiana is generally mild all year round, so you should be able to find a good time for your hang gliding adventure. Spring and summer tend to be the best times, though you could find some good conditions in fall or winter as well, depending on the area.

Paramotor Louisiana is located near some other popular cities like Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans; these are all also the same cities mentioned above, so you could even check out both companies during the same trip and see which one you like more. Since there is so much to do in these areas and both companies offer an incredible experience, it helps to make Louisiana a great place to go if you want to experience paramotors, even if hang gliding is a bit more out of the question.

Cowboy Up Hang Gliding (Wharton, TX)

Sadly, those two companies above are really the only two reputable gliding businesses you can find in Louisiana. So if you're willing to leave the state and make a bit of a day trip out of it, you'll be able to find more places to hang glide. We'll touch on a few here, with the first one up being Cowboy Up Hang Gliding in Wharton, Texas. It's slightly further than the two previous companies mentioned (since it's out of state) and a bit out of the way; however, it's arguably the closest hang gliding company to western Louisiana and is absolutely worth checking out.

This hang gliding company based in Texas offers flight training for anyone that wants to try their hand at hang gliding. These training lessons range from Beginner (Level 1) to Instructor Clinics (Level 4), so no matter your skill level, you'll find a package that works for you. If you're just getting started, the 10-lesson beginner course runs $1,095 and you'll go through half of your Ground School lessons while also finishing your Hang One examination. From there, the other classes teach more and more and work towards USHPA ratings and training certifications.

If you don't have any desire to learn how to hang glide but you still want to experience what it's like, then tandem flights are available starting at $225. This is an incredible way to get a taste of hang gliding without having to commit to any sort of long-term training course. There are different flight packages depending on how long you want to stay in the air, what time of day you fly if you're hang gliding or paragliding, and other factors. No matter what you choose, though, you'll be able to see some amazing views of the area and get the full hang gliding experience.

Lookout Mountain Flight Park (Rising Fawn, GA)

Any article that talks about places to go hang gliding in the south or southeast United States wouldn't be worth the page it's typed on if it didn't mention Lookout Mountain Flight Park in Rising Fawn, GA. Even though the headquarters of the flight park is located in GA, the whole point of it is to glide and fly around the impressive (and gorgeous) Lookout Mountain. Perfect for anyone who has their own hang glider and can launch themselves, as well as anyone looking to receive gliding lessons or to take a tandem flight with a pro. This flight park has something for everyone.

For anyone who's looking to learn how to hang glide, Lookout offers flight school for pilots with experience ranging from novice to expert. You'll start with ground school and then you'll learn how to launch on small hills, big hills, mountains, and more before really heading up into the air and learning how to truly fly. You'll be able to work towards your USHPA rating and certifications, and even learn how to get into the air via aerotowing, which pretty much makes it possible to go hang gliding anywhere that you can fly a plane and tow a glider!

While learning to fly might sound exciting, you might also just want to spend some time flying with a professional without having to take the time to learn yourself. This is where tandem flying comes in. During a tandem flight, a professional will take you up into the air with them and allow you to experience the full thrill that hang gliding has to offer. With many different packages available, you can customize your flight time, your launch type, and even book a special sunset tour for an extra fee! This gives you a lot of freedom to experience the fun of hang gliding without the risk of doing it yourself.

Little Yancy Hang Gliding Launch (Poteau, OK)

Up until now, we've only touched on companies that offer gliding training, tandem flights, and flight packages to get you off your feet and up into the air. One of the main reasons for this is that Louisiana just doesn't have many great launch sites for you to take off from in your hang glider. The state is mostly flat, with little to no mountains and very few hills that are big enough to effectively get you off the ground. If that's what you're looking for, then Louisiana simply isn't the best choice, and I strongly suggest you check out some of the other states we've written guides on.

That said, there is one popular launch site that's not too far away. Little Yancy Hang Gliding Launch in Poteau, Oklahoma is a great spot for those looking to get into the air quickly and easily. It's located just an hour outside of Shreveport, so if you're visiting Louisiana and looking for some hang gliding action, it's a relatively short drive away. The views from up here are spectacular, with rolling hills as far as the eye can see.

The area is quite popular during the summer months, so expect to find plenty of other hang gliders in the air with you. However, if you want a more peaceful experience, then autumn and winter are definitely better times to visit, if you're able to catch a relatively warm day with plenty of thermals for you to fly on! Just like with any other place in the country, hang gliding in the dead of winter when it's freezing cold is almost never going to be a good time. So keep that in mind when you're planning your trip so you can get your adventure started!