Hogback

Hogback is a 3-mile ridge site in Paradise Valley, Montana, south of Livingston off Divide Road near the Music Ranch — a NE and SW facing ridge that's HG and PG friendly. Launch is on private land, with permission from a generous landowner family (their two dogs, Daisy and Boz, are part of the scene — one rolls rocks to pilots, the other supervises launches). AS OF 2025 THE LZ IS LOST — access is no longer available to the traditional landing area south of the parking. Do not land there. Fly here only if you have a workable alternative landing.

Launch & conditions

NE-facing launch, grass ground. 300 ft hike up from the parking lot. SW-side of the ridge not recommended. Wind can get extremely strong here and change rapidly. Afternoon soaring puts the west sun in your eyes.

Getting there & local rules

In Paradise Valley, south of Livingston off Divide Road near the Music Ranch. Access via the landowner's family land — pass through the small spacing between the fence posts (you'll need to pass gear over the fence, it won't fit through on your back). Close all gates behind you — livestock on site.

Local rules & hazards

AS OF 2025 THE LZ IS LOST — do NOT land on the old LZ south of the parking area (privately-held land now). Bring a workable alternative landing plan or don't fly here. No access allowed during hunting season. Launch is on private land — the landowners give permission unless posted (seasonally). NE winds are ideal. Before hiking up, note where the power lines are. Watch for rattlesnakes on the hike.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Hogback, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Hogback with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.