Mt.Edna (Marysvale – Richfield)

Mt. Edna, above Marysvale and Richfield in central Utah, is the state's highest drive-up flying site, launching from roughly 3,560 m — nearly 12,000 feet, high enough that the thin air takes some getting used to. It's an early-morning thermal site with takeoff options in almost every direction, though the north-facing option is stony underfoot. Getting there follows an old miners' road out of Marysvale (Bullion Canyon Rd) that stays in decent shape until treeline, then turns rough enough that 4WD is required; about a mile before the summit there's a locked gate, so arranging access ahead of time matters. Flying here requires USHPA membership plus local club membership. Because of the altitude, weather and wind can shift fast — stay above the ridge line rather than pushing out over the canyon, since penetrating against the wind gets hard later in the day as it builds from the east. The main landing zone is a good pasture (place a windsock there before driving up), with a bail-out LZ at treeline, and one nearby field that's strictly off-limits since the landowner does not welcome paragliders or hang gliders.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is possible in almost every direction from the summit; the north-facing option is stony underfoot.

Getting there & local rules

Follow the old miners' road (Bullion Canyon Rd) out of Marysvale — decent condition until treeline, then rough enough to need 4WD, with a locked gate about a mile before the summit that requires arranging access in advance.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Mt.Edna (Marysvale – Richfield), 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 Mt.Edna (Marysvale – Richfield) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.