Section 16

Section 16 above Colorado Springs is a potentially challenging site — a St. Patrick's Lookout launch at the top of the Section 16 trail with a steep launch slope. A site introduction from a local pilot is mandatory before flying. The hike is about 1 hour and 2 miles with 1,500 ft of gain up a well-marked trail from the Lower Gold Camp Road trailhead. Nice easterly thermal breezes are typical for flying, but on high climb-outs there can be a shear layer because prevailing winds are generally westerly at altitude (12,000 ft).

Launch & conditions

Takeoff from St. Patrick's Lookout at the top of the Section 16 trail — steep launch slope, potentially challenging.

Getting there & local rules

Take Highway 24 to 21st Street in Colorado Springs; south on 21st to the traffic light at Gold Camp Road; right, and follow to the clearly-marked Section 16 trailhead parking lot. Hike is ~1 hour / 2 miles / 1,500 ft climb. Landings: main LZ is a small meadow north of the very large Bear Creek Park meadow (the large one is often full of mullen). The apparent large meadow just NE of launch in the Red Rock Canyon Open Space is an old landfill and is STRICTLY PROHIBITED for landing.

Local rules & hazards

Must be a USHPA-licensed pilot. Site introduction from a local pilot is MANDATORY before flying. Wind coming over the backside — nice easterly thermal breezes are typical, but on high climb-outs (near 12,000 ft) expect a shear layer as prevailing winds are westerly at altitude. Do NOT land in the Red Rock Canyon Open Space meadow — it's an old landfill and prohibited.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Section 16, 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 Section 16 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.