Paragliding Near Canaan Valley, West Virginia


Paragliding
, an adventure sport similar to hang gliding, involves a silent, lightweight plane without an engine that harnesses the pilot just below its wing. To fly, the paraglider allows air to enter through the vents of the front of its wing and the aerodynamic forces push the air over into the outside. The average speed of a paraglider ranges from twelve miles per hour to forty-seven miles per hour. A skilled pilot is needed for the paraglider to increase in height, keep the paraglider soaring for an extended amount of time, and to effectively land the paraglider.

To paraglide, the pilot must launch by either a forward or reverse launch. This means that the pilot can either run into the wind so that the air pressure inflates the paraglider’s wing, or once in the air, turning under the wing and running to complete the launch. Forward launches are typically done at low wind speeds, whereas reverse launches at high winds. Jumping is not needed at any time during the launch.

Due to its increasing popularity in the United States, Canaan Valley Resort State Park now offers a launch site for paragliding behind its existing ski hill. After six years following careful consideration to preserve the surrounding forests and the Cheat Mountain Salamander, an endangered species, a boardwalk was placed over the area to protect the environment and leave the species undisturbed.

The launch site can be accessed by Canaan Valley Resort State Park’s chairlift. This launch site is unique, being one of only two sites in the Eastern United States to be accessible by a chairlift. At over 4,000 feet in elevation, the launch site sits toward prevailing winds offering views of the Allegheny Front and Red Creek River.

To access the launch site, paraglider pilots must be U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association members and must pay a $7 fee to ride the chairlift to the top of the mountain. Landing sites are also in place near the Resort.
Reservations to paraglide off of Canaan Valley Resort State Park’s launch site can be made through Memorial Day to the end of October and through mid-December to mid-March.

 

Check Out Some of Our Great Vacation Homes Available

Bear Brook Thumbnail Image

Bear Brook

By The Brook Thumbnail Image

By The Brook

Chalet Thumbnail Image

Chalet

Evergreen Thumbnail Image

Evergreen

Lakeside Refuge Thumbnail Image

Lakeside Refuge

Mirror Lake Inn Thumbnail Image

Mirror Lake Inn

Mountainaire Thumbnail Image

Mountainaire

Mountaineer Thumbnail Image

Mountaineer

Northwoods F8, Bear Foot Inn Thumbnail Image

Northwoods F8, Bear Foot Inn

Orsinger's Barn Thumbnail Image

Orsinger's Barn

Silver Fox Thumbnail Image

Silver Fox

Spruce Haven Thumbnail Image

Spruce Haven

Uncle Wade's Cabin Thumbnail Image

Uncle Wade's Cabin

Valley Splendor Thumbnail Image

Valley Splendor

Valley View Thumbnail Image

Valley View

Cardinal Crest Thumbnail Image

Cardinal Crest

Cardinal Haus Thumbnail Image

Cardinal Haus

Aspen Knoll 6, Mountain Serenity Thumbnail Image

Aspen Knoll 6, Mountain Serenity

Deerfield Village 078, Mountaineers Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 078, Mountaineers

Deerfield Village 079, D'Bears Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 079, D'Bears

Abundant Blessings Thumbnail Image

Abundant Blessings

Ole Fezziwig's Thumbnail Image

Ole Fezziwig's

Northwoods B6, The Basebox Thumbnail Image

Northwoods B6, The Basebox

Tiny Peace of Zen Thumbnail Image

Tiny Peace of Zen

Appaus Wetu Thumbnail Image

Appaus Wetu

Wildlife Thumbnail Image

Wildlife

WoodHaven Thumbnail Image

WoodHaven

Deerfield Village 41, Eagle's Retreat Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 41, Eagle's Retreat

Styxneste Thumbnail Image

Styxneste

Deerfield Village 109, Red Spruce Retreat Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 109, Red Spruce Retreat

Almost Heaven Thumbnail Image

Almost Heaven

Sloan Bear Hideaway Thumbnail Image

Sloan Bear Hideaway

Eagle's Nest Thumbnail Image

Eagle's Nest

Blackwater Punch, Herzwood D204 Thumbnail Image

Blackwater Punch, Herzwood D204

Timberbrook Thumbnail Image

Timberbrook

Beaver's Den Thumbnail Image

Beaver's Den

Casa Sierra Thumbnail Image

Casa Sierra

Das Marchenhaus Thumbnail Image

Das Marchenhaus

Red Door Roost Thumbnail Image

Red Door Roost

Zen Too Thumbnail Image

Zen Too

Hickory House Thumbnail Image

Hickory House

Huckleberry Hideaway Thumbnail Image

Huckleberry Hideaway

Safe Haven Thumbnail Image

Safe Haven

Stowaway Thumbnail Image

Stowaway

Quitin' Time Thumbnail Image

Quitin' Time

Mountain Glory Cabin Thumbnail Image

Mountain Glory Cabin

Leaf Peeper's Chalet Thumbnail Image

Leaf Peeper's Chalet

Driftland Cabin Thumbnail Image

Driftland Cabin

Bear Brook Thumbnail Image

Bear Brook

By The Brook Thumbnail Image

By The Brook

Chalet Thumbnail Image

Chalet

Evergreen Thumbnail Image

Evergreen

Lakeside Refuge Thumbnail Image

Lakeside Refuge

Mirror Lake Inn Thumbnail Image

Mirror Lake Inn

Mountainaire Thumbnail Image

Mountainaire

Mountaineer Thumbnail Image

Mountaineer

Northwoods F8, Bear Foot Inn Thumbnail Image

Northwoods F8, Bear Foot Inn

Orsinger's Barn Thumbnail Image

Orsinger's Barn

Silver Fox Thumbnail Image

Silver Fox

Spruce Haven Thumbnail Image

Spruce Haven

Uncle Wade's Cabin Thumbnail Image

Uncle Wade's Cabin

Valley Splendor Thumbnail Image

Valley Splendor

Valley View Thumbnail Image

Valley View

Cardinal Crest Thumbnail Image

Cardinal Crest

Cardinal Haus Thumbnail Image

Cardinal Haus

Aspen Knoll 6, Mountain Serenity Thumbnail Image

Aspen Knoll 6, Mountain Serenity

Deerfield Village 078, Mountaineers Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 078, Mountaineers

Deerfield Village 079, D'Bears Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 079, D'Bears

Abundant Blessings Thumbnail Image

Abundant Blessings

Ole Fezziwig's Thumbnail Image

Ole Fezziwig's

Northwoods B6, The Basebox Thumbnail Image

Northwoods B6, The Basebox

Tiny Peace of Zen Thumbnail Image

Tiny Peace of Zen

Appaus Wetu Thumbnail Image

Appaus Wetu

Wildlife Thumbnail Image

Wildlife

WoodHaven Thumbnail Image

WoodHaven

Deerfield Village 41, Eagle's Retreat Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 41, Eagle's Retreat

Styxneste Thumbnail Image

Styxneste

Deerfield Village 109, Red Spruce Retreat Thumbnail Image

Deerfield Village 109, Red Spruce Retreat

Almost Heaven Thumbnail Image

Almost Heaven

Sloan Bear Hideaway Thumbnail Image

Sloan Bear Hideaway

Eagle's Nest Thumbnail Image

Eagle's Nest

Blackwater Punch, Herzwood D204 Thumbnail Image

Blackwater Punch, Herzwood D204

Timberbrook Thumbnail Image

Timberbrook

Beaver's Den Thumbnail Image

Beaver's Den

Casa Sierra Thumbnail Image

Casa Sierra

Das Marchenhaus Thumbnail Image

Das Marchenhaus

Red Door Roost Thumbnail Image

Red Door Roost

Zen Too Thumbnail Image

Zen Too

Hickory House Thumbnail Image

Hickory House

Huckleberry Hideaway Thumbnail Image

Huckleberry Hideaway

Safe Haven Thumbnail Image

Safe Haven

Stowaway Thumbnail Image

Stowaway

Quitin' Time Thumbnail Image

Quitin' Time

Mountain Glory Cabin Thumbnail Image

Mountain Glory Cabin

Leaf Peeper's Chalet Thumbnail Image

Leaf Peeper's Chalet

Driftland Cabin Thumbnail Image

Driftland Cabin