Utah Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
Getting There:
From SLC head south on I-15 to Exit 222 in Nephi and turn left onto S Main Street / SR 28. Continue south 9 miles to Levan. Bear left in downtown Levan to continue south on SR 28. At 3.6 miles (just past the blue and white dairy barns on your right) turn left onto the dirt road and pass through a chained but unlocked gate into the Deep Creek Wildlife Management Area. Follow the dirt 2-track utility road southeast. The road starts out on flat public land, passes through gates across private land, and continues up a narrow draw back onto public land. You will gain 2700 feet in elevation between the first gate and the summit. The road eventually climbs steep grades through half a dozen switchbacks. At 4.4 miles, you’ve reached the parking area for the West Launch. To reach the East Launch, continue up the hill. Pass the lower antenna farm at a sharp right-hand turn. When the roads next bends hard to the left, the East Launch is on your right. At either launch site, park vehicles well off the road to allow others to pass.
The Setup:
To reach the West Launch, park well off the road, gather your gear and look for a bushwacked trail heading west, downhill from the road. Others have been here, so try to follow their tracks. Look below you for a natural open area in the vegetation. That’s the West Launch.
The East Launch is a gravelly face in the hillside below the hairpin turn where you parked. The launch itself is steep and somewhat rocky. There are no permanent tie-downs available at either set-up area.
A west breeze with a north component works best at the West Launch. Do not use the West Launch if winds are other than west or slightly northwest.
In a south or southeast wind you can launch successfully from the East Launch. Although further from the LZ, the minimum glide ratio is about the same (5.0 to 1) due to the East Launch’s higher elevation.
Horse Heaven is a P3/H3 site, or P2/H2 with an instructor. Midday heating, especially in summer, produces cyclic thermic turbulence in the valley and at launch. Take special note of the density altitude on warm days and adjust your takeoff as necessary.
The Landing Zone:
While the farms and ranches in the valley appear to offer unlimited places to land, we do not have permission to plan approaches and landings on these private properties. The area to the north of the second gate (the one you passed on your way in) offers a broad, flat LZ on public land.
The sagebrush in the LZ is dense and waist-high, so run-out landings will be challenging. If winds permit, consider an approach and landing on the dirt road. Note the 50-foot tall transmission line and towers parallel to the roadway.
Unplanned landings on agricultural land across the highway should be as close as possible to the eastern fence line, allowing for rapid disassembly and removal of your glider. Use gates whenever possible. Only climb across fences as a last resort, and only at corner posts. Leave all gates as you found them, and offer to compensate the farmer or rancher for any damage to his or her crops.