Blue Grouse
Paragliding site · Canada
- Launch altitude
- 745 m
- Level
- Ask the local school
- Best season
- —
- Landing
- —
Works on N · NE · E
Where it is
Saved by 1 pilots
Blue Grouse sits above Kelowna, BC — a paraglider-only NE-facing mountain launch at 2,950 ft ASL overlooking Okanagan Lake with outstanding scenery. It's a ridge and thermal site, but XC potential is poor because it sits inside the Kelowna International Airport's controlled airspace (Canada's 10th busiest airport). The Kelowna Airport tower requires direct contact BEFORE flying. HPAC insurance and a signed waiver are mandatory — this is a formal OSA site. Not a hang-gliding site; the LZ is far too small for hang gliders.
Launch & conditions
NE launch at 2,950 ft ASL (N 49°57'05.70'' W 119°30'56.30''). Good smooth round paraglider launch — not visible from the LZ. PG only.
Getting there & local rules
Rugged high-clearance 2WD or 4WD required. From Kelowna, head north on Westside Road to Traders Cove Marine Park — the LZ is there; have a look at it. Then 1.7 km west on Bear Creek Road, turn left, stay left at the fork, continue ~0.5 km to launch (not visible from road or LZ). Landing: Traders Cove Marine Park — small.
Local rules & hazards
The site is under the controlled airspace approach to Kelowna International Airport — CONTACT THE TOWER before flying (250-765-3426). HPAC insurance and signed waiver required (formal OSA site). Do NOT fly over the parking lot or houses. NOT a hang-gliding site (LZ too small). Class E controlled airspace 700 ft AGL to a ceiling of 5,100 ft ASL due to Victor 320; Class D 6,000 ft ASL due to airport proximity. File HAGAR notification and FIC weather briefing before flying. Aircraft radio 123.4 MHz, club 145.500 MHz.
Check conditions before you fly
A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Blue Grouse, 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 Blue Grouse with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.
Conditions right now
Live — the same sources the OutDare app uses
Loading live conditions…
Is it usually flyable?
Set your wing's wind range once — the live 7-day outlook and the last 12 months both answer for Blue Grouse.
Surface wind (10 m) in km/h — the same number you read on any forecast.
The 7-day outlook and the 12-month history below both update to your range.
7-day wind outlook
High-resolution models — the same OutDare uses.
Loading the forecast…
Over the last 12 months
12% of days flyable
45 of 365 days had a dry 2-hour+ window in your range, from a direction this site flies
Best month
Jun · 33%
Flyable days by month
A day counts as flyable when the surface wind held in your range, from a direction the site flies, with no rain, for at least 2 hours in a row (08:00–20:00) — from hourly 10 m wind over the last 12 months. A seasonal wind guide only: it can't judge gusts, thermals or turbulence, and never replaces the live forecast, airspace checks and your own judgement.
Nearby flying sites
Site facts from the OutDare flying-site database. Always verify current access and regulations with the local club before flying.