Nelson's Launch
Paragliding site · United States
- Launch altitude
- 1,739 m
- Level
- Intermediate+
- Best season
- —
- Landing
- —
Works on S · SW · W · NW
Where it is
Nelson's Launch is a small hike-up clearing at the top of the Ron Coleman trail from the valley, where it meets the ridge trail overlooking west El Paso — inside Franklin Mountains State Park in Texas. It launches west. The terrain out front is convoluted: gullies and canyons demand conservative flying and honest ground clearance. Every pilot must hold current USHPA membership and register before flying in the park (record your USHPA number on the entrance form).
Launch & conditions
Small clearing where the Ron Coleman trail from the valley meets the ridge trail overlooking west El Paso. Launch west. Note: the ParaglidingEarth marker may not be precisely placed — trust the site info, not the pin.
Getting there & local rules
Access details are managed by the local club — follow the published site rules. Every pilot must hold current USHPA membership and register in the park entrance form (record your USHPA number).
Check conditions before you fly
A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Nelson's Launch, 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 Nelson's Launch 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? The 12-month record
In a typical 12–35 km/h wind range, Nelson's Launch offered a flyable window on 203 of 365 days (56%) over the last 12 months. Best month: May (81%).
| January39%12/31 | February64%18/28 | March68%21/31 | April73%22/30 | May81%25/31 | June70%21/30 |
| July29%9/31 | August39%12/31 | September40%12/30 | October48%15/31 | November60%18/30 | December58%18/31 |
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.
Is it usually flyable?
Set your wing's wind range once — the live 7-day outlook and the last 12 months both answer for Nelson's Launch.
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
56% of days flyable
203 of 365 days had a dry 2-hour+ window in your range, from a direction this site flies
Best month
May · 81%
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.