Town of Prairie du Sac

Prairie du Sac is a flatland towing site in south-central Wisconsin, just off Highway 60 about 1.5 miles west-southwest of Sauk City, with the tow road itself a gravel dead-end that sees little to no other traffic. Ground handling matters more here than the terrain suggests: the corridor is narrow, and an irrigation canal runs right alongside the setup and takeoff area — shallow, but wet enough that sloppy handling means getting wet. On a good wind day, pilots average about a 2,000-foot climb on tow, with the site's flatland thermals working well when conditions support cross-country flying. Flying is common-sense here: stay clear of neighboring farms and asphalt roads, yield to all people and vehicle traffic, and keep an eye on air traffic from the small Sauk City airport nearby — powered paragliders aren't flown at this site. A strong west wind tends to turn turbulent as it comes off the hills to the west, and the practical ceiling is about 12 mph average wind — 15 mph on the ground is considered unsafe, since it usually runs stronger just above.

Launch & conditions

The tow road is gravel and dead-end, with little to no other traffic; ground handling needs to be tight, since an irrigation canal runs right alongside the setup and takeoff area.

Getting there & local rules

Easy access just off Highway 60, about 1.5 miles west-southwest of Sauk City, Wisconsin.

Local rules & hazards

This is a common-sense site: avoid flying low over neighboring farms, don't land on the asphalt roads, give way to all people and vehicle traffic, and watch for air traffic from the small Sauk City airport nearby — no powered paragliders. A strong west wind tends to turn turbulent coming off the hills to the west, and the practical ceiling is about 12 mph average wind, since ground readings above 15 mph are usually stronger just overhead and unsafe to fly.

Check conditions before you fly

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