Guide to Hang Gliding and Paragliding Near Chattanooga

There is a lot of natural beauty in the Chattanooga outdoor area and gliding is a great way to enjoy a lot of it. Regardless of your skill level, there are some great spots to enjoy either hang gliding or paragliding, all within a short distance from Chattanooga. Whether it's soaring over Lookout Mountain to the south or the Sequatchie Valley near Dunlap, TN, these flight parks offer both the opportunity for tandem flights or a series of lessons to better understand the aerial sport. You don't have to travel far from Chattanooga to find some great ways to enjoy hang gliding and paragliding.

While both paragliding and hang gliding offer some similar concepts, they differ greatly in technicalities. Paragliding places the pilot in a harness in either the seated or supine position with a long parachute-like canopy above them. Paragliders tend to be slower than hang gliders and offer ample time to enjoy the surrounding beauty. Hang gliding requires the pilot to lie in the prone position among a metal apparatus and an A-shaped kite above them. Hang gliders tend to reach faster speeds, which can be more complicated to maneuver.

Situated on the beautiful Lookout Mountain, this flight park offers a wide array of packages and opportunities to enjoy hang gliding or paragliding. Lookout Mountain Flight Park offers some opportunities for tandem hang gliding flights starting at $149. Flights range from 1,500 feet to 3,000 feet in elevation.

If you have more time, the flight park offers various hang gliding and paragliding packages that include various lessons and flights crucial to the safety and enjoyment of your gliding experience. While these packages start at $150, the larger ones can cost $2,000, but offer a lot of great experiences. Weather plays a big role in availability and Lookout Mountain Flight Park will reschedule flights for another if conditions are unsafe for flight.

• Address: 7201 Scenic Highway, Rising Fawn, GA
• Distance from us: About 38 miles south of Riverside Bed and Breakfast.
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Those wanting to focus on paragliding may want to check out Flying Camp Paragliding just east of Dunlap, TN, which offers a team of instructors with over 40 years of experience. This flight park sits in the Sequatchie Valley at the JUSTFLY-SVS Private Flight Parks at Whitwell and Henson Gap. Tandem flights start at $200 and include a foot launch from a 2,000-foot mountain top to a 700-foot valley floor landing. Flying Camp Paragliding also offers classes for various pilot certifications. Flights are dependent on weather conditions. Flights are open to those of all ages.

• Address: 4692 Window Rock Road, Dunlap, TN
• Distance from us: About 18.5 miles northwest of Riverside Bed and Breakfast
• Hours: Sunrise to sunset all year