Cape Kiwanda

Cape Kiwanda is a large sand dune just N of Pacific City Oregon.  This sand dune is used for paragliding and hang-gliding training and also makes a nice site for R/C glider slope soaring with models of all sizes.  The site has limited top-landing areas, all in sand.  So if you don't want sand in your glider, don't fly here.  The site can be flown in N winds (summer), or S winds (winter).  The N side is better.

Location Summary:

• City:  Pacific City Oregon

• Skill Level:  All

• Access:  Entire week

• Landing Area Quality: OK, but sand.

• Hazards in the area:  Paragliders, tourists hiking, hang-gliders.

Directions to the Site:  (45.22009151656861, -123.97478789081731)

• Hwy 26 W to Hwy 6

• Hwy 6 W to Hwy 101 (Tillamook)

• Hwy 101 S to Sand Lake Road

• Sand Lake Road S to McPhillips Beach Vehicle Access (for flying N side)

• Rough entrance to beach.  Drive on beach S to sand dune.

• Park away from hang-glider LZ at bottom of dune, take into account the rising tide so your car is not in the water later.

• Hike up dune

• Sand Lake Road S to Pacific City public parking (for flying S side)

• Hike N along beach, then up the face of the dune.

Site review:

• This site is primarily flown in NNW winds during the summer.

• Suitable for gliders you can hike up a sand dune with and are willing to let sand into the glider on landing.

• Regular paragliding and hang-gliding activity.

Description provided courtesy of Pat Chewning.