Hang gliding and paragliding at Lakeview
The Oregon Department of Aviation says Lakeview is "one of the best places in North America for hang gliding and paragliding." Wikipedia adds that the city was designated the "Hang Gliding Capital of the West" in 1991 and hosted national hang gliding championships in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2008.
The sites
Warm valley air rises against steep terrain here. Wikipedia describes the southern end of Abert Rim as popular for flying. Abert Rim runs more than 30 miles north from Lakeview and rises about 2,490 feet above the valley floor. Local newspaper coverage of the festival names Black Cap, above town, as a launch known for multiple launch directions and evening glass-offs, and also lists Palisades and Tague's Butte on Abert Rim as prime sites. We did not find an official page describing Black Cap, so check with local pilots and the chamber before you go. These are demanding sites.
Free Flight Festival
A free-flight festival is held around the Fourth of July. The 2024 edition returned to Lakeview after a long break. Dates and rules change, so use the Lake County Chamber of Commerce for current information.