Fly

If you are a freshly minted P2 pilot, Morningside is your best bet. It is far away, but it is worth driving. It is P2 rated, has good amenities and reasonable prices, and you can play on the hill all day long. On a good day, you can spend hours in the air. There are three launches: 150”, 250” and 450”: and for a reasonable price, you get the ride up the hill. And there is a great community to help you polish your skills!

Ellenville also requires a mentor/observer for P2 certified pilots. No flying midday for inexperienced pilots. No real amenities, but it has its own advantages. A nice launch is one of them. If you are well organized, you can have three or more short flights in the morning, and probably three or more in the afternoon. Check the Hudson Valley Free Flyers website for more info.

This one is tricky, P3 rated as Mount Brace, and similar rules, but it has a cliff launch. If you are not Cliff Launch certified, better start working on it before you show up at Mt. Tom. Find out more at New England Paragliding and Hang Gliding Club. There are more flying sites, but they are further away from New York City.