I Got Wings!!!! My First Paragliding Experience in Glenwood Spring

There are so many exciting and fun things to do in Glenwood Spring! Discover this beautiful mountain town with non-stop adventure, fun, and relaxation! For an experience to never forget, treat yourself to the magical experience of paragliding in the spectacular western slope setting of Colorado.

“It is never too late to tick something off of your bucket list,” said two of my colleagues sailing off the top of a mountain over Glenwood Springs. It was very natural that adventure is in these girls’ blood. When they landed the first thing out of their mouth was, “It was awesome! Shall we do it again!?”

Now that’s my friend, is how to make life rich with memories. If you have ever dreamt of flying, or gazed up at the bird soaring above longing to join them, this is the chance to live that experience by paragliding in Glenwood Springs!

Looking at them swinging and dancing in the air made quite impossible not to think, “I would like to try it too, at least once.” And that is how I decided to undergo my first ever paragliding experience over the mountains.

That’s me Paragliding in Glenwood Spring. It was so fun! 

And since I had never done any extreme sport before, I immediately said a “YES!!” when asked. I was both excited and nervous at the same time.  

In the meantime, standing at the edge of the mountain and looking down the world was an experience hard to explain in words. As I was all set to fly high, I could suddenly hear a voice behind me barked orders – “Step forward! Come back, come back! Woah – wait up. Run, Run, Run! Pick your legs up! Yeeeee!”

And after a short run, we started flying, with the force of the wind admiring the mountains around us and the villages beneath. The view was breathtaking and the experience itself was very exciting to be so high up in the sky. The world looked tiny and the sky was the limit. Exciting!! 

Up above the world so high!!

My paragliding instructor continued instructing me as we were jerked across a cliff side high above Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We were flying tandem, attached to each other and attached to an enormous chute.

Up Above the World so High, Like a Diamond in the Sky….

And a few minutes later, we were sailing high up above the rolling green hills. It brought the inner kid inside me out, and made me remember the old famous school days rhymes to which I started singing loudly “Up above the world so high like a diamond in the sky” (and found a bizarre expression in the face of my instructor).

I then pulled myself into a comfortable seated position in order to enjoy the magnificent views. Many paragliding set-ups come with comfortable pilot’s chair, even the tandem ones.

 Next, we did a series of dives and climbs, dropping to a low altitude – before shooting back again into the sky. If there was any perfect way to absorb the Colorado landscape, then this was it.

While we were flying high above like a free bird and with all the dips, rises, and turns, I started realizing how mistaken I had been about paragliding. I thought it to be a jolting experience just like skydiving, but I was wrong because it was quite the opposite. While it still got my adrenaline rushing, it also evoked a level of newfound relaxation. The experience was just like floating on a swinging deck chair. 

Moments after launch. The view was breathtaking. 

Finally, it was my turn to steer the chute. I took the control and gave a hard yank in the direction I wanted to explore.

Then we started to descend, slowly. Even the landing procedure was so straightforward, clean, and hardly noticeable. We first started looking for an open flat surface on the ground and made our approach. Upon ground getting closer, the instructor asked me to start running in-air, to which I followed immediately. Soon my feet touch the surface, and in synchronization once again, we took a few more steps to bring the chute down.

There was a BIG smile on my face. I turned back and we both gave the obligatory high five to each other.

It was a lifetime experience and a tick off from my bucket list. I would love to try it again!

Overall, I would definitely recommend everyone to give paragliding a try. It’s not just for the thrill-seeking adrenaline junkies. Even, the novice outdoor recreation enthusiast can try their hands on “Paragliding,” one of the fun things to do in Glenwood Spring. And, if it’s your first try, you need to look out for a company that will take you tandem. 

The free bird feel!!

Based on my thrilling experience, I would recommend Adventure Paragliding to all the first-timers. Their tandem paragliding is perfect for a large spectrum of ages and abilities. The certified instructors will explain you the process and go over safety measures with every guest.

If you are looking for something new and exciting to do, give Colorado Paragliding a try.