Ed Levin County Park, in the eastern foothills above Milpitas, is at the physical and cultural center of hang gliding in the San Francisco Bay Area. Gliders have been flying over these gentle, grassy hills since the 1970's. Many generations of pilots have advanced from their first tentative hops on the beginner hill to high flying at this ideal transition site.

Before pilots can soar thousands of feet over the hills and valleys, they must practice flying from low hills that restrict the flight to only a few feet off the ground. Once basic skills are perfected, the pilot moves to higher hills. The safest way to advance is by adding challenges in small, progressive steps.

Ed Levin Park is blessed with terrain that offers launches at altitudes of 40, 50, 150, 300, 600, and 1750 feet. Each step is small; new skills and challenges can be faced without venturing too far from practiced, familiar territory.

Heading West from the top of Ed Levin...

The lowest levels allow takeoff and landing practice and direction control while maintaining a straight course. The 300 and 600 foot levels are high enough to learn turns and flight planning. The huge landing pasture allows plenty of room for error as new pilots learn to precisely control the path of their flight. They quickly gain the skill and confidence to land the glider within a few feet of a cone marking the landing target. With these skills mastered, it is an easy step to that glorious first high flight from the 1750 foot level at the top of the ridge, when the Earth falls away and you become a creature of the air!

All of the launches are favorably sloped, weather conditions are generally mild, and the landing area is an easy glide away, keeping the challenges manageable and progress toward advanced skills rapid. Few areas of the country have a site that makes moving up in the hang gliding world so easy.

Flying at Ed Levin is administered by the Wings of Rogallo Hang Gliding Club. Members maintain the site and are there to help new pilots make the required training flights. As beginner (Hang I) and novice (Hang II) pilots, your instructor will introduce you to the site. Intermediate (Hang III) level tasks will be practiced under the eyes of volunteer Wings of Rogallo Observers.

To reach Ed Levin County Park, take hwy. 680 or hwy. 880 to highway 237. Head east on hwy. 237 (Calaveras Blvd.) into the foothills until reaching Downing Road. Turn left on Downing and head straight into the park. From the park entrance, follow the road beyond the lake and park in the parking lot. The landing area is directly across the road at the fenced pasture. Feel free to stop by and chat with the pilots about their favorite pastime.

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