BASE Jumping in Oklahoma: Everything You Need to Know
Friday, October 17, 2025
Key Takeaways
BASE jumping is an extreme sport that involves parachuting from fixed objects – Buildings, Antennas, Spans, Earth – which form the “BASE” jumping acronym. Unlike skydiving, BASE jumping occurs at much lower altitudes with minimal equipment and virtually no regulatory oversight, resulting in significantly higher risk. While the sport is legal in a few designated locations, like Idaho’s Perrine Bridge, it’s often restricted or illegal elsewhere due to safety, trespassing, and liability concerns.
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What Does BASE Jumping Stand For?
What Does BASE Jumping Stand For?
BASE jumping is often seen as the ultimate adrenaline rush. Jumping from a bridge, cliff, or skyscraper with nothing but a parachute on your back captures the imagination in a way that few other activities can. It’s daring, visually spectacular, and … very frequently misunderstood.
Before going further, let’s define BASE jumping clearly. BASE jumping is the sport of parachuting from fixed objects rather than aircraft. Have you ever wondered why it is called “BASE” jumping? Well … the letters in “BASE” jumping stand for the four categories of fixed objects from which you can jump. Here is the BASE jumping acronym spelled out for ya:
- Buildings – this includes tall skyscrapers, towers, or other man-made structures. Urban BASE jumping has a reputation for secrecy due to legal risks (we’ll get into this later).
- Antennas – Refers to tall radio towers, often located in remote areas.
- Spans – Bridges are some of the most popular legal and illegal BASE jumping sites.
- Earth – Natural cliffs, mountains, or rock formations (like the famous cliffs of Norway’s Lysefjord).
How BASE Jumping Differs from Skydiving
Skydiving and BASE jumping share roots in parachuting but they differ in a few important ways. Altitude/reaction time, equipment, landing area, and risk are the main ways that set BASE jumping apart from skydiving.
| Skydiving | BASE Jumping | |
| Altitude & Reaction Time | Skydives often begin at 10,000 to 14,000 feet (or more), which gives you about 45 seconds to stabilize, orient, deploy the parachute, and deal with potential mishaps. | BASE jumps start from fixed objects often only a few hundred feet above ground, which gives far less time to react. Some jumps are performed as low as 150 feet. |
| Canopy Deployment / Equipment | All skydiving rigs include a reserve parachute. Automatic Activation Devices (AADs) and other redundancies are often required. | BASE rigs do not typically have reserve parachutes or AADs – deployment must happen quickly. |
| Landing Area | Skydivers usually jump over wide open dropzones, away from unfavorable terrain, objects, or obstruction. | BASE jumps occur from fixed sites, usually surrounded by unpredictable terrain. |
| Risk & Regulation | Skydiving is highly regulated by the United States Parachute Association (USPA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). There are formal courses, strict certifications, and standardized safety practices. Fatality rates are approximately 0.23 per 100,000 jumps for licensed skydivers. | BASE jumping is far less regulated. Many jumpers train with professional mentors. Legal restrictions tend to make open practice difficult. Fatality rates are approximately 1 per 2,300 jumps. |
Is BASE Jumping a Felony?
The short answer is not usually, but under certain conditions, it can most certainly lead to felony charges – or at least serious misdemeanors. The legality of BASE jumping depends on where the jump happens, whose property is involved, and any state or federal laws that apply. Here are some examples of when BASE jumping can be illegal:
- Trespassing: The most common legal consequence jumpers face is trespassing. Many BASE jumps are from structures or properties that are private, or publicly owned but restricted, and have a “no trespassing” sign.
- Public Order or Safety Violations: If a jump places others at risk (people below, traffic, vehicles, etc.) or causes a disturbance, jumpers may be charged with reckless endangerment, public nuisance, or disorderly conduct.
- Violations on Federal Lands / National Parks: Federal land frequently has rules specifically prohibiting BASE jumping unless under permit. For example, U.S. National Park Service regulation 36 CFR 2.17 prohibits delivering or retrieving persons by parachute without permit. Many park authorities do not issue such permits – or the applications are regularly rejected.
While most BASE jumping violations are misdemeanors, in some cases charges may escalate to felony level if property damage results, someone is injured or killed, it’s considered breaking and entering or burglary, and if repeated offenses occur.
Why is BASE Jumping Illegal?
BASE jumping is considered illegal in many locations primarily due to safety, liability, and property concerns. Property owners and municipalities face potential legal responsibility if a jumper is injured or killed.
Additionally, the high-risk nature of BASE jumping, combined with the lack of formal oversight, contributes to its restricted status in most urban and public areas. However, there are legal BASE sites – like Idaho’s Perrine Bridge – where the sport is permitted year-round under specific safety guidelines.
BASE Jumping Course at Oklahoma Skydiving Center
The BASE program at Oklahoma Skydiving Center is built on progression, not shortcuts. You won’t be thrown off a bridge on day one – instead, you’ll train methodically, learning canopy mastery and essential packing skills long before your first BASE exit.
Each year, we select a limited group of capable jumpers we believe are ready to join our BASE progression. We lead organized trips to Perrine Bridge, which offers an environment for real jumps under experience guidance.
Here are the BASE Course Requirements as Oklahoma Skydiving Center:
- Minimum of 200 skydives logged
- Ability to train at Oklahoma Skydiving Center
- Advanced canopy skills training
- BASE specific canopy packing and jump training
- Ability to travel to BASE jump destination
BASE jumping is a craft that demands precision, skill, and respect for the sport. At Oklahoma Skydiving Center, we provide the mentorship, training, and opportunities to help you progress from skydiver to BASE jumper.
Get in touch with us or stop by the dropzone to talk with our team about what it really takes to begin your BASE journey. Blue skies!
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