Best Conditions
Description
Located in California, USA, this paragliding site offers a variety of launch points and flight routes, making it a versatile destination for pilots. The main launch points include Chief's Peak, the Back Ridge, and Nordhoff Ridge, each with unique characteristics and challenges.
Chief's Peak is a relatively flat, south-facing rocky slope at about 4800 ft. MSL, providing a smooth launch experience. The Back Ridge features steeper, south-southeast facing launches at 5100 ft. MSL, with mildly obstructed running room. Nordhoff Ridge, at 4400 ft. MSL, offers a steep, unrestricted east-southeast facing dirt slope.
The primary landing zone (LZ) for Chief's Peak and the Back Ridge is a large series of grass fields in Upper Ojai, easily recognizable by a nearby soccer field. The Nordhoff Ridge has a dirt strip as its bailout LZ, with an alternative LZ at Nordhoff High School, which is spacious but surrounded by houses and power lines.
Access to the launch sites typically requires a 4WD vehicle, although some 2WD vehicles with good ground clearance may manage the steep, smooth dirt roads. A permit from the USFS is necessary to pass through a locked gate at the Rose Valley campground. Contact the Ojai district ranger station at 805-646-4348 for more information and to obtain a permit.
The site is informally regulated by the Topa Flyers, with recommended ratings of Hang II with high altitude experience for Chief's Peak or Nordhoff launches, and Hang 3 for the Back Ridge.
Soaring conditions are generally good, especially in winter when the marine inversion is driven out by a weather front or easterly wind. Nordhoff launch can offer excellent convergence conditions in a Santa Ana wind, potentially allowing flights west to the Carpinteria/Santa Barbara area.
For more detailed information, visit:
- [Wilder Adventures](https://www.wilderadventures.com/launch/1001/cheifs-ojai)
- [Eagle Paragliding](http://www.eagleparagliding.com/)
- [SCPA](http://scpa.info/sites/ojai/index.htm)
- [SBSA](http://sbsa.info)
- [Topa Flyers](https://topaflyers.com/site_guide/siteguide.html#topa)
Directions: Take Highway 33 north out of Ojai through Wheeler Gorge, turn off at the Rose Valley cut-off, and follow the signs to the Rose Valley campground. Drive through the locked gate at the far end of the campground and follow the steep road to the launch sites. For Nordhoff launch, ask a local for specific turn-offs.
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