Parapente Chief 2_Ojai, CA

Located in California, USA, this paragliding site offers a variety of launch points and flight routes, making it a versatile option for pilots. The site is regularly used for thermal soaring, and cross-country (XC) flights are possible. There is an alternative takeoff point 350 meters east of the main launch. Region: California, USA Site Record: 48.7 km For more information, you can contact local schools or organizations: [Eagle Paragliding](http://www.eagleparagliding.com/) [Topa Flyers Site Guide](https://topaflyers.com/site_guide/siteguide.html#topa) **Launch Points:** - **Chief's Peak:** A relatively flat, south-facing rocky slope at about 4800 ft. MSL. It offers a smooth launch with a few mph of breeze. - **The Back Ridge:** A steeper series of south-southeast facing rock and dirt launches at 5100 ft. MSL. It has mildly obstructed running room and is about a mile west of Chief's Peak. - **Nordhoff Ridge:** A steep, east-southeast facing dirt slope at 4400 ft. MSL, located about 2 miles west of the Back Ridge. It is suitable for light to dead wind launches. **Landing Zones (LZ):** - **Chief's Peak and The Back Ridge:** The main LZ is a large series of grass fields in Upper Ojai, near but not including a soccer field. The wind is usually out of the west, providing an easy landing corridor. - **Nordhoff Ridge:** The bailout LZ is a long dirt strip facing southwest, with a power line crossing about a third of the way down. An alternative LZ is the large field at Nordhoff High School, which is flat and unobstructed but bordered by houses and power lines. **Vehicles:** The road to the launch sites is generally open to 4WD vehicles, but many 2WD vehicles with reasonable ground clearance can also make the trip when the roads are dry. The road is steep but smooth dirt, accessed through a locked gate at the Rose Valley campground. **Regulation:** The site is informally regulated by the Topa Flyers. Recommended ratings are a minimum of Hang II with high altitude experience for Chief's Peak or Nordhoff launches, and a minimum of Hang 3 for the Back Ridge. A permit from the USFS is required to access the locked gate on the road to launch. Contact the Ojai district ranger station at 805-646-4348 for more information and to obtain a permit. **Conditions:** Good soaring conditions generally require the marine inversion in the Ojai Valley to be driven out by a weather front or easterly wind. The site is a good wintertime choice due to its frontal soarability and road access. Nordhoff launch can offer excellent convergence conditions in a Santa Ana wind, potentially allowing flights to the Carpinteria/Santa Barbara area. **Directions:** Take Highway 33 north out of Ojai through Wheeler Gorge and turn off at the Rose Valley cut-off. Follow the road for about 1-2 miles and turn right at the signs for the Rose Valley campground. Drive through the locked gate at the far end of the campground and up the steep road to the launch sites. For Nordhoff launch, ask a local for specific turn-offs.