Paragliding Nordhoff Peak_Fire lookout tower_Ojai, CA

Ojai, California offers a variety of paragliding launches and flight routes, making it a good off-season alternative to Pine Mountain. The region features several launch sites with directions ranging from east to south. **Launch Sites:** 1. **Chief's Peak**: Located at about 4800 ft. MSL, this launch has a relatively flat, south-facing rocky slope. It is situated toward the northeast end of the range. 2. **The Back Ridge**: This site is at 5100 ft. MSL and features a steeper south-southeast facing rock and dirt launch. It is about a mile west of Chief's Peak. 3. **Nordhoff Ridge**: At 4400 ft. MSL, this launch has a steep, unrestricted east-southeast facing dirt slope. It is located approximately two miles west of the Back Ridge. Chief's Peak and the Back Ridge are more comfortable with a few mph of breeze due to their respective slopes and running room. Nordhoff Ridge is suitable for light to no wind launches. The nominal landing zone (LZ) for Chief's Peak and the Back Ridge is across the valley in Upper Ojai. Nordhoff Ridge uses different LZs, including a long dirt strip and a large field at Nordhoff High School. **Landing Zones:** - **Chief's Peak and 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 bail-out LZ is a dirt strip facing southwest, with a power line crossing about a third of the way down. The Nordhoff High School LZ is large, flat, and unobstructed but bordered by houses and roads. **Vehicles:** Access to the launch sites is generally restricted to 4WD vehicles, although some 2WD vehicles with good ground clearance may manage when the roads are dry. The road to the launches 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:** Soaring conditions generally require the marine inversion in the Ojai Valley to be driven out by a weather front or easterly wind. The Nordhoff launch can offer good convergence conditions in a Santa Ana wind, potentially allowing flights west down the range 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 directions, consult a local pilot. For more information, visit: - [Fly Above All](http://flyaboveall.com/) - [SCPA Ojai Site Guide](http://scpa.info/sites/ojai/index.htm) - [SBSA](http://sbsa.info) - [Topa Flyers Site Guide](https://topaflyers.com/site_guide/siteguide.html#topa) Watch videos of the site: - [YouTube Video 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAPwteMjLkc) - [YouTube Video 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv6svjuU8AI)