Paiute (Bishop- Owens Valley)
📍 California , Inyo County · Nearest city: Dixon Lane-Meadow Creek (20 km)
66 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2919 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
37.53140, -118.27900Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-05-02 16:03 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~980 m, wind 13 km/h, precipitation 4.8 mm.
base ~980m · wind 13 km/h · precip 4.8mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~451 m, wind 19 km/h, precipitation 1.6 mm.
base ~451m · wind 19 km/h · precip 1.6mmComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
🌬 Daily wind (next days)
Daily summary (10m wind). Full hour × altitude chart is being added progressively.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
🗓️ Best season to fly (2024 climatology)
Monthly climate score: historical avg of temp, wind, rain and cloud cover. Green = optimal month.
⭐ Best month: Aug (100/100, 21°C, 16mm lluvia) · Worst month: Feb (35/100, 136mm lluvia)
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 12 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.80 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.50 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Big area with dirt and small rocks. Also lots of tiny bushes to snag lines. Launch is at 8000ft/msl, 4000ft above the LZ. The air is thin. Occasional dusties through launch, especially late in the day.
Pilot comments
This is a huge site with big mountains and deep canyons. The terrain is harsh desert with rocky spines. The launch is 4K above the valley; you can climb a thousand feet higher and still be only half-way up the mountain. 30-mile flights are common, but further distances must be out-and-backs. Use other launches for long open-distance XCs. Maintain good ground clearance. There is little benefit to 'scratching' the Whites, and the potential for dust devils and/or violent thermals is high. This is a great high altitude launch - once you make it up the gnarly road! The advantage is the LZ always feels like it is within gliding distance. Great for confidence of the students. Wait for a lull to launch!!
Nearby sites
Gunter (Bishop - Owens Valley) (58) · Flynns (Bishop - Owens Valley) (55) · Bria Dog Ridge (Mammoth Lake) (13) · McGee (Owens Valley) (47) · Mammoth (17) · Black Eagle (Bishop, Owens Valley) (16)