Crestline (San Bernardino)
📍 California , San Bernardino County · Nearest city: Crestline (3 km)
68 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1590 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
34.23600, -117.31300Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:01 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
No recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~1381 m, viento fuerte (30 km/h).
base ~1381m · wind 30 km/hNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~1576 m, viento fuerte (40 km/h).
base ~1576m · wind 40 km/hNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~1718 m, viento 15 km/h.
base ~1718m · wind 15 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20⚠️ Marginal · peak 40 at 19h
- Día muy estable (CAPE<50, LI>2) — sin térmicas
| 08 30 | 09 30 🏔️ | 10 30 🏔️ | 11 20 🏔️ | 12 20 🏔️ | 13 30 🏔️ | 14 27 🏔️ | 15 28 🏔️ | 16 30 🏔️ | 17 30 ☁️⚠️ | 18 30 ☁️⚠️ | 19 40 | 20 40 |
Peak 19h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 10.0 · BL top 235 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3515 m · 0°C at 3850 m · Pro score 62/100
2026-04-21❌ Not recommended · peak 40 at 8h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
- Cloud suck alto (80/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 40 | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 12 30 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 13 27 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 14 10 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 15 3 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 16 14 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 17 20 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 18 25 🏔️ | 19 15 🏔️ | 20 22 🏔️ |
Peak 8h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 13.3 · BL top 370 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3140 m · 0°C at 3480 m · Pro score 76/100 · sun 28° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 19:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 12.0°C · Td: -3.4°C
LCL (cloud base): 1925 m
BL top: 235 m
0°C level: 3850 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Wind chart — altitude × time
Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.
Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)
Wind rose 10m — 2026-04-20
| Date | Morning 08-12h | Midday 12-16h | Evening 16-20h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-20 | 14 km/h S | gust 35 | 24 km/h S | gust 43 | 17 km/h S | gust 33 |
| 2026-04-21 | 17 km/h S | gust 30 | 33 km/h S | gust 57 | 26 km/h S | gust 55 |
Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 12 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.88 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.61 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
A moderate size area where 2-3 PG can setup at the same time. You park you vehicule in the parking behind launch which is accessible with any vehicle (asphalt road). There is another launch (Marshall Peak) which is about 300m (1000') lower in case the wind is too strong here. Paragliders use Crestline instead of Marshall to lengthen a sledder when conditions are too weak for staying up.
Rules and notes
Airspace info (for XC-flights): http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/SBDairspace
Pilot comments
There are normally higher winds here than at the Marshall launch which is about 300m (1000') lower. Marshall is an unusually reliable site, especially in the summer. Beginning May 1 there are often 100 soarable days in a row. How high you get and how far you might go XC depend on your skill but also largely on the day's conditions. Southern California often has a temperature inversion that limits soaring to 300-600 meters over Marshall launch, but some days are much higher. Non-CSS-members have to sign a waiver and pay a daily fee of 10USD! USHPA membership required! > see: http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/siteProtocols
Nearby sites
Marshall (San Bernardino) (69) · 750' (San Bernardino) (48) · Ord (39) · Mentone (53) · Rubidoux - The Rock (8) · Blackhawk (8)