McGee (Owens Valley)
📍 California , Mono County · Nearest city: Mammoth Lakes (15 km)
47 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2786 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
37.58940, -118.81800Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:27 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
No recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~1877 m, viento fuerte (47 km/h).
base ~1877m · wind 47 km/hNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~211 m, viento fuerte (36 km/h), precipitación 22.6 mm.
base ~211m · wind 36 km/h · precip 22.6mmDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~313 m, viento 11 km/h.
base ~313m · wind 11 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 5 | Medium |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.78 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.11 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Takeoff for Paragliders is on steep hillside clearing just below a east facing switchback in the road which overlooks Crowley Lake. The best takeoff for hangliders would be from the road itself.
Pilot comments
(Comments by local pro pilot Kari Castle) This is a beautiful morning site. Need to be on launch by 9:30-10am ready to go. For PG the launch is rough, complete with Velcro bushes!! Tricky site in that the West wind will come in and will change fast. Many pilots get caught on launch waiting for it to get better - better to wait in the sky scratching around while it turns on. Don't fly over the horses in the LZ!!! Don't land in the green grass by the horses and obey the no fly zone by Mammoth Airport. You must be over 3,000ftAGL to fly over Hwy 395 and a 5-mile area of the airport!!!
Nearby sites
Mammoth (17) · Bria Dog Ridge (Mammoth Lake) (13) · Chalk Bluffs (10) · Paiute (Bishop- Owens Valley) (66) · Gunter (Bishop - Owens Valley) (58) · Flynns (Bishop - Owens Valley) (55)