SSA To visit the Soaring Society of America.

PASCO To visit the Pacific Soaring Council.

BAY AREA GLIDER RIDES  - To visit Hollister Glider Rides website.

HOLLISTER GLIDING CLUB - To visit Hollister gliding club website.

SOAR TRUCKEE - To visit Truckee website.

 

SOARING OUT OF SAN FRANCISCO
We are often asked, by out of state visitors, where to soar in Northern California, and how to get there. The answer to the second question is easy, by car! (This is California!!) So here is a quick guide to the first question, biased of course by personal knowledge and experience. All driving times assume you do not travel in the rush hour. The sites listed are a mix of commercial Fixed Base Operators, and clubs. All of the FBO's offer rides, instruction and rental, most year round except where noted.

The premier year round site is probably the Minden - Tahoe Airport, often called MINDEN, at 4700 feet in Nevada. It's about 250 miles, say 5 hours, firstly east of San Francisco on Interstate 80 to Sacramento and Reno, then south on highway 395. Or take highway 50 out of Sacramento through South Lake Tahoe to highway 395. (Slightly shorter, but takes about the same time). From the South Bay Area, you can also take 580 to 205 to 120 to 99 to 88.Good roads, and a spectacular drive over the Sierra, but winter weather can be bad, especially when the wave is working!! A safe field with plentiful runways and landouts. Gliders and power traffic, usually on separate runways. Good year round thermals, but of course better in the spring and summer. Spectacular wave, usually October through June, but can be any time. Plentiful ridge. Motels, and gambling, in Minden, about 5 miles from the airport. Click: SOAR MINDEN or HIGH COUNTRY SOARING to link to either of the two FBO's at Carson Valley Airport. MINDEN SOARING CLUB will take you to the club.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SOARING ASSOCIATION is probably the closest site to San Francisco at Byron, near Brentwood, between highways 4 and 205, perhaps a 90 minute drive. It is a club site, and usually operates weekends only. Try 925-426-1412 if the Web Site is not working.

CRAZY CREEK Gliderport is at Middletown, about two hours north of San Francisco. Take Interstate 80 East for about 30 miles, then highway 29 north for another 60 or so. Not very far, but right through the winding, busy roads of the Napa Valley wine district. (Please sample on your way back!!). In the midst of the Coastal Mountains, normally gliders only, good thermals year round and sometimes wave. Can be wet in the winter. Motels in Middletown, about 10 miles from the airport. There are two clubs which use the site, SILVERADO SOARING, and CRAZY CREEK SOARING SOCIETY . Silverado also uses Truckee in the summer.

The HOLLISTER GLIDING CLUB is a commercial club which operates out of Hollister Airport, south on highway 101 out of San Francisco for about 90 minutes, then highway 25 for about 20 minutes to the junction of highway 156. Take a left on 156, then the 1st right and follow the signs. A very safe airport in an agricultural area at sea level. Gliders and Power on intersecting runways. Good winter and spring thermals and sometimes wave, (their best is 14,000 feet), tends to be less active in the summer unless you take a high (~6000 foot) tow into the hills, although 300km flights are common in spring and summer for those who do. Will work when Crazy Creek is closed by rain.

AIR SAILING is a glider-only site created and owned by glider pilots. Great summer thermals, ridges close by, and wave right over the airport on wave days. Easier to get back into than Truckee when returning from a cross-country flight. The main downside is that the site has been carved out of the desert, although a new clubhouse is now under construction (spring, 2002). It's at about 4300 feet, about a thirty minute drive north from Reno, Nevada, which puts it also about 5 hours east of San Francisco. Good paved roads except for the last three miles. Camping on the airport, with camping trailers for rent, and with the nearest services 20 minutes away. PALOMINO VALLEY SOARING is the FBO and provides tows, flight instruction, rides, and dual cross country soaring adventures. NEVADA SOARING ASSOCIATION (775-825-1125) is the associated club.

For most of us, SOAR TRUCKEE is our favorite Northern California site, but unfortunately only open May 1 through Sep 30, because it's at 6000 feet, right in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. About 3 hours east of San Francisco by I80. Not for the faint hearted, few options on a low rope break, sometimes severe turbulence over the usual landing approach, and often a cross-wind to boot! Gliders and power, usually on intersecting runways. But super, super, thermals, sometimes summer wave, and gorgeous scenery. A nice intimate site, with an office and a bunkhouse right by the launch area. With a shower, flush toilets, and multiple camp sites, who could ask for more!

WILLIAMS SOARING CENTER is in the Sacramento Valley, with soaring conditions similar to Hollister. It's about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. 80 miles east on Interstate 80 to Vacaville, then north on Interstates 505 and 5 for about 70 miles. VALLEY SOARING ASSOCIATION is the club.:

AVENAL, where the CENTRAL CALIFORNIA SOARING CLUB makes it's home. It's near Kettleman City, probably about four hours south of San Francisco on Interstate 5.

ORLAND Airport, where the CHICO SOARING ASSOCIATION operates. About 80 miles east on Interstate 80, roughly two hours north on Interstates 505 and 5.

MOUNT SHASTA SOARING CENTER , perhaps 200 miles north of San Francisco on 80, 505, and 5. Soar one of the most beautiful (hopefully dormant) volcano in Northern California!

 

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