Locals usually get to fly this and other East facing sites in the fall but there are a few times mid summer when east winds and great soaring conditions abound.
Launches are on loose sharp rock, unimproved but quite adequate. My PG friends who have launched here took a tarp with them to protect there wing from the terrain during launch.
XC flights have been made to the North and South from here and flying the East side of the Warners provides spectacular views. Surprise Valley has several small towns but Cedarville is the only town with any services. It is very friendly town and has some unique, for the area, businesses.
Please be friendly to ALL landowners in SV as some incidents a decade or so ago left a bad taste on some locals, but that trend seems to be slowly reversing.
Retrievals can be difficult here. The dirt road running from forest road 30 down to Lake City is a rough steep road and usually acquires new challenges every winter, that are not always taken care of to quickly. For pilots in the bail out or headed south XC, back down to Hwy 395 and then across Cedar Pass on Hwy299 is the best route. For pilots headed North drivers can take forest road 30 North along the ridge and down past Lassen Creek CG to Four Corners and go right to Buck Creek Ranger Station and right again on to Fandango Pass road.
Current Conditions
CEDARVILLE - Weather Station
Station In Surprise Valley 4600' North of Cedarville airport
Date: 06/18
| Time(PDT) | 18:00 | 17:45 | 17:30 | 17:15 | 17:00 | 16:45 | 16:30 | 16:15 | 16:00 | 15:45 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature / °F | 62.1 | 65.2 | 64.2 | 64.5 | 63.4 | 62.1 | 55.6 | 63.7 | 66.3 | 65.4 |
| Wind Speed / mph | 8 | 9 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| Wind Gust / mph | 16 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 4 |
| Wind Direction | WSW | W | W | W | WSW | WNW | WSW | W | WNW | NNE |
BARREL SPRINGS - Weather Station
This Weather Station is at the far NE end of Surprise Valley.
Date: 06/18
| Time(PDT) | 18:59 | 17:59 | 16:59 | 15:59 | 14:59 | 13:59 | 12:59 | 11:59 | 10:59 | 9:59 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature / °F | 61.0 | 55.0 | 52.0 | 63.0 | 61.0 | 58.0 | 59.0 | 59.0 | 59.0 | 60.0 |
| Wind Speed / mph | 8 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Wind Gust / mph | 13 | 21 | 36 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Wind Direction | WSW | ESE | SSW | W | WSW | WSW | W | W | WSW | SW |
DW0735 Fort Bidwell - Weather Station
Weather station is at 4177' close to Fort Bidwell airport and is in the wind shadow of Fandango and Bidwell peaksDate: 06/18
| Time(PDT) | 18:38 | 17:53 | 17:49 | 17:35 | 17:20 | 17:04 | 16:50 | 16:35 | 16:20 | 16:05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature / °F | 65.0 | 63.0 | 63.0 | 62.0 | 59.0 | 59.0 | 58.0 | 58.0 | 63.0 | 66.0 |
| Wind Speed / mph | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| Wind Gust / mph | 14 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 20 | 7 |
| Wind Direction | ESE | E | E | SE | S | SE | E | ESE | SSE | SW |
Launch and Landing
Soldier Creek Rim Launch
| Altitude: | 7150 ft |
| Latitude: | 41.608° |
| Longitude: | -120.238° |
| Wind Direction: | From 30° to 95° |
Wx Forecast
Directions: From North On Hwy 395 approx 8 miles south of Davis Creek turn east on Forest Road 30 at Joseph Creek Basin. After approx 9 miles turn Right onto FR 44N30 Continue approx 5miles Until the road ends Launch is on top of the Knoll. Road is good dirt and 2WD until the last 100 yards.
From South on Hwy 395 approx 9 miles north of Alturas turn East on Forest Road 30.After approx 9 miles turn Right onto FR 44N30 Continue approx 5miles Until the road ends Launch is on top of the Knoll. Road is good dirt and 2WD until the last 100 yards.
Soldier Creek Rim a.k.a. Bald. Launch is unimproved loose rock slope ranging from flat slope to steep.
Soldier Creek Rim Launch Soldier Creek Rim, 2004. , by Debbie Johnson-Jackson
Soldier Creek Rim Bail Out - LZ
The Bail Out LZ is at the base of the mountain. No windsocks but there are some small irrigation ponds to help with wind direction.
Please be friendly to ALL landowners in Surprise Valley as some incidents a decade or so ago left a bad taste on some locals, and that trend seems to be slowly reversing.
EMERGENCY # FOR MODOC COUNTY DISPATCH (911) 530 233 4416
Interactive Area Map
Click on Map markers to display more information about the launch and LZ's. A balloon with real time launch conditions will be displayed for the launch.
Launch
LZ
NO LAND field