Santiago Peak
📍 California , Orange County · Nearest city: Trabuco Canyon (7 km)
47 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1708 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
33.70890, -117.53500Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 01:42 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~490 m, strong wind (26 km/h), precipitation 1.4 mm.
base ~490m · wind 26 km/h · precip 1.4mmNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~1470 m, wind 16 km/h.
base ~1470m · wind 16 km/hNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~1669 m, wind 16 km/h.
base ~1669m · wind 16 km/hComposite 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
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 2 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.84 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.39 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Flat and typically in wind shadow so you need good forward launching skills. A freind broke lines on 2 wings trying to launch and gave up.
Pilot comments
Check that the gates to the road going up will be open. Something about protected toads when it is their mating season or something. Gavin Swain writes... There are two roads to launch. One is Main Divide from the 74 (just turn the other way instead of going to the E), the other leads up from Silverado (the gate is often closed so it\'s worth checking beforehand). I\'ve only been up from the 74 but believe that both roads require 4WD. About 1+ hr from the 74 or 45+ mins from Silverado. Santiago launch faces SW into the Trabuco Canyon wash and I think somebody told me that there\'s a second launch at Modjeska Peak that faces more W. Don\'t know whether the site works well or the legalities of launching there and/or landing in the wash. Way too long of a turnaround to bother flying there on any kind of regular basis but might be fun for the novelty. On the other hand why go through all that effort when you can launch Elsinore and FLY there?!
Nearby sites
Elsinore (49) · Menifee (39) · Rubidoux - The Rock (8) · Hidden Valley (14) · Winchester Bowl (12) · mt bachelor (16)