Flying sites

Take-off – Villa Grove

Direction: NNEESESSWWNW
Coordinates: 38.2915, -105.8820
Altitude: 2950 m
Region: Colorado, US
Landing: 2.9 km from the take-offView on map ↗

Take-off description

Located near Villa Grove, CO in the San Luis Valley. Site faces SW, launch at approximately 9,300ft MSL, The primary LZ is at 7500ft MSL and is miles and miles of grass and short sage fields starting at the base of the Sangre De Cristo range. The Sangre De Cristos range from 12,000ft MSL to over 14,000ft MSL and run unbroken for over 60 miles to the south of launch, then a 15 mile gap and continuing into New Mexico. Both ridge soaring and thermal opportunities. Flying often possible year round. Great XC potential. Often called the little Owens Valley.

Getting there

South on HWY 285 from Salida, north from Alamosa on HWY 285. In the town of Villa Grove, turn east towards Hayden Pass, you'll pass the LZ (marked with a sign and many windflags; large parking space). Continue towards Hayden Pass. Take the first (and only) turn-off to the left. After a while you'll pass a sign, indicating you're on the right track. It is STRONGLY recommended to heed the advise on this sign! ATTN: 4WD with high clearance is a MUST, low gear recommended. Do not even think of 'beating' a 2WD-car up this 'road', as it will make this trackeven worse...

Weather

This tends to be a strong wind site, suitable mostly for hang gliders rather than PG's. July thru Aug. tends to have a monsoon weather pattern which produces huge cumulonimbus clouds. Flying in the presence of these clouds can be VERY hazardous. For PG's to fly safely, the forecast winds should be 10 mph or less. The winds on launch/ top can be 2X the landing zone.

Rules / airspace

P2/ H2 site and rmhpa membership. However, Mid day flights are restricted to P3 /H3 pilots because of turbulence and windy conditions. XC flights to the south are restricted by Great sand dunes national monument: DO NOT LAND THERE!

Comments

This site is at the end of a large valley which tends to limit XC potential. Unless you are able to get VERY high, do not attempt to go beyond the ridge. Once you go past 90 deg. of the ridge (directly above) there is a chance you can't penetrate. Flights going 'over the back' are usually only attempted after reaching at least 16,000'. Mostly, XC flights are cross wind/ into the wind to the south.