Owens Valley / Bishop
Bishop / Lone Pine · near Bishop (base of operations) · Mammoth Lakes · Lone Pine · Eastern Sierra
Paragliding
At a glance
- Skill level
- expert
- Best season
- Spring and fall · Summer works but thermals are strong and unforgiving
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- No
Paragliding detail
- Nickname
- The World-Class XC Corridor
- Flying types
- xc · thermal
- Conditions
- Combination of Sierra Nevada to the west and White-Inyo Mountains to the east creates a natural corridor of powerful, organized thermals. Primary launches: Flynns, Paiute, and Gunter in the White Mountains (4WD access only, west-facing); Walt's Point on the Sierra side. XC flights exceeding 200km are possible on good days. California state distance record set from the Owens. Expert-level conditions — altitude, strong thermals, and limited landing options demand serious mountain flying experience.
- Ushpa
- P3 minimum. P4 strongly recommended. 4WD required for most launches. Always fly with an experienced local on your first Owens flights.
- Intl tip
- Bishop is a genuine adventure hub. World-class bouldering at the Buttermilks, Mt. Whitney access from Lone Pine, Mammoth Lakes skiing — combine Owens flying with a broader Eastern Sierra trip rather than treating it as a day trip.
The guide
The Owens Valley is one of the legendary paragliding destinations on earth. The first 100-mile cross-country flights in the Uni…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Owens Valley / Bishop — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 37.3614, -118.395