Bee Canyon LFB

Bee Canyon LFB is a launch above California's Hemet/San Jacinto Valley, pioneered on the 4th of July in 2009 and still fairly under-the-radar — there isn't a deep body of local knowledge published on it yet. The takeoff itself is a small hill at roughly 3,500 feet, facing generally west, reached by hiking a dirt road up from the parking area on the back side of the hill. On a good day, pilots bench up using the larger hill to the east and then jump across to neighboring hills to the north or southeast if there's enough lift, with Indian Mountain, Idyllwild Ponds and Chimney Flats all potentially in reach. The site favors wind blowing across the valley from the southwest through northwest. The one real hazard to watch is Mount San Jacinto behind the site, which regularly builds thunderstorms through the summer, so keep an eye on the sky rather than just the wind at launch.

Launch & conditions

Launch is a small hill at roughly 3,500 feet, facing generally west, reached by a dirt-road hike up from the parking area on the back side. Bench up using the larger hill to the east, then jump to neighboring hills north or southeast if there's enough lift.

Getting there & local rules

From downtown Hemet, head east on Florida Avenue (which becomes Highway 74) toward Idyllwild, then take Bee Canyon Road and follow the dirt road up the canyon to where several roads meet; stay on the main road as it zigzags up and around the back of the launch hill, and park in the wide spot there.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Bee Canyon LFB, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Bee Canyon LFB with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.