SITE: St. John Mountain

WARNING: There are places near Stonyford where you MUST NOT LAND or you may be fined.
Most landowners are friendly and there are a few fields you can land in, but the best place to land is at Fouts just south of the Potato Hill paraglider LZ.
Do not land around Stonyford unless you're forced down when going XC.

LOCATION: Stonyford, CA (39.28'N 122.36'W)

Google Earth Placemark file: If you have Google Earth installed on your computer (it's free),
click this link to import a collection of placemarks for this site into Google Earth.

USAGE: Hang gliders from main launch, P.G. from Potato Hill (near Fouts Springs)

SEASON: Summer/Fall only (can be snowed in until May or later)

REQUIREMENTS: Hang IV. Hang III with mountain experience.

DIRECTIONS: From Maxwell exit on I5 (near Williams), go west to Stonyford.  Or, from Highway 20 take Bear Valley dirt road north to Lodoga, then follow directions to Stonyford.  From Stonyford, go west on M10, turn right at Fouts Springs, follow signs to top, - about 12 miles.

ROAD CONDITIONS: Steep, dirt, rough 2WD. Good but a long way from Stonyford, 1 hour to the top.  Ample parking at top.

FACILITIES: Camping available at E. Park Reservoir (no water) or several higher elevation sites, one (Letts) with small mountain lake.  Often crowded on holidays.  Semi-improved campsites, first come first served.  No hotels or cabins.

LAUNCH: South Launch: Elevation 6150 ft.  Nice, big set-up area.  Good dirt ramp, but into shallow bowl, somewhat set back, with bushes in front.  Winds are usually light.  Crossing slightly from left is good.  If it's crossing from the right, do not launch here.  Instead, consider the West Launch.  Launches are not difficult, but good aggressive technique is required.  A nose-high, mushy launch will put you in the rocks.  Wait for a good cycle.  Not recommended in no wind.  

West Launch: Elevation 6650 ft. Steep shale slope near peak. Easy in any wind, but beware bushes in front.
No smoking on any launch or in any LZ.

HAZARDS: Shallow South launch over rocks.   Light winds.  Long glide to L.Z. over deep ravine.  If you get more than 500 ft below launch it's advisable to get out.  Landings at Davis Flat campground en route to primary bailout are not recommended - the surface is very rocky, sloping, and surrounded by trees.  St. John can be turbulent over the peak.

The FLYING S RANCH is PROHIBITED - DO NOT LAND THERE or you may be cited.  Fines of $150 have been collected for landing there.
Click here for a map.

FLYING: Usually great thermal flying - very consistent.  It can be rough - big mountain air, often to 10,000.  House thermal is over the switchbacks east of launch.  Good XC potential.  Record flights: North 110 miles flex, 158 miles rigid, and South 43 miles to Arbuckle.  Lots of LZs north and south.  Most landowners are friendly, but not all.  Ask locals.

RESTRICTIONS: Site located in Maxwell MOA, not active on weekends.  No special clearance needed at any time.  No restricted airspace or control zones along any XC path.

LANDING:
DO NOT LAND at East Park Reservoir!!  You will probably be cited if you do.  Most flights at St John are XC (Cross Country).  Carry a streamer.  Most landings are made to the SE, sometimes NE.

If you are really sinking out badly, you can set down in one of four round looking fields north of the visitors center.  You have to walk your glider up to the top of a ridge to get out of these fields (don't drive into the fields).  The primary local LZ is in the valley south of the mountain, near the Boys Ranch, just south of the paraglider LZ from Potato Hill.  It's a short detour to check this field out while you're heading up to launch.

Along the south side of the road going into Stonyford is the large Flying S Ranch.
DO NOT LAND THERE! Click here for a map.
The owner has exotic animals and is very sure to have you arrested! (Besides which, who wants to get chased by an Ostrich?)

This ranch starts at the foothills and proceeds all the way into Stonyford.  There are a couple properties that we can land on south of the road, if we have to, but you need to know which ones are OK.  Do not use them unless you must.

The locals are generally friendly, but use common sense, be courteous, and don't climb over fences.

POTATO HILL (PG): Potato Hill, near Fouts Springs, is used by paragliders.
For information on paragliding at Potato Hill, please go to the BAPA (Bay Area Paragliding Assn.) Potato Hill page.

GENERAL: The Forest Service owns the launches, Fouts Springs, and Visitor Center LZs.  Hang gliders have a good relationship with the Forest Service.  Ramp improvements were made with a Permit.  The entire area is a 'use' park with ORV's, fishing, hunting etc.  The ranger station in Stonyford (530-963-3128) has the nearest access to emergency help.