Elsinore Mountains, Lake Elsinore

LOCATION:

Elsinore Mountains ridgeline overlooking Lake Elsinore

MAP INFORMATION:

33.6384°N, 117.3874°W    topozone.com link    Google Earth Placemark

FAVORABLE WINDS:

Launch Point 1 (2.9 miles from Ortega Hwy) works best in NE wind. Launch Point 2 (4 miles from Ortega Hwy) works best in ENE wind. Other places along ridgeline should be flyable in winds ranging from N to E. There are also some sites on the opposite side of the road with potential for good flying in SW winds.

WEATHER OBSERVATION LINKS:

El Cariso, (Mesonet: RAWS),  Top of slope near junction of Killen Trail & Ortega Hwy.

W. Lake Elsinore, (Mesonet: APRSWXNET/CWOP), Lake level, W side of lake.
E. Lake Elsinore, (Mesonet: CARB), Lake level, E side of lake.
 

WEATHER FORECAST LINKS:

National Weather Service Area Discussion    National Weather Service Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Graphical Forecast Map

GENERAL NOTES:

Steep slope rises 1500+ feet in 1 mile. Monster lift in Santa Ana Wind conditions. Paved road from Ortega Hwy follows ridgeline to several flying sites overlooking large bowls. Park and fly! Landing options range from poor to acceptable. This is Cleveland National Forest land and a valid Daily or Annual National Forest Adventure Pass or a Golden Passport is required.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

Starting point: junction of Grand Avenue & the Ortega Hwy. (SR-74) in Lake Elsinore: Go South (up the mountain) on SR-74 for 5.1 miles to Killen Trail and turn LEFT.
Alternate starting point: Junction of I-5 & the Ortega Hwy. (SR-74) in San Juan Capistrano: Go East on SR-74 for 23.3 miles to Killen Trail and turn Right.

Continued from both starting points: Go SW on Killen Trail. Launch Point 1 is aprox. 2.9 miles and Launch Point 2 is aprox. 4 miles down the road. These are only 2 of many possible flying sites along Killen Trail.

GPS WAYPOINTS:

33.63824, -117.37576    Junction of Grand Avenue and SR-74
33.50267, -117.65784    Junction of I-5 and SR-74
33.65215, -117.40899    Junction of SR-74 and Killen Trail
33.63839, -117.38738    First of many possible flying sites.

All coordinates on this page are WGS84/NAD83 map datum.