Cedar Mountain (the 'C')

Cedar Mountain, known locally as 'the C' after the giant hillside letter, is a Utah cross-country site with a narrow launch window worth planning around: go too early and you'll sink out, go too late and the wind builds beyond what's comfortable. There's an alternative takeoff nearby, used especially in winter, giving pilots a second option when conditions call for it. A genuinely important hazard to know about before flying here: in 2024, the site added electrical conduits running around the C at about a foot off the ground, which create a real tripping hazard right at launch and have made the site meaningfully more dangerous than it used to be — watch your footing closely during ground handling and launch. Access is by paved road all the way to the C, though that road isn't plowed in winter; parking and a pit toilet are provided on site. The maximum permitted altitude is 18,000 feet. Landing is easy and flexible — pilots can put down anywhere in the large field at the base of the hill.

Launch & conditions

Narrow launch window — too early and you sink out, too late and the wind gets too strong. An alternative takeoff nearby is used especially in winter. Since 2024, low electrical conduits ring the hillside letter at about a foot off the ground — a real tripping hazard during launch, so watch your footing closely.

Getting there & local rules

Paved road all the way to the site (not plowed in winter): take Highway 14 east 5.1 miles to Right Hand Road, turn right and continue 4.8 miles to the C. Parking and a pit toilet are provided.

Local rules & hazards

Maximum permitted altitude is 18,000 feet. Check current local Utah weather conditions before flying, given how quickly the launch window can close.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Cedar Mountain (the 'C'), 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 Cedar Mountain (the 'C') with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.