Little Black

Little Black is a small mountain site in San Diego's Rancho Peñasquitos community — a great training and thermal-and-soaring proving ground from late fall through spring, with occasional summer glass-offs. It's less consistent than some other San Diego sites, but that's part of the appeal: technical, thermalic, plenty to learn. There's a big sloped dirt training area, and when conditions are right you can gain altitude straight from the first hike-up launch. Not for casual visitors: both USHPA and SDHGPA membership are required to fly Little Black.

Launch & conditions

Many launches, depending on how much you want to hike. Excellent training hill thanks to a huge sloped dirt area. When conditions are right you can gain altitude from the first hike-up.

Getting there & local rules

Hike-and-fly access. Landings: large dirt area.

Local rules & hazards

USHPA AND SDHGPA membership required to fly Little Black — no exceptions. Site rules and guidance change frequently — check the current SDHGPA site guide before flying (it takes precedence over anything you find elsewhere on the web).

Check conditions before you fly

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