Sites/Kernville Slabs
DOSSIER · 286SITE · NORTH AMERICA
35°49′01″N · 118°27′16″WLIVE CHART · OBSERVED 1402Z
Airworthy · 4+
NORTH AMERICA · CALIFORNIA · USA

Kernville Slabs

ThermalRidgeSimulatedFoot Launch
ELEV 1,052 M / 3,452 FTTZ Pacific Daylight Time

Specimen Sheet · Vital Statistics

Launch Elev1,052 m
Launch Elev FT3,452 ft MSL
Min Hang RatingH4
Best Wind270° · 0–0 kt
Coordinates35.8170° N
 -118.4543° E

Classification · Terrain & Access

Foot Launch
§ 01CHART · LAUNCHES & LANDINGS

Field chart.

Launch point
Landing zone
Launch heading
1 LAUNCH · 2 LZs · ALT RANGE 3201,052 M

§ 02 · Flying Conditions · Field NotesUpdated 2026·03·21

From the campground underneath the Kernville slabs start hiking up for about 20 or 30 minutes until you find away around all the bluffs. This may require some minor scrambling, watch out for critters like snakes and skunks, I saw both up there. Once you get above the slabs you'll come to easier grassier terrain. Launch is quite wind sheltered and very misgiving as to actual conditions. One launch is to head WNW, you will probably have to run for quite a bit and then dodge a few trees on your way out. I had to get rid of a smaller bush the first time I was there as it was right in the way.

There is lots of sticks and debris around so do your best to keep your lines clear. It took me a few tries to launch here due to high wind shadowing from trees in front.

Also the conditions felt almost lee side or catabatic as cycles seemed to be getting weaker and less frequent and even flipping my leading edge over once as I waited.

Regardless, conditions in the air were quite the opposite.

Has 1 different launch points. The best wind direction is 270 @ 0 knts but many sites can be flown from multiple directions, so check before you fly.

You can expect to find: thermal conditions ridge soaring conditions , all dependent on current weather conditions.

§ 03 · Wind Window · Best Operating EnvelopeW · 270° ±0°

NSEWNESENWSW
00 kt
Primary · W · 270°
Envelope: 270° – 270° (±0°)
Preferred · 00 ktWorkable · 03 ktHazardous · >5 kt

Chase the Wind

Nearest weather station to Kernville Slabs. Select any row to see which launches are in wind, then set your MSFS world clock to that UTC time.

Porterville Muni, CA, US

13:43 UTC

60 km from site

Wind

SSW 200°

5 kt

Ceiling

Clear

9 sm vis

SSW 200° · 5 kt · 13:43 UTC

Kernville Slabs LaunchCrosswind (76°)

Select a time to check launches

Jan 21

Weather at , 60 km from Kernville Slabs. Mountain conditions may differ — this is a clue, not a forecast. Adjust sim time on site until conditions feel right.

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§ 07 · Location · Field CoordinatesWGS-84

Latitude35.817032
Longitude-118.454313
DMS · N35°49′01″N
DMS · E118°27′16″W
Altitude1,052 m
Altitude FT3,452 ft
Time ZonePacific Daylight Time
UTM11S 368 620 E · 4 682 050 N

§ 09 · Recent Flights · Log Book

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FILE № 286 · CLOSED 2026·03·21
THE HANG GLIDING FILES · THGF
✎ SURVEYED · NORTH AMERICA · USA