Lands End

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

Land's End Observatory is a ranger observatory on the rim of Grand Mesa in Colorado. It is accessible from the Grand Mesa Scenic and Historic Byway via Land's End Road,[2] which is about half paved and half gravel.

The observatory is about 10 miles west of Colorado State Highway 65. Land's End Road descends as an all-gravel road from the observatory down to U.S. Route 50, and the observatory can be accessed from that direction as well.

The observatory was built by the United States Forest Service and the Works Progress Administration in 1936-37,[3] with some assistance from two Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) side camps.

A large viewing area outside the building provides a panoramic view of western Colorado and eastern Utah. As of 2014, the observatory building itself is closed and boarded up.

From the U. S. Forest Service sign outside the building:

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 cross country potential , all dependent on current weather conditions.

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

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§ 07 · Location · Field CoordinatesWGS-84

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