- Site Rating: P2
- Launch Elevation: 2,300'
- LZ Elevation: 750
- Best Time to Fly: spring, summer, fall - snowed in during the winter

Saddle Mountain is a ridge and thermal site located in Mattawa, WA 10 miles east of the I-90 Columbia River Bridge. Saddle faces NE, and works as a ridge soaring site in North and North East conditions. This makes it a great, although cold winter site during high pressure. The LZ is a 10 mile square sandy river bed making Saddle great for beginners.

Saddle is located on public land, but, you cross private property while driving to launch. There is a lease agreement with the land owner. USHPA membership is required to fly this site.

Avoid Saddle on strong west and SW days, although thermal flying in the summer is possible on light west days. Out and back 20 mile ridge soaring flights are possible.

Cross the Columbia on I-90 heading east. Take the exit for 26 east and stay right onto 243 south In Beverly, (gas station and RR Bridge across Columbia) turn left toward Crab Creek Wildlife Area and drive for 4 miles to obvious sandy flats below Saddle Mountain. This is the LZ and a good place to leave a car if you have an extra.

From Seattle head east on I-90 until you cross the Columbia river. Take exit 132 heading south until you see the Richland/Yakima exit. Exit here staying on St. Route 243 for about 5 miles. Take a left following the signs for the city of Mattawa. Go through this small town and then take a left at R. street. Follow this until you come to a "Y" directly after a cattle grate, veer left. This will wind around for about 4 miles. At this point the road will continue left. Follow the other road to the right. While still an obvious road, it is more of a dirt road rather than a rock covered one. Follow this for another mile or so and you're there!

At Saddle we are flying in EA-6 and C-17 military training routes (MTRs).

Before flying, phone Whidbey Naval Air Operations 800.360.3050 or 360.257.2877. Tell them you are a citizen pilot flying paraglider and are checking on scheduled flights on VR 1350 and IR 329 MTRs. Also phone McChord Air Force Base Operations 253.982.9925 or 253.982.9925, for IR 329.

IMPORTANT
Base Operations close at 16:00 Friday. If you're planning a Sat/Sun/Mon flight, phone on Friday as their schedules are done. (If you forget, try their number on the weekend anyway.) Ensure the person understands what you are asking. They might give you ZULU times, so double-check. If you fly xc, invest in a Seattle Sectional Aeronautical Chart. Washington is cross-crossed with MTRs.

MOST IMPORTANT
You will only be told scheduled flights that are public. That is, there could also be other scheduled flights, plus "unscheduled" flights. EYES AND EARS!! They have the right-of-way.

There are a couple of family run Mexican restaurants as well as a Taco truck in Mattawa. Don't forget a dip in the Columbia in summer. Vantage, a local rock climbing crag is nearby and offers free/rustic camping. The gorge, site of summer rock-and-roll concerts is also nearby.

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