Golden is one of the most respected XC and competition sites in Canada. The town sits in the Columbia Valley between the Rocky Mountains and the Purcell Mountains, which creates strong thermal activity and reliable task conditions during the summer.

Launch: The main launch is located on Mount 7, a well-known site with a long history of XC flying. The takeoff faces the Columbia Valley and works early in the day. It offers a large setup area, multiple takeoff lines, and good exposure to the morning sun. Mount 7 is famous for its consistent thermal cycles, strong climbs, and reliable triggers along the spine and ridge systems. The launch altitude and terrain allow tasks to start with height and room to work.

Landing Zones: Golden has several official and unofficial landing options depending on the task. The primary landing zones are located in the wide Columbia Valley floor. These fields provide large, open spaces with clean approaches and predictable valley winds in the afternoon. The main LZ is Golden Riverfront Campground, close to town and has easy access for retrieve and scoring. Additional designated goal fields will be used depending on the task route.

The Town of Golden: Golden is a small mountain town with a friendly outdoor culture. It offers everything visiting pilots need, including restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, campgrounds, hotels, and medical services. The town is used to hosting outdoor athletes and adventure tourists throughout the summer. Accommodation options range from simple camping at the HQ, which is Golden Riverfront Campground, which serves as our event HQ and also has capacity for 100 camping spots as well as to many hotels within a short drive of HQ

Weather and Flying Conditions

Golden is known for dependable summer flying. July typically brings strong thermals, clear development, and high cloudbases. The valley often produces well-organized climbs and long lift lines that support racing and distance tasks. Expect a mix of ridge lift, thermal flying, convergence lines, and large working areas over both the Rocky and Purcell ranges.
Wind patterns are usually manageable, with light valley flow in the morning building to typical afternoon valley winds. Overdevelopment or storms are possible in the region, but task windows are often generous, and Golden has a record of producing valid tasks on most competition days.

Overall Atmosphere

Pilots can expect a mountain flying venue with dramatic terrain, big XC potential, and very high-quality task opportunities. Golden combines classic Canadian wilderness with a strong track record of successful competitions. It is a venue suited to pilots who enjoy real alpine conditions, strong thermals, and memorable scenery.