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This is the most popular spot on the Sidewinder as most people heading out to spot on Sidewinder spot from here. The spot is a set of rocks on a ridge. Jets bank dramatically around the ridge leading to awesome shots!
Hiking poles are recommended for this hike.
Where is this spot?
Where is this spot?
The spot can be seen in the picture to the right on a computer and below on mobile. This is the view from the bottom of the ridge.
Unfortunately, the less steep part of the ridge is private property so us spotters have to hike up the steep part of the ridge. Thanks to the high use of the spot, there is now a rough trail.
To start off, drive up the Kern River Valley on Mountain Highway 99 until you get to the dirt pullout pinned to the right on a computer and below on mobile.
The rough hiking route is outlined to the right on computer and below on mobile. The trail is actually quite visible on the ridge as you're driving towards it. You will see a very clear cut trail. This hike can be quite strenuous as it is very steep in parts. The dirt here is also very loose so it is easy to slip and fall. Strong hikers can do this hike in under an hour, but the hike can take up to an hour and a half. Hiking poles help a lot here. Make sure to stay hydrated during the hike.
For the hike itself, walk south along the dirt road until you pass the creek. Start hiking up here as it is much less steep. You will see a rough path to start hiking up. The entire trail is very well defined. Eventually you should be following a wash up the ridge (this is the vertical part of the path in the picture to the right on a computer and below on mobile). Follow this rough trail until you get to the point where you are on the ridge itself. From here follow the ridge up to the first set of rocks. You don’t have to follow this route exactly. There’s nothing stopping you from taking any route up the ridge.
Spotting Logistics from here
Spotting Logistics from here
From the high perch here you have a breathtaking view down the river valley. You can see roughly 5 miles down the valley so you have plenty of visual and audio warning for incoming jets. Jets will always approach from the south, flying north up the valley. In my experience here, I've always heard a jet coming on the radio. Usually it is a jet calling that they're entering Point Alpha, but occasionally I'll hear an exchange with Joshua Approach. Once a jet calls Point Alpha, it takes ~3-5 minutes for that jet to get to you.
You're even high up enough that you might just get cell service! Verizon gets just enough service to check flight trackers, but don't expect to be streaming Netflix from up there.
At this spot you don't need to bring a chair if you don't mind sitting on rocks. You are fairly exposed to the sun, but with the way the terrain is, you can easily find shade behind a rock or a bush. Since you're close to 1000 feet off the valley floor it can get quite windy up here even if winds are calm down below. A wind breaker is generally recommended.
Lighting
Lighting
Lighting is a big con to this spot. It's best to be here in the early fall and late spring. In the early fall and late spring, light is decent for the first bank (roughly the first hump on the time graph starting at the beginning of the day and ending at 11). Jets will have sun on them as they approach you. As the day progresses, the sun will move more to the south and then to the west. This means that jets will be backlit as they approach you and won't have sun on them until they are past you. Sample shots show lighting below.
Pros and Cons
Pros and Cons
Pros of spotting here:
As mentioned before, you may get data and cell service here! Verizon has limited service, but it’s enough to pull up flight trackers.
There is a clear line of sight down the valley so you’ll have plenty of time to spot a jet and frame up a shot. It’s roughly a 5 mile stretch you can see down the river valley.
Also due to this line of sight and high vantage point, you hear much more on the scanner here compared to any other spot down in the valley
Jets will pull a dramatic bank around the ridge for about 90 degrees of heading change. This combined with the long line of sight down the valley means that you have plenty of time to get the jet framed up and in focus. Even if you notice the jet go out of focus, there is usually enough time during a pass to refocus.
While I have yet to see a jet in afterburner on Sidewinder, this seems to be the most popular spot to get a picture of a low level jet in afterburner. Jets will light the cans while flying up the valley and keep them lit until they pass you.
Cons of spotting here:
The hike is quite strenuous and it is quite easy to slip and fall while hiking up
There’s really only one angle to get from here. Jets will fly straight and level and then pull a hard bank towards you as they fly around the ridge. Most shots with the jet full frame will be of just the topside. This can be a major downside for some special livery jets, as you will never really see the full livery. For example you won't really see the VANDY 1 livery or the USAF TPS T-38 livery that well. That being said, full topside may be fine for the MURICA jet. Note for people with longer focal lengths, you can get shots of jets before they start banking towards you.
As mentioned earlier, lighting here is not great. In the winter, for a plane that is side on, the tail may never be in sun (especially for canted tails like F-18, F-22, and F-35). In the spring and fall, lighting is better in the morning. When jets initially bank, they’ll be fully backlit at around 11AM. Once they’ve rounded the corner, they’ll be in decent(ish) light. If you’re picky about lighting, this may not be the spot for you
Sample Shots
Sample Shots
900mm, plane fills full frame, 9:15AM fall
900mm, plane fills half frame, 10:10AM fall
345mm, plane fills full frame, 11:05AM spring
750mm, plane fills full frame, 1:25PM spring
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