Seeing Cape Mendocino from a plane3 ★
The westernmost point of California, where three tectonic plates meet at the Mendocino Triple Junction, making it one of the most earthquake-prone spots in the US. Look for bare green ridges falling to a rugged shore.
7 of our routes pass it. California · rated 5 of 10
The easy pick
Sacramento to Arcata/Eureka: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Denver to Arcata/Eureka | Left | on the way down |
| Houston to Tokyo | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | 194 min after takeoff |
| Las Vegas to Arcata/Eureka | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Arcata/Eureka | Left Best seat for the whole flight: right | on the way down |
| Sacramento to Arcata/Eureka | Left | on the way down |
| San Francisco to Arcata/Eureka | Left | on the way down |
| Seattle to Arcata/Eureka | Left | on the way down |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Cape Mendocino from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (7 of 7). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Cape Mendocino from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Redwood National Park Thompson Peak Mount Linn Mount Shasta Lassen Peak Denver (DEN) Houston (IAH) Tokyo (NRT) Las Vegas (LAS) All routes