2011 Rates

Private Balloon Flights: $250/person.
Reservations are required! CALL 775-790-7572
or Click here to reserve a flight. . . »

Flight Information

Carson Valley Ballooning Home Page

Why ride the bus when you can ride in a limo? When you fly with us, you won't share the flight experience with other passengers. Just the two (or three) of you and your personal pilot enjoying a peaceful balloon flight as it's meant to be experienced... without distractions. Visit the "Why Us" page to see the advantages in choosing Balloon Nevada.

We fly year round by reservation only. After each flight, we celebrate your courage and bravery with a traditional champagne (or sparkling cider) toast.

Nevada Hot Air Balloon Weddings

Get married in Nevada in our hot air balloon!

Intimate wedding ceremonies performed year round in the "Chapel of Peace & Heavenly Views" over northern Nevada's beautiful Carson Valley.

Our intimate hot air balloon weddings are tailored towards couples wishing to have a simple, unique and memorable wedding ceremony. More...»

Carson Valley Ballooning Photos

Reserve a Balloon Flight Here!

We offer one balloon flight per day. All reservations are confirmed on a first come, first served basis. Before a balloon flight can be confirmed, we must first be sure your requested date is available. By submitting this form, you are basically checking availability. Once we receive this request, we will contact you with availability status and to make payment arrangements. No payment information is requested at this time. GO TO RESERVATION PAGE »

Photographers Welcome

Ballooning is one of the most photographed activities on earth, and a hot air balloon is one of the best platforms for photographers! If you really want to have some fun and happen to have one of the GoPro® HD Cameras, by all means bring it! We also suggest you bring a GoPro® Handlebar Seatpost Mount which will secure your GoPro camera to one of our burner supports or to our custom suspended camera mount which puts your camera out 25' from the basket for very spectacular shots.

Reserve a Balloon Ride Now

Frequently asked Questions

Where do we meet our passengers?

We meet passengers every morning at Lampe Park in Gardnerville. ( Map / Directions ) Complementary round trip transportation is also available within the Carson Valley for hotel and motel guests.

When do you fly?
  • Year round, 12 months of the year
  • Morning flights only ( see time table here )
  • Always weather permitting
* Afternoon flights may be an option October through March.
How long is the balloon ride?

Our goal is for every balloon ride to last at least one hour. According to the balloon log book (yes, we must log flights), we average 1.18 hours per balloon ride. If we don't think we can fly for an hour, we'd rather stay in bed.

How high will we fly?

It's your balloon, you tell us. Our altitude varies throughout the flight. We usually start off by flying low (treetop level) to totally wow you with our control and the balloon's maneuverability, then we'll climb to higher altitudes (3,000' to 5,000' above the ground) for spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and the entire Carson Valley.

Of course, if you'd prefer to stay lower, let us know, and we'll plan your flight accordingly. Remember, it's your balloon!

How fast do we go?

Balloons go as fast as the wind, which is why we only fly in the early mornings, when the winds are nice and gentle. If surface winds are expected to be faster than 10 mph, we don't fly.

What if I have a fear of heights?

I can't tell you how many people I've flown that said they had a fear of heights. Believe it or not, I'm one of them. Tall bridges, cliffs, high rise buildings and glass elevators are the worst for me, but I have absolutely no problem in the balloon. I've probably had a few hundred passengers tell me the the same thing... they thought they'd be scared, but never were.

I have NEVER had anyone "freak out" or want to land because they were uncomfortable in the balloon. Never.

Do you offer breakfast?

We have found that most of our passengers, which are usually couples, already have "something planned" once their romantic ballooning adventure is over, and that "something" usually doesn't include balloon pilots and crew. ;-)

Others often need to get back to their kids, catch a flight, check out of their hotel, or drive on down the road to their next destination, and we don't want to take up their valuable time feeding them an over priced meal. So no, we don't provide breakfast. But we can sure recommend a couple great breakfast places for you if your day allows!

Is it cold up there?

Our flights take place in a valley. Cold air is heavier than warm air, and therefore settles in the valley floor. Once we are in the air, we are above that cold air, and you'll notice it getting warmer. This is true year round. In the winter, it's usually much warmer in the air than it is on the ground. Another interesting thing: we travel with the wind, so there's never a wind chill in the balloon.

If you're comfortable on the ground, you will be comfortable in the air.

How do you steer the balloon?

Balloons don't have a mechanical way of steering, and are totally dependent on the winds. However, the Carson Valley is known to have a variety of wind directions and speeds at different altitudes. Your experienced and skillful pilot uses these winds by ascending or descending into them. It's not uncommon for our flights to travel almost any direction on the compass!

Do you need a license to fly a balloon?

Yes. To fly a hot air balloon, you must have either a private or commercial pilot license issued by the F.A.A., just like airplane pilots. For chartered balloon rides, a commercial pilot license is required. Additionally, the holder of a pilot license must take and pass a Biennial Flight Review, and make a minimum of three take offs and landing every 90 days to remain current.

Is your balloon safe?

Absolutely! Hot air balloons must be inspected by an F.A.A. certified facility annually or every 100 hours of commercial use, which ever comes first, just like all other aircraft. During these inspections, every inch of the balloon is inspected to ensure airworthiness.

Why can't we bring our young child?

Children under the age of seven, or under 42 inches tall (which can't see over the side of the basket) have a short attention span and can become restless after a few minutes. We've discovered (the hard way) that this distraction often prevents the parents or grand parents from enjoying their flight.

What should I wear? What can I bring?

We recommend casual, comfortable clothing similar to what you would wear when going for a walk or a hike. Generally, if you are comfortable outside when you leave your house or hotel in the morning, you will be comfortable in the air.

  • Dress in layers. The day usually gets warmer.
  • Sweatshirt or jacket even in the summer as it can be chilly in the early morning here in the Sierras. (The temperature in the basket will be about the same as the temperature on the ground.)
  • A hat and sunglasses are a good idea as it is bright up there!
  • Comfortable shoes.
  • Camera with extra batteries, plenty of film and/or memory
  • Back pack to keep your things together
  • ...an attitude for altitude.

 

Can we sit down in the balloon?

Yes, our balloon can seat two people comfortably, and you'll still be able to see everything! For safety reasons, you will need to be standing for the landing.

Do you fly in the winter?

Yes! In fact, some of the best ballooning takes place in the winter. The colder the air is, the better the balloon responds. The better the balloon responds, the longer the pilot wants to fly!

Can anyone fly in your balloon?

Almost anyone, but not quite. Pregnant women, or women that may be pregnant may NOT fly. No exceptions. Also, anyone with back, knee or hip problems, or has had recent surgery, or can't stand up for at least an hour may NOT fly.

Join us for a Carson Valley balloon ride!