California Flying Sites

East Bay flying sites are unregulated and a site intro is highly recommended. The flying sites are able to be flown with East and West winds. Bantry.  Gateway training hill. This guide is an aggregated guide from Channing Site Guide Doc and Penguin Paragliding Guide.

East Bay flying sites are unregulated and a site intro is highly recommended. The flying sites are able to be flown with East and West winds. Bantry.  Gateway training hill. This guide is an aggregated guide from Channing Site Guide Doc and Penguin Paragliding Guide.

The Dunlap North at Mt Sampson is a mountain flying site at the edge of the Sierras 38 miles east of Fresno. Site is near the town of Dunlap, California. The primary launch is near the top of Mt. Sampson, which overlooks the Dunlap valley, and the landing zone is in the southern part of the valley.

Ed Levin County Park in Milpitas is suitable for all ratings for PG and HG with significant regulation. Requires a membership with Wings of Rogallo as well as signing an additional parks waiver before flying at Ed Levin.

Ed levin is generally a morning site, with some afternoon flights for more experience pilots when conditions are stronger. Flight expectations for this site is mostly sledders. Thermals are good when conditions are right. Good for Hang gliding and paragliding, used as the local training hill for multiple flight schools.

The sand dunes of Marina State Beach offer some of the best dune soaring on the entire California coast. Located between Monterey and Santa Cruz, it’s a bit of a hidden gem for paragliding sites.

Mission Ridge is open to Advanced-rated (H4/P4) pilots, and Intermediate-rated (H3/P3) pilots with additional provisions, under a special use agreement with the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD). Mission can be flown as a hike-and-fly site, or driven to launch through a restrictive “keyholder” program.

Mount Diablo offers an excellent variety of soaring experiences to the advanced pilot. Pilots regularly soar Diablo’s shear rocky peaks, rolling hills and ridges, gnarly canyons and grassy pastures; sometimes all in the same flight.

As a site open only to USHPA advanced rated Hang Glider and Paraglider pilots, good flying skills and judgement are the keys to rewarding flights at Mount Diablo.

Mt. Tamalpais, located north of San Francisco between Mill Valley & Stinson Beach, is one of the most scenic mountain sites in California. The Marin County Hang Gliding Association (MCHGA) maintains Special Use permits with State and County agencies, to allow hang gliding and paragliding activities on the west side of Mt. Tamalpais, along Bolinas Ridge.

Mussel Rock (AKA The Dumps) is located in Pacifica, CA. It is a popular ridge soaring site in the SF bay area due to its ease of access and is a good place for local pilots to build skills and log hours. Pilots can enjoy long relaxing flights here with views of the Pacific ocean and Golden Gate bridge when it’s clear. Mussel Rock is an unregulated soaring site, but if you are unfamiliar to the site or new pilot, It is strongly recommend that you get a site intro before flying at Mussel Rock. There are many experienced pilots at Mussel Rock almost every soar-able day. Please ask anyone for a site intro if you have never flown at Mussel Rock. There are many hazards at this site to watch out for. Read guide links below to understand them before flying, and speak with local pilots on how best to fly safely.

The sand dunes of Marina State Beach offer some of the best dune soaring on the entire California coast. Located between Monterey and Santa Cruz, it’s a bit of a hidden gem for paragliding sites.

The Stables is one of the premier coastal soaring sites in the country between Mussel Rock and just South of Funston. It is a site managed under Wings of Rogallo and is a P3+ site which you will need to be a member of the club, get an introduction and sticker, visit the website for more info. Like Mussel Rock Pilots can fly along the coast to Mussel Rock and up to Fort Funston. You can fly with the sun setting over the Pacific, the Farallon Islands in the distance, and views of the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. The Stable launch is on a lower ridge along the cliff at about 80′ above the beach, so the ideal conditions would need to be stronger than at Mussel to get up, it is soar-able mostly between April and October

The Tollhouse flying site is near the town of Tollhouse, California. The primary launch is near the top of Burroughs Mountain, which overlooks Tollhouse valley, and the landing zone is near the center of the valley. To the south is Burroughs valley, and is separated from Tollhouse by a low ridge; to the north is Big Sandy valley.

Windy Hill is located in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. The flying site is a Northeast-facing paragliding and hang gliding site, that requires excellent pilot judgement and skills in order to be flown safely since it is the most technical sites in the Bay Area. Read the guide from Windy Hill Sky Riders the local club that manages and insures the site.