Flying Sites - Bay Area
Blue Rock (Vallejo), CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ:
- Weather at launch:
- mid/poison oak: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- north: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- top: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: WA:Davis Point
WU:KCAVALLE53
T:Davis Point Seawind Dr
- Webcams: Channing West
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page: https://www.sportparagliding.com/blue-rock-vallejo-ca-paragliding
- Requirements: Unregulated. Not really for HG. P3 is recommended.
- Sticker:
- See also: Joel McMinn’s site guide, FlyZephyr
PGE:11342
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: The wind direction of the KCAVALLE53 weather station is not reliable. The wind speed is only reliable in approx. WSW-WNW wind (per 2020-01-05)
Channing East, CA, USA #
Drake's Beach, Point Reyes, CA, USA #
- Launch: cliff launch: (38.0268,-122.9627) @ 21m = 70ft MSL topo 3D
- LZ: beach: (38.0275,-122.9621) @ 0m = 0ft MSL topo 3D
- Weather at launch: cliff launch: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: Fog Today
- Webcams:
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: H3/P3 + permit
- Sticker: Permit is valid for one year. Available from Dispatcher’s Office at Point Reyes Station, 1 Bear Valley Rd, CA 94956. Proof of USHPA rating is required. If no one is at the Dispatcher’s Office, check with the Visitors Center. Please call in advance to make sure a ranger is available to hand it out 415-464-5100. For weekend flying, they prefer if you call ahead on a business day.
- See also: https://www.nps.gov/pore/planyourvisit/weather.htm
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: This is cliff launch site with landing on the beach.
Ed Levin (Sled Heaven), CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ: (37.4581,-121.8671) @ 122m = 400ft MSL topo 3D
- Weather at launch:
- 300ft: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- 600ft: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- top/1750ft: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: Ed Levin 1750 Live Weather, Benlo.com
- Webcams: 1750
- Soundings: OAK
- WindTalker: 408-946-9516
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page: Wings of Rogallo
- Requirements: H0-H3, P0-P3
- Sticker: Wings of Rogallo
- See also: Road conditions: Santa Clara County Parks, 408-355-2200 (menu 4 menu 6)
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: Emergency frequency: 147.495 MHz (same as The Dumps)
Fort Funston, CA, USA #
Gateway, CA, USA #
- Launch: kiting/sledders: (38.0909,-122.1696) @ 152m = 500ft MSL topo 3D
- LZ:
- Weather at launch: kiting/sledders: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: WU:KCABENIC45
- Webcams:
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: Unregulated. PG only. Useful for kiting, sledders, and proximity flying.
- Sticker:
- See also: SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: Watch out for ventury effects near the left and right sides of the hill - it is easy to be blown back.
Goat Rock, CA, USA #
- Launch: (38.4418,-123.125) topo
- LZ:
- Weather at launch: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather:
- Webcams:
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: H3, H2 w/ instructor
- Sticker:
- See also: Sonoma Wings
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: Small ridge, can only handle about 2 gliders at once. Setup area gets rotor in strong winds. Beware rotor from Goat Rock when flying to the ridge south of launch.
Marina State Beach, Monterey Bay, CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ:
- Weather at launch:
- Reservation Road: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Lake Court Dune: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: WU:KCASEASI29
WU:KCASEASI10
- Webcams: Downtown Monterey
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: H3/P3, H2 w/ instructor
- Sticker:
- See also: Coastal Condors
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes:
Mission Ridge, CA, USA #
- Launch: (37.5175,-121.8918) @ 579m = 1900ft MSL topo 3D
- LZ: (37.5066,-121.9051) @ 152m = 500ft MSL topo 3D
- Weather at launch: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: Ed Levin 1750 Live Weather
- Webcams: Mission Peak NW, Mission Peak SE, WoR cam
- Soundings: OAK
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page: Wings of Rogallo
- Requirements: H4/P4, H3/P3 with required skills and signoff
- Sticker:
- See also: SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: daily sign-in
Mount Diablo, CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ:
- Weather at launch:
- Juniper/south-west: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- west: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- The Towers/north: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather:
- Webcams:
- Soundings: OAK
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: H4
- Sticker:
- See also: Wings of Rogallo
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes:
Mount Tamalpais (Mt Tam), CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ: public beach: (37.9027,-122.6532) @ 0m = 0ft MSL topo 3D
- Weather at launch:
- A: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- B: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- C: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: Middle Peak Wind, SF Buoy, Bodega Buoy, Fog Today, tide
WU:KCASTINS13
WU:KCASTINS20
- Webcams: Alert CA, Bolinas, Muir Beach, Mt. Tamalpais West
- Soundings: OAK
- WindTalker: Mt. Tamalpais: 415-381-9463 [N/A]
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page: Marin County Hang Gliding Association (MCHGA)
- Requirements: H3/P3 with MCHGA sticker. H2 w/ club-approved instructor. Sign-in at Pantoll.
- Sticker: MCHGA
- See also: BHGC’s Tam page
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes:
Sand City, Monterey Bay, CA, USA #
St Helena, CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ: (38.6293,-122.6753) topo
- Weather at launch:
- top: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Middle spine [KBBF-FM Santa Rosa]: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- fire launch: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather:
- Webcams:
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: H4/P4, H3/P3 if sponsored by Sonoma Wings + member of Sonoma Wings.
- Sticker:
- See also: Sonoma Wings
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes:
Stoneman, Pittsburg, CA, USA #
- Launch:
- LZ:
- Weather at launch:
- East & North: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Low launch & top landing: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- North Ridge: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Upper East: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- West Bowl: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: RC valley
WA:Pittsburg Marina
- Webcams:
- Soundings:
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: Unregulated
- Sticker:
- See also: Stoneman Trailhead Site Overview provides a great overview
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: Paragliding only. Be aware of radio-controlled (RC) air fields and the powerlines.
The Dumps (Mussel Rock), CA, USA #
ALERT: Mussel Rock site is fenced off for a few months starting 2024-04-23, because the city is doing a major cleanup of this old landfill.
- Launch: (37.6727,-122.4937) @ 70m = 230ft MSL topo 3D
- LZ: (37.6711,-122.4946) @ 36m = 117ft MSL topo 3D
- Weather at launch: current conditions + 5-day forecast, forecast area,
now,
12h,
24h,
48h,
72h,
Windy
- Live weather: Fog Today
WA:Mussel Rock
WA:Mussel Rock Park (down?)
WU:KCADALYC37
WU:KCADALYC1
WU:KCAPACIF205
T:Coyote
- Webcams: Mussle Rock Park, Cheetah
- Soundings: OAK
- WindTalker:
- Aeronautical chart: SkyVector
- Official page:
- Requirements: P2-P3 (non-restricted)
- Sticker:
- See also: Jeff Greenbaum’s site guide, https://mr.ethereal.net/, https://musselrock.app/, https://musselrockwx.com/
PGE:15523
SpotAir
Thermal Map
- Notes: Paragliding only. Emergency frequency: 147.495 MHz (as of June 2020; same as Ed Levin)
The Stables, CA, USA #
The "Weather:" links for each site are based on latitudinal and
longitudinal coordinates of the launch.
The National Weather Service generates forcasts for a large number of
retangular-shaped "forecast areas" place in a grid all over the US.
The size of these areas is 2.5-by-2.5 km.