Torrey Pines Gliderport & Cliff-Hanger Café In San Diego, California

With summer just around the corner, what's a better day to spend a windy and warm outdoorsy morning in America's Finest City than to fly over its bluffs and beaches with the friendly California gulls as your companions? Established in 1928, the Torrey Pines Gliderport on the top of the scenic 350 ft tall cliff over (in)famous Black's Beach (used to be clothing-optional... now, only when the rangers aren't looking) just south of Torrey Pines Golf Course is the largest paragliding training facility in the USA. The Gliderport offers flight training (both for Beginner rating and Novice rating for solo-flying), equipment sales & repair, tandem flights, and adventure tours...

Being situated in the blissful dry-Mediterranean climate of San Diego, of course, means beautiful flying weather all year round (with a prevailing westerly wind). The flat surrounding offers wonderful view even for spectators on the ground. You can see the La Jolla peninsula to the south (with its Children's Pool at the very tip, where the seals are) even on hazy days, the green golf course to the north, and, of course the endless Pacific Ocean. There is beach access via a staircase at the south end of the parking lot (though using it during and immediately after rain is dangerous since the sandstone cliff is prone to sliding). Even on a windless day (which doesn't really exist here) you can perch on the cliff and watch surfers and swimmer (and even sun-bathers) on the beach below. And sunset here is pretty spectacular, too.

Torrey Pines Gliderport has quiet an illustrated history. Renown pilots who have flown here include Charles Lindberg, Woody Brown, Hawley Bowlus, John Robinson, and many others. The place was used to develop and test flight many motorless flight inventions like the 1938 Dead-man pulley take-off system, the 1939 Robinson variometer, the Zanonia sailplane, radio-controlled model airplanes, etc. This facility is the only legal site for unlicensed aircraft can fly in a civil airway.

There is no fee in using the site (not even a parking fee!), though you should really buy something to snack on from the Cliff Hanger Café (opens from 10AM - 4PM) if you intend to perch on one of their tables for ours watching the gliders and the scenery. The food is quite good and reasonably priced (sandwich for $7.50. I recommend the Zermatt ham sandwich), and they have a variety of juices and soft drinks available... along with nibblings like cookies, chips, fruits, and energy bars. There is a wooden viewing platform near the take-off/landing area that offers a really good view of the entire area.

Downside: no real bathroom... There is a row of Port-o-Toilets between the two tall palm trees between the parking lot and the Cliff-Hanger Café, though. You can't miss them... just follow your nose.

Paragliding is a rather expensive sport... though when you think about it, your life is pretty well worth the high quality equipments and the good and intensive training in order to be able to fly with the sea gulls and other birds in the area, doesn't it? You need to be a USHGA member or have a temporary membership card in order to operate at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. And you'll need to sign in and sign a waiver form before launching. If you want to fly without having to go through the 12 days Novice training program (for solo flying) at $1,625, the Gliderport also offers Tandem flights where you can fly with one of the site's instructor for 30 minutes (after 30 minutes of basic training on the ground) for only $150.

Paragliders and hang-gliders would come here in a car, I'd think. Spectators can also get here by bus (#101, nearest stop at North Torrey Pines Rd & Torrey Pines Scenic Rd.

Click here to watch a short video clip of photos from the Gliderport

Torrey Pines Gliderport & Cliff Hanger Café: 2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, Tel: (858) 452-9858, Fax: (858) 452-9983 Email: info@flytorrey.com Website: http://flytorrey.com