Can you go paragliding off the Torrey Pines cliffs with no experience?
Yes. The Torrey Pines Gliderport flies tandem paragliding for about $200–$275 and hang gliding for about $225, no experience needed. There are no reservations: show up, sign in, and wait for the wind.
- Tandem paragliding
- $200–$275
- Tandem hang gliding
- $225
- Reservations
- None
- Hours
- 9 a.m.–sunset
About 20–25 minutes
Weight limit around 175 lbs
First come, first served
Weather permitting
The short version
- The Torrey Pines Gliderport sits on 350-foot cliffs above Black's Beach, and people have been soaring there since the late 1920s.
- Tandem paragliding runs about $200–$275 for 20–25 minutes; tandem hang gliding about $225.
- There are no reservations. Flights are first come, first served and depend on the wind.
- Paragliding is comfortable for passengers up to about 225–235 lbs; hang gliding tops out around 175 lbs.
- Watching is free, and the Cliffhanger Cafe has the best seat in the house.
The cliffs at Torrey Pines are one of the best natural soaring sites in the country: the onshore breeze hits the 350-foot bluff and pushes straight up, so pilots can ride the ridge for as long as the wind holds. You can ride along strapped to an instructor, with no lesson or experience required.
Fly
Nearby
Pins are approximate. Sources: Torrey Pines Gliderport and OpenStreetMap, checked October 6, 2026.
See these on the full San Diego mapHow a flight day works
- 01
Call or check the wind
The Gliderport flies 300+ days a year, but only when the wind cooperates. Calling (858) 452-9858 before you drive saves a wasted trip.
- 02
Sign in when you arrive
There's no booking. Put your name on the list; typical waits are 15–30 minutes, longer on busy weekends.
- 03
Fly for 20–25 minutes
Your pilot handles everything. You'll run a few steps off the edge and then sit back over the beach and cliffs.
- 04
Add photos if you want
Photos are about $30, video $50, or both for $75.
- Age: no set limit; the Gliderport has flown passengers from 13 months to 104 years old.
- Weight: paragliding is comfortable up to about 225–235 lbs (heavier on strong-wind days, up to about 350); hang gliding is around 175 lbs max.
- Wear: closed-toe shoes and layers; it's cooler up there than on the beach.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
- PrimaryTorrey Pines Gliderport
Torrey Pines Gliderport · Checked October 6, 2026
Prices, hours, no reservations
- PrimaryFAQs
Torrey Pines Gliderport · Checked October 6, 2026
Age, weight, waits, flying days
- BackgroundTorrey Pines Gliderport
The Cultural Landscape Foundation · Checked October 6, 2026
History, National Register listing