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    Torrey Pines Gliderport

    4.4 (513 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Carmen V.

    I have been so many times at the Gliderport park and never did a review until today...well never late to show some pictures of that amazing place with wonderful views to the ocean and the skies, and watching people do that activity. Not my thing to fly like a bird but love going there from time to time to watch, walk around, do some soft hike and contemplate the flowers. Also, a nice spot for a picnic with views. Sunny days from here are particularly beautiful.

    Gwyn C.

    We had a great time watching all the gliders. It was a busy day with good winds. No problem parking, just be prepared for an unconventional lot (basically dirt and tick areas). I parked off to the side of the main lot and wound up with a short walk. Live band was playing at the restaurant /bar/viewing area. They were perfect snd add to the enjoyment of the view. Had a yummy martini. Only challenge was a very long wait for our order (about an hour) - we had lunch around 3:39. Hamburgers and fries were great - real meat!! This has become a staple location when we have out of town visitors!

    Alfred R.

    Torrey Pines Gliderport is definitely one of those "you should try this at least once" experiences. We came on a beautiful sunny day, and the flight itself was surprisingly calming. It's not like skydiving or bungee jumping where it's all adrenaline and dope. This felt more like borrowing a bird's point of view for 20 minutes. You're just floating along the cliffs, riding the wind, with the ocean on one side and the coastline stretching out below. The views are unreal. You get Black's Beach below! Yes, the clothing-optional one. And then farther down, the multi-million-dollar La Jolla homes that make you question your life choices. LOL. Depending on the wind, the route can vary, but that's part of the charm. My instructor was mostly quiet, which was fine, but I would have appreciated a little more narration or pointing things out. My wife's instructor, on the other hand, was much more lively and even let her steer the glider a couple of times. So your experience may depend a bit on who you fly with. Either way, the flight itself was great, and both instructors got us back safely and smoothly. A small side note: we saw the tipping guide inside the office only after the flight. In retrospect, I think we overtipped - but hey, the instructors seemed happy, so all good. Now, for the things you don't always see in the pretty Yelp reviews. Parking is mostly on an unpaved, bumpy, dusty lot. You can park on pavement along the side streets, but that means parallel parking and a bit of a walk. The waiver process was also a big "whoa." I've done plenty of risky activities before, but this felt like pages of cover-your-butt paperwork, with us signing and initialing almost every single line instead of just signing once and clicking through. Also, be aware that some grassy areas are apparently off-limits. My family and I were taking photos there, not realizing we weren't supposed to be, and we got shooed away pretty hard. I get that there are safety rules, especially around active gliders, but clearer signage would help a lot. And if there was signage, it was difficult to notice with the crowd hanging around Cliff Hanger. And yes, the restroom situation is porta-potties only. On the day we visited, there wasn't even water available for handwashing, so bring sanitizer. Overall, the actual flight was memorable, scenic, and peaceful. The setup around it is a little rough around the edges, but the experience itself is worth doing once, especially on a sunny San Diego day. For the views alone, it's hard to beat floating over the cliffs of Torrey Pines.

    Adnan K.

    Torrey Pines Gliderport is a city-owned private-use glider airport in the La Jolla community of San Diego. It is the home to hang gliding, paragliding, radio-controlled model sailplanes, and full-scale man-carrying sailplanes. Perched high above the cliffs, this spot offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Pacific. It is listed as a National Landmark of Soaring of the National Soaring Museum, a San Diego City Historical Site, and a Model Aviation Landmark of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. It is listed on the California Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered by glider enthusiasts of all types to be the "Kitty Hawk of the West". This hang gliding center offers paragliding experiences and tandem flights. They also highlight the beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, the fun and exciting atmosphere, and the delicious pizzas and sandwiches. We visited this beautiful place on Thanksgiving Day during our San Diego trip. Since it was a holiday, all paragliding activities were closed. However, we'd heard that Torrey Pines Gliderport is one of the rare spots in San Diego to experience a truly stunning sunset, and that was the main reason for our visit. Overall, our experience was truly amazing. The view was picturesque and something everyone should enjoy. The beauty of the nature felt surreal and hard to explain. If you are in San Diego and want to experience a truly unique sunset, then Torrey Pines Gliderport is the perfect spot. Bring a blanket and watch the sky transform!

    Bryan And G.

    We stopped by for a QUICK STOP, just to see what was there. AND TO SEE ANY POSSIBLE HAND GLIDING!!! It was fairly easy to get to, and parking was pretty straightforward. Unfortunately, NO ONE was HAND GLIDING, when we were there. Nevertheless, that doesn't mean it was wrong to try. It was such a beautiful day, and we bought a couple DIET COKES!!!

    Caution signs
    Helen K.

    Incredible spot to take para glider or hang glider lessons . Plenty of parking. Unfortunately their was no wind when we were there but we will be back on a windy day. Great spot to watch the sunsets. Area is well marked to keep spectators and gliders safe.

    Sitting with our dogs under the umbrella for shade
    Noemi S.

    We went here to celebrate my pup nephews birthday! Our dogs had so much fun! We had a large bench and everyone was comfortable. They weather was awesome and the views are incredible. Our food was great and the staff was accommodating when we asked for beverages for our pups. Highly recommend for a nice day outing!

    Mariam R.

    Beautiful place to just hang out or hike. Plenty of off road parking and the cafe is a plus. Will definitely try their cafe next time.

    Vince H.

    Such a cool place to visit !! We stopped by and were in awe at the beautiful scenic views of the ocean and cliffs, sprinkled by paragliders in the sky floating peacefully along. There is a little cafe at the launch site too so you can grab a bite while taking in the views. We were there to also hike the path down to the beach (warning, a portion of which is nude). There is a stair path down to the beach, but that's no fun is it!? So we went down the cliff through a slightly more difficult path along the rocks and traversed through a narrow passing which was absolutely beautiful. Take extra caution going on this hike after it rains though, and some locals did say that water erosion has had a considerable impact on the path so be careful! The day we went was gorgeous and it felt absolutely worthwhile to dip your toes in the refreshing ocean after the short hike.

    mare r.

    We stumbled upon this place as we drove down the coast and shore toward La Jolla. What a treat of a stop! There was plenty of free parking and we mosied on over to explore the port. They had a great bar and snack bar to buy drinks and treats as you watched all of the gliders taking off, flying around and landing. They also had rentals so you could try this out yourself complete with a guide to take you. Very very cool! So whether you're gliding or just stopping by to watch, I highly recommend a visit to the Torrey Pines glider port!

    Black's Beach
    Jeremy S.

    We visited only briefly to take in the scenic views at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. The dirt parking lot here is fairly big but rocky and uneven. The sky was cloudy, but the view was still beautiful. While we were there, no one was paragliding at the time. We also didn't walk down the steep trail toward Black's Beach. There were a few benches to sit down and enjoy the views. There was the Cliff Hanger Cafe selling brunch dishes, but we weren't hungry yet. I'd definitely want to visit again during a clear and sunny day to watch and take pictures of the paragliders. The food from the cafe also sounded good and had reasonable prices.

    Sparkling Rose with a beautiful backdrop
    Amy M.

    Great spot for a lunch break, or sunset!! Food was delicious and staff was friendly when taking your order but the chef was a little flustered that day.....all and all great experience!

    Paragliding in SanDiego

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Torrey Pines Gliderport

    Hi. I tried to email but it won't go through. What is your working email?

    Are flyers allowed to bring their own go pro for the ride?

    Yes no problem Thankyou… 

    How long is the typical wait time here?

    Hi, it all depends on the day. Typically on a week day it is less busy so you may only have a 20 minute wait if that. On a weekend it can get busier, sometimes you may have to wait an hour but it is a lovely spot to hang out and there is a cafe… 

    Is it one person only for each or two people available?

    Hi Hu, It is only one person per instructor. We can't fit more than one.

    Is reservation required for the tandem paragliding?

    No. Just call ahead to make sure the winds are good for flight and then show up. It's first come, first served.

    Do we tip the pilots and what amount is appropriate?

    I tipped - as I though my instructor was very good and kept me in the air about 35 minutes. 10% tip would be $17.50, I gave him $20. My guess is anything is appreciated, perhaps $10 or $20?

    Is it possible to pay to jump?

    Hi Livia, Thank you for inquiring about flying with us. We do offer instructional tandem flights,… 

    Heading here today is it ok to bring the dog? Got my answer TAKING MY BABY ❤❤❤❤????????

    Yes!!!! There's a "mascot " dog running there- belonging to a worker there. So cute! Not sure about the beach below the hike tho....

    View All 14 Questions

    Review Highlights - Torrey Pines Gliderport

    They had to hammer pikes into the rocks, and literally Belay down the cliff to retrieve my phone and cards.

    Mentioned in 77 reviews

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