The Torrey Pines Gliderport is located on the coastline of the Pacific Ocean, just north of La Jolla, (about 1 mile north of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier). It is situated on top of the Torrey Pines Mesa on property owned by the City of San Diego and the University of California at San Diego. The 400 foot sandstone cliffs rise almost vertically from Black's Beach and the breaking waves of the Pacific. On most days of the year, steady winds blow in from the west and are directed upwards by the cliffs to generate ridge lift. Torrey Pines is without question one of the most famous and beautiful ridge lift sites to be found anywhere in the world. Photo courtesy of John Peterson.

The Torrey Pines Gliderport hosts many different forms of motorless flight; hang gliders and paragliders, radio controlled scale models, and of course, full scale sailplanes. The Torrey Pines Soaring Council was established to address the issues associated with safely integrating these diverse forms of motorless flight.

The gliderport has played an important role in the devlopment of soaring flight. The first documented use of the lift at Torrey Pines by a sailplane occurred early in 1930 when Charles Lindbergh soared in a Bowlus sailplane from the top of Mount Soledad to the beach just west of Del Mar. Because of its rich and colorful history, the National Soaring Museum placed the gliderport on its list of National Soaring Landmarks. The entire gliderport property is listed on the California State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places. See our Torrey Pines History Page for more detailed information, or visit the Torrey Pines Gliderport Historical Society.

Torrey Pines is currently the only remaining coastal soaring site in the continental United States. AGCSC soars here during the late winter and early spring when the winds are most favorable. Launches are accomplished using our 350 cubic inch V-8 powered ground launch winch or, on stronger days, by a simple auto tow with a 200' rope, all that is needed to get over the cliff.

Unfortunately, we no longer have a permanent use permit for soaring at the Torrey Pines Gliderport. We must apply for a new permit every year, and this makes it difficult for us announce our exact schedule ahead of time. If you are interested in visiting us at Torrey Pines, we recommend you check with us for dates and times. Pilots interested in participating in the 2004 season please contact us regarding winch check-out sessions. Off-site winch checkouts are required for pilots wishing to launch their gliders at Torrey Pines.

For more information about flying Torrey Pines, check out the May 2003 issue of Southern California Soaring.

Some still photos and video clips from Torrey Pines on a GOOD soaring day!

Also of interest: what happens when there's no wind

Facts and Figures

    Identifier ...................  CA84

    Elevation ....................  400 feet (approximate)

    Runway 09 / 27

        Dimensions ...............  1500 by 100 feet

        Surface ..................  Gravel / Asphalt


    More information from AirNav

    USGS Aerial Photograph on June 01, 1994 (512x512 JPG, 80K)

    USGS Aerial Photograph on June 01, 1994 (1024x1024 JPG, 249K)

How to Get There

From Interstate 5, take the Genesee Avenue exit, and head west towards the coast. At the top of the hill make a left turn at the second traffic light, on to North Torrey Pines Road. (A major road construction project, completed in the summer of 1997, has significantly changed the design of this intersection). Make a right turn at the second traffic light, Torrey Pines Scenic Drive. Continue for one block, the road will end at the entrance to the Gliderport. As you enter the Gliderport, the sailplane runway will be directly ahead of you. Turn right and continue to the east end of the runway where club operations are based.

Local Street Map

Related Sites

• Torrey Pines Gliderport Historical Society
• San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association
• Torrey Pines Flight Park
• Torrey Pines Gulls