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Paragliding Big Sur_Wild Cattle, CA
Best Conditions
Optimal Wind Direction
Optimal Speed (mph)
Description
Big Sur, California, USA
Elevation: 991 meters
This site is regularly used for scenic flights to the coast, with a takeoff point near a pleasant campground. The site record is 6.1 km.
Watch a flight video: [YouTube Video](
Click to watch video
)
Drawbacks:
- The drive from the landing zone (LZ) to the launch point takes about 45 minutes and requires significant coordination. Alternatively, a 7-mile hike is possible but steep and challenging.
- From the launch, you cannot see if the LZ is fogged in. Dense marine fog is common, especially in warmer months.
- You only get small glimpses of the water texture, making it nearly impossible to read coastal winds until after you launch. There are no reliable weather stations nearby, so you only have a general idea about the conditions as you head up the mountain.
- During most of the flying season, the prevailing wind direction is NNW, which is not ideal for anything but sledders at Wild Cattle.
More photos and information: [ImageEvent](http://ImageEvent.com/wind2walk/bigsur)
Weather forecast: [NOAA Weather](https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=35.971299&lon=-121.453027&site=rev&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text#.Y1jxiD1Bypo)
Additional site information: [BHGC](http://www.bhgc.org/sites/#site_big-sur-ca)
Takeoff:
- Attention: The roads to launch are periodically closed due to forest fires and landslides. Before traveling to Big Sur for flying, check with the Los Padres National Forest (805.968.6640) to ensure the roads are open. Violating road closures can result in fines of $5,000-$10,000 and up to six months in jail. Local residents are vigilant about reporting violators.
Landing:
- Large field.
Weather:
- The conditions are most reliable from fall through spring. It is usually too foggy to fly at Big Sur during the summer. Conditions for soaring are best between Christmas and Martin Luther King's birthday. You can typically expect a beautiful, smooth sled ride, but soaring flights are possible on pre- and post-frontal days.
Comment:
- Normally a beginner site, but be cautious of wind shear from the lower layer of air from the ocean.
Popularity: 92 Views
Next optimal sessions
(Calculated by the Spots Guru algorithm)
Wednesday 30 April
06:13
19:52
11h
WNW
4 | 6mp/h
1240 m
20 %
12h
W
3 | 7mp/h
1313 m
79 %
13h
W
9 | 9mp/h
1228 m
86 %
14h
W
6 | 6mp/h
1448 m
100 %
15h
W
7 | 7mp/h
1496 m
48 %
16h
W
7 | 7mp/h
1265 m
5 %
17h
WSW
6 | 6mp/h
1545 m
1 %
18h
W
6 | 6mp/h
1533 m
25 %
Thursday 01 May
06:12
19:53
13h
W
3 | 5mp/h
1862 m
0 %
14h
W
6 | 7mp/h
1777 m
0 %
15h
WNW
7 | 8mp/h
1789 m
0 %
16h
WNW
7 | 8mp/h
1899 m
0 %
17h
WNW
7 | 8mp/h
1936 m
0 %
Friday 02 May
06:11
19:53
2 days of Forecast per week are reserved for members.
