Parapente Big Sur_Plaskett Knobett, CA

At an elevation of 802 meters, this site is regularly used and serves as the main takeoff for hang gliding (HG) and is also suitable for paragliding (PG). You can fly to the coast with opportunities for thermalling and soaring. A 4WD vehicle is recommended for access, but you can also hike from Plasket Ridge Road to the top. Located in Central Coast California, USA, this site has a record flight distance of 4.3 km. For a visual overview, you can watch this video: [YouTube Video](https://youtu.be/8rY2N5SxZDU). Just south of the Plaskett Creek Campground, you will find Plaskett Creek Road/Plasket Ridge Road. You can drive a 4WD vehicle to takeoff 2 or drive to the top of Plasket Ridge Road and hike down to takeoff 1. The 1600 ft. launch (takeoff 2) is a good spot to assess the current conditions. If the wind was forecasted to be NNW but feels W here, you might be experiencing a rotor from the ridge to the north. Short sled rides are common due to the easy access. If you have a 2WD vehicle, you might want to hike up from here. The road is shorter than the Wild Cattle hike but steep and can be dusty. Go through the campsite and follow a lightly traveled downhill trail. Be cautious as this is tick country. Follow the trail down about 300 yards to a big open field on your right. This launch is at about 2200 ft. ASL. With a clear line of sight, you can observe the evolving conditions. Steer left shortly after launch to play on this face. Even with light winds, you might be able to graze the lee side of the ridge searching for thermals. Medium strong winds can provide a long day of ridge soaring and thermalling. Zero wind days are suitable for a sled ride. Warning: The big grassy field behind the ridge at Sand Dollar Cove sits in a nasty rotor. More than one pilot has been slammed there. If you choose to land there, get as close as you can to the edge of the ridge or land on the beach. For more information, visit [Big Sur Flying Site](https://www.paragliding-lessons.com/big-sur-flying-site/). Big Sur is an extremely beautiful place to fly, suitable for novice and above pilots. However, it is not suitable on days with moderate to strong winds at launch or in the landing zone (LZ), especially if the winds are coming from the ocean. Watch for any sign of whitecaps on the ocean, which indicate strong winds and a potential no-fly situation. Access: The site is accessible by a two-wheel drive vehicle on a paved road to the top of the ridge, then a dirt road traversing the ridge to the south. It takes about an hour to drive from the LZ to the launch or vice versa. Directions to Campgrounds: From San Jose, head south on Hwy 101. A little more than 10 miles south of Gilroy, near Castroville, take Hwy 156 West. Stay on 156 W to Hwy 1 South. Continue on Hwy 1 for about 67 miles through Monterey, Carmel, and onto the Big Sur Peninsula. Plaskett Creek Campground is at the very south end of Big Sur. Just south of Lucia, on the left, is Limekiln Campground. Nine miles south of Lucia is Plaskett Creek Campground. Limekiln has showers and takes reservations during spring, summer, and fall. Plaskett is prettier but does not take reservations or have showers. Directions to Launch: Take Nacimiento Road just south of the town of Lucia. Follow Nacimiento Road to the top of the ridge and turn right where the paved road crests the coastal range and begins to descend on the east side. There is a dirt road that runs along the top of the ridge. This road is accessible by 2WD vehicles, but good ground clearance and traction are recommended. Head south on this ridge road for about 20 minutes until you reach a split with a steep right-handed Y branch. This road leads to the Wild Cattle Launch. Follow it to the end of the ridge, veering left when the main road starts to descend. The launch is 150 yards further.