Laguna

Laguna, in San Diego County's Cleveland National Forest, is primarily a big east-facing cross-country site — thermal and convergence flying, plus pre- and post-monsoonal conditions. It also works for summer-evening katabatic flying when a horse-blows-down pattern kicks in, and on mild Santa Ana days. But this is not a drop-in site: the nearest LZ to launch is a 45-minute drive down to the desert floor, so a dedicated driver is required. The San Diego club has a Special Use Permit for the upper launch (generally the paraglider-preferred one), and the site is under annual permit review with State Park and National agencies — visiting pilots must be accompanied by an active SDHGPA member and get a complete site briefing on current LZ options in Mason Valley before flying.

Launch & conditions

Big east-facing site for thermal, convergence, and pre/post-monsoonal flying. Also usable in summer-evening katabatic conditions and on mild Santa Ana days. San Diego club has a Special Use Permit for the upper launch, preferred for paragliders.

Getting there & local rules

Nearest LZ to launch is a 45-minute drive down to the desert floor — a dedicated driver is required. Access rules are under annual Special Use Permit assessment with State Park and National agencies — do not fly here unless accompanied by an active SDHGPA member with a current site briefing.

Local rules & hazards

Current USHPA AND SDHGPA membership required. The San Diego club owns the only legal LZ in paraglider range — you MUST be a member (cheap) AND receive a site briefing BEFORE flying here. Very sensitive landowner issues: do not fly if you don't know exactly where to land. Very few areas are OK to land; landing elsewhere may result in a police visit. Retrieval cycle from the desert LZ back to launch is very long.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Laguna, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Laguna with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.