Mt Tamalpais
📍 California , Marin County · Nearest city: Bolinas (5 km)
18 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 588 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
37.91070, -122.62500Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:25 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~126 m, wind 21 km/h, precipitation 7.3 mm.
base ~126m · wind 21 km/h · precip 7.3mmMarginal conditions, cloud base ~574 m, wind 15 km/h.
base ~574m · wind 15 km/hNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~1113 m, wind 19 km/h.
base ~1113m · wind 19 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
🌬 Daily wind (next days)
Daily summary (10m wind). Full hour × altitude chart is being added progressively.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 0 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.00 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.57 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
There are 3 launches, A(1, SE-S), B(2, middle, SW-WNW), and C(3, W-WNW). B is the Main launch and used 80% of the time A launch requires a small hike out C launch is typically overflow, if B launch is crowded. See www.mchga.org for information on launches
Rules and notes
Requires MCHGA sticker and site introduction. Make sure to contact a club person days before flying if you are visiting (www.mchga.org/club.shtml), so they can give you a needed site intro. They will give site intro, and show how to do a "check-in" at the Pantoll Ranger Station.
Pilot comments
- Watch for high tide, fog, and increasing winds. - Rules https://www.mchga.org/ParaTamRules.pdf - There are small pull-out parking areas by each launch. - You need to get your car out of the park before sunset as they close road gates. - There are 5 max pilots allowed on launch at any one time - Weather is best pre- or post- frontal - it’s a winter site. Summer often has lower fog and crowded beach. - Ideal wind is SE to WNW, and <10mph - Watch for white caps building on ocean, leave early to make the LZ! It’s a long glide. - Danger - any North component in the wind can cause rotor as the wind moves north down the ridge. - Sometimes people drive to C launch because the wind shows more "true" there. B launch can hide a north wind component, and that’s why pilots look to the top of the hill (wind sock up there) or check C launch to be sure it’s not northy. - Don't fly directly over the town of Stinson Beach - It's important to land at the designated LZ, you can see it from launch. You can't land north of it (unless there is an emergency), but you can land south of it. - Watch out for kites on the beach, land away from people - Some years high tide can be a problem, but lately has been OK. - The trees on the ridge are very very tall. Don’t scratch low near them. - Never land close to ocean water. Never. - You can hike & fly there; there is a trail that goes from Stinson Beach to the launch. It's beautiful, but not easy. - Don’t kite on the beach if any hang gliders are landing. - There is no gas at Stinson Beach, so fill up before going over the mountain.
Nearby sites
Hang Glider Site #3 (5) · Fort Funston (no PG) (8) · Pacifica (Dumps- San Francisco) (14) · Mussel Rock aka The Dumps (8) · Channing hill - Benicia (8) · Half Moon Bay Poplar Beach (11)