Park Information

• Mt. Diablo State Park is open everyday from 8am-sunset
• All park entrances (North Gate & South Gate) and parking lots (Mercado Rancho Staging Area & Mitchel Canyon Parking lot) are gated and close at sunset; Visitors should plan to be in their vehicles by sunset and headed out to avoid being locked in
• Vehicle entry fee: $10 (payable by cash/check/QR code anytime or debit/credit when staffed)
• Macedo Ranch & Mitchell Canyon Parking lot fee: $6 (payable by cash/check/QR code)
• Street parking is available on Emmons Canyon Dr. if you plan to get back to your vehicle after sunset

Club Rules

• Current USHPA and WOR (full or visiting) membership
• Follow all park rules and regulations
• Follow all FAR part 103 operating requirements
• Fly with a helmet and an emergency parachute
• Meet all rating requirements
• Launch only from a designed launch
• Land only in a designated LZ unless top landing
• Call 911 in case of an emergency
• No commercial activity
• Report any accidents, incidents or concerns using this form
• Recommended to fly with a cell phone, radio and satellite tracker

Site Requirements

• All Pilots must sign the Mt. Diablo Waiver
• All pilots must sign-in before flying
• No launching between the hours of one hour before sunset and 8:00 AM.
• All pilots must receive a site intro from a pilot who has significant experience flying at Mt. Diablo
• It is the responsibility of the first pilot landing in an LZ to secure the landing area for other incoming pilots – notifying non-pilots of incoming gliders, communicating with flying pilots regarding landing conditions, and generally promoting a safe landing area
• Pilots should notify a Ranger of all emergency landings (not at a designated LZ, aka “out-landing) inside the park by calling (831) 649-2817

Visiting Pilot Requirement

• You must be an advanced rated pilot (IPPI 4 or 5).
  You must be a USHPA member.
  You must register with the Wings of Rogallo website.  Once you register, you’ll be able to sign the appropriate e-waivers and download your Membership Card with your visiting pilot sticker.
• Note: Foreign Pilots should register as a non-USHPA pilot.  Only after getting your 10-day temporary USHPA membership will you be able to fly Mission Peak.
• Mt. Diablo requires a site introduction:
• Site Introduction: [email protected]

Advanced Pilot Requirement

• P4/H4 Certification required.
• Mt. Diablo is a highly technical site with significant rotor risks at most launch sites.
• Long glides to LZs make Mt. Diablo particularly challenging for low-rated wings if conditions are uncertain (headwind to LZ or lack of lift).
• Advanced knowledge of weather forecasting and airspace rules are needed for this site.

Juniper Launch (2850′)

Winds: SW-W

HG:0-25mph, ideal 7mph, gust 8mph

PG: 0-20mph, ideal 5mph, gust 7mph

Glide ratio: 4:1

• The nearest parking lot is at Diablo Valley Overlook
• Parking is not allowed at launch

Environmental concern:

• In N or NW wind pilots may find lift in bowl to right (N) of launch, in the lee of north-ridge.  Risk of rotor as one climbs level with ridge is significant and pilots have thrown reserves here.
  

South Launch (3600′)

Winds: ESE-S

HG & PG: 0-12mph, ideal 7mph, gust 5mpg

Glide ratio: 5:1

• Access to launch via Juniper Trail
• Nearest parking is at Lower Summit Parking Lot

Tower Launch (3600′)

Winds: NW-NE

HG & PG: 0-10mph, ideal 5mph, gust 5mph

Glide ratio: 5:1

• Pilots accessing the launch must be accompanied by a Site Committee member (see list below)
• No more than five (5) gliders allowed on launch at a time
• Only one vehicle at a time down at the tower launch area and must not disrupt the workers or their vehicles at any time
• Pilots should unload gliders and park vehicles in the Lower Summit Parking Lot

Environmental concern:

• Risk of rotor/shear immediately in front of launch.  Check winds carefully and do not thermal close to launch.

Site Committee Members

Paragliding

• Anna Behrens USHPA #101928
• Evan Cohen USHPA #88630
• Josh Cohn USHPA #53890
• Daniel Fourie USHPA #97550
• Lynsey Haynes USHPA #102950
• Tristan Horn USHPA #98744
• Pamela Kinnaird USHPA #101090
• Ben Pedersen-Wedlock USHPA #97368
• Steve Young USHPA #62564
• Daniel Zaslavsky USHPA #97516

Hang gliding 

• Paul Clayton USHPA #41958
• Dave Clement USHPA #1049
• Clark Frentzen USHPA #15924
• Peter Koistinen USHPA #34062
• Soham Mehta USHPA #95973
• Robert Moore USHPA #59355
• Michael Soderstrom USHPA #79621

Landing Zones

Thousand Footer

• Failry large knoll  
• Gate and fire road to access LZ and a few oak trees on far northern end
• Advisable to check landing conditions prior to heading to launch; and mount a windsock or directional device towards middle of LZ.  Any wind indicator must be removed the same day
• Turbulence is know to occur even in light wind

Mitchell Canyon

• Located at end of Mitchell Canyon Road in Clayton, at entrance to park
• Largest designated LZ at Mt. Diablo with few obstacles
• Residential powerline opposite road on the westen edge of the field, and low tree line along creek bisecting LZ North-South
• All wind flagging must be removed after each flight
• Large plateau on eastern side of Mitchell Canyon LZ can be accessed through footpath entrance to the park on Mount Tamalpais Drive
• Typically this field is selected if westerly wind has developed at the lower altitudes after launching from the Tower
• Turbulence from Mt. Zion quarry can be avoided by circling down over the Park lands east of Mitchell Canyon and then making a final approach in the smoother air over the LZ

Curry Point

• Located approximately one mile down South Gate Road from the Midpoint Junction Ranger Station near the Curry Point Parking Area
• Site is an uphill LZ favorable in SE to SW wind
• This is a possible landing zone for the the South Launch
• No significant obstacles, but pilots should be aware that LZ can be turbulent in NW/N winds
• Helicopters may use the nearby landing pad on rare occasions

Macedo Ranch

• Located east of Macedo Ranch Staging Area parking lot; above adjoining access path
• Site is an uphill LZ at 700’MSL; 2,100′ vertical feet and a 6.3:1 glide from Jupiter launch
• Vehicles access from Green Valley Road that crosses Stone Valley Road in Danville
• There is a $6 fee to park here or you can park outside the park on Emmons Canyon Dr.

Lime Ridge (aka Blake’s)

• Lime Ridge is just south of the Boundary Oak Golf Course, at the end of Valley Vista Road
• LZ is outside of the State Park, and used by special WOR agreement with the City of Walnut Creek
• This LZ is an alternative to the Thousand Footer when south-to-west winds are stronger, making the Thousand Footer a difficult landing site
• A hillside LZ, Lime Ridge has no significant obstacles and is well removed from the access path
• Public parking is available on Valley Vista Rd
• Pilots sometimes meet here to Uber or carpool to launch

Closed LZs

Athenian School

• On the south side of the park and sometimes used as rendezvous site by pilots

Morgan Territory

• Located to the ESE of Diablo peak

Weather Information

Depending on the combinations of launch, LZ and weather conditions, Mt. Diablo can offer simple or challenging flights. Consult an experienced Diablo pilot for details on soaring conditions.