Marina State Beach
Marina (Monterey Bay) · near Marina / Monterey · Central Coast
Paragliding
At a glance
- Skill level
- beginner-friendly
- Best season
- Year-round · Afternoon NW sea breeze most reliable · Summer steadiest
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Paragliding detail
- Flying types
- coastal-soaring · training
- Conditions
- A wide, forgiving coastal dune soaring site on Monterey Bay. Consistent afternoon NW sea breeze produces smooth, gentle ridge lift along the sand dunes — one of the most beginner-friendly coastal soaring sites in Central California.
- Ushpa
- USHPA P2+ for independent flying. Gentle site but respect the ocean and other beach users. State beach day-use rules apply.
- Intl tip
- Marina is 10 minutes north of Monterey — combine flying with Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, and the 17-Mile Drive. The Elkhorn Slough kayaking (from the kayak & SUP guide) is 15 minutes north at Moss Landing.
The guide
Marina State Beach on Monterey Bay is one of Central California's gentlest coastal soaring sites — wide sand dunes, a reliable …
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Marina State Beach — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 36.69, -121.81