Guides
5.4 mile trail near Oceanside, California
El Camino Real Award Hike for Cub Scouts from San Luis Rey de Francia to Guajome is about 5.4 miles long and located near Oceanside, California. The purpose of the El Camino Real Award is to encourage Scouts and Scouters to learn about the history of the California Mission System and the way of life of our earlier settlers. One of the requirements...
This San Diego beach is popular for surfing, fishing, skin diving and camping. This guide takes you from end to end.
South Carlsbad State Beach is a great stretch of bluff-lined beach that makes a beautiful place to amble about, exploring the beach, enjoying the sunshine and the ocean breezes. At low tide, the beach becomes a broad, almost level expanse of sand strewn with seaweed, sea shells, well worn beach stones and other treasures. This walk will take you...
A moderate beach hike along a geologically significant area in San Onofre State Beach, visting the Cristianitos fault.
The Cristianitos Fault is a major earthquake fault line located less than one mile from the San Onofre nuclear power plant. This hike takes you on a 3.8 mile loop through San Onofre State Beach to the site of the fault line. Along the way, you’ll see the Monterey Formation, which holds most of the oil and gas deposits known in the LA basin and off...
6.8 mile trail near Escondido, California
Elfin Forest Hike is about 6.8 miles long and located near Escondido, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours
1.3 mile nature trail near Carmel Valley, California.
Dust Devil Nature Trail is about 1.3 miles long and located near Del Mar/Carmenl Valley, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1 hour or less. An easy, flat walk near the San Dieguito Ecological Preserve. The trail is flat and hard packed so good for kids and older folks with limited mobility. There are a couple ponds which...
0.75mi geological walk through a sandy trail down to the beach
The beach trail brings you from the parking lot across the lodge from the bluff down to the beach. You can choose to visit the Red Butte, the Razor Point and the Yucca Point trails along the way. Of the other trails, this trail seems to provide the most complete walk through of geological features discussed in the park's "Geology Walk" article; it...
Moderately strenuous 7.3 mile summit trail near Escondido, California just off I-15.
San Bernardo Mountain is about 7.3 miles long and located near Escondido, California. The trail is great for hiking, mountian biking and bird watching and normally takes 3-4 hours. Great hike just off the I-15 in Escondido. Hike past Lake Hodges and up a mountain for views of the surrounding area. We hiked on a misty/hazey morning so the weather...
Whitaker Garden and then 0.5mi steep hike up and down the hill at Torrey Pines State Park
The Parry Grove trail is a short 0.5 mile loop that starts on the side of the Torrey Pines Park Road, across from the stairs leading to High Point. Starting from the trailhead, walk through the Whitaker Garden area, where you will find the names of many plants in the area. The loop part of the trail is a steep descent down to the grove with a bench...
6.1 mile trail near Rancho Penasquitos, California
Los Penasquitos Canyon is about 6.1 miles roundtrip from the staging area to the waterfall and located near Carmel Valley/Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa, California. The trail is great for hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding, and can take 2-4 hours. This is a generally flat hike that you can make as long or as short as you like. There...
Trips
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Escondido, California, United States
Hiking | 5.5 miles (15.5 miles away)
Hiking | 5.5 miles (15.5 miles away)
Our 5.5 mile hike (1330ft elevation change) was in the Elfin Forest. Didn't see any elfs, but it was a moderate hike in typical chaparral environment common to the San Diego Area. The trail head is located off Harmony Grove rd in Escondido, ca. Water, maps, and restroom facilities are available as well as plentiful parking. There were no fee's for the park. The hike starts out over a small bridge, crossing...
This terrific short day hike starts at Discovery Lake Park and follows that main paved trail up and through the community until you reach the san elijo loop that takes you to the top of double peak. at the junction of the loop you can take either right of left to the top. we took right and looped down the backside of double peak. great view from the top of San Marcos...
created a route to cover all the trails around the tomato field including the beach portion. then returned to the trail head and went north to discover the hidden freshwater lagoon where we canoed the length and back. very thrilling!
San Elijo Lagoon (Gemma Parks Trail)
Solana Beach, California, United States
Hiking | 0.9 miles (14.7 miles away)
Hiking | 0.9 miles (14.7 miles away)
This hike follows the route of the Gemma Parks Interpretive Trail at San Elijo Lagoon. The trailhead starts at the end of N. Rios Avenue in Solana Beach. The area is a good place to view birds and native plants. Photographs will be gradually added to this track illustrating vegetation and other features.This trail is part of a network of approximately seven miles of trails at San Elijo Lagoon. Some of the...
very popular hike along the beautiful lagoon. went west first out to the 5 freeway underpass where you can go fishing. then onto the standard hike with a stop in the nature center on the way.
great local hike to Carlsbad's highest peak, large switchbacks and great views. watch out for bikers!
The Fallbrook Land Conservancy has done an outstanding job of providing an outstanding exercise trail in the San Diego North County. This loop covers about 4.1 miles and has some serious climbing. The climb exceeds that of Cowles and Iron Mountain.This loop consists of old abandoned roads and trails. The biggest bummer of the hike is the constant roar of traffic on Interstate 15. But mile for mile this trail will get...
Bernardo Bay to Bernardo Mountain: Moderate hike up Bernardo Mountain from Lake Hodges. Well maintain trail and popular with hikers and mountain bikes. Great 360 view from the top. The new Lake Hodges Stress Ribbon Bridge is fun to cross and view the lake. Lots of wildlife around the lake.
This was the Santaluz Loop.
Poinsettia to Solana Beach
Carlsbad, CA, California, United States
Hiking | 10.1 miles (6.9 miles away)
Hiking | 10.1 miles (6.9 miles away)
took the coaster up from solana beach to poinsettia in carlsbad, then hit the beach and headed south. stopped at the union kitchen and tap in encinitas for lunch, went down the stairs at swami's and then back south again past cardiff and on to solana beach.
