Map of bike paths / walking paths in the North San Diego County area

Recreational trails for walking, running and cycling in Del Mar, Encinitas, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido, California and surrounding communities

Northern San Diego County is a place of long sandy beaches, inland valleys and rugged hills. There are several communities in this area of California, each with their own personalities.

The portion of San Diego County has several lengthy recreational trails for bike riding, walking, running and sight seeing.

San Luis Rey River Trail

The San Luis Rey River Trail is a paved 7.2 -mile long trail that extends from Oceanside to Bonsall in northern San Diego County. The non-motorized paved pathway is open for bike riding, walking and running.

Read more about the San Luis Rey River Trail

Costal Rail Trail

The Costal Rail Trail is a paved path that is in several separate sections located in Oceanside and Carlsbad. Much of the trail follows alongside active railroad tracks.

The northern most section extends from Tyson Street in Oceanside to Oceanside Boulevard. The next section extends from Buccaneer Park on Morse Street and S. Pacific Street to Vista Way. The next section goes from Eaton Street and travels alongside Carlsbad Boulevard to Laguna Drive in Carlsbad.

Escondido Creek Trail

The Escondido Trail is a 6.5-mile long paved trail that stretches across the entire city and passes through the heart of the urban area. The trail also intersects with the Inland Rail Trail that heads out Mission Road to Paloma College.

Read more about the Escondido Creek Trail

SR56 Bike Trail

The SR-56 Bike Trail is located along Route 56, just east of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. The 9-mile long paved trail is separate from the roadway. This is a pretty route that goes through the open areas and natural scrub brush covered hillsides. There are very few street crossings, but there is over a 500 foot gain in elevation over the length of the trail.

Read more about the SR56 Bike Trail

City of Encinitas Trails

The City of Encinitas has numerous paved pathways the follow alongside the roadways. These trails include those in the Encinitas Ranch area and the Olivenhain community.

Read more about the recreational trails in Encinitas, California

City of San Marcos Trails

The City of San Marcos is located in the rugged hills inland from the coast and is situated between Carlsbad and Escondido. The city has a large network of paved and unpaved paths located along the major streets, passing through residential areas and extending out into the natural areas.

Read more about the recreational trails in San Marcos, California

San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve

The San Elijo Ecological Reserve is located between Encinitas and Solano Beach. The lagoon is situated where the Escondido Creek and the La Orilla Creek meet the Pacific Ocean. The reserve has are a number of soft-surfaced hiking paths that wander about the area and provide opportunities to enjoy the natural area and observe wildlife.

Resources

Following are links to official off-site resources to find out more details about the recreational trail located in Northern San Diego County, California.