La Costa Hills / Denk Moutain

Sep 212011

Closest Mountain Biking to Encinitas

If you had to pick one trail in the North Coast area is that is close to the major populations it would be Rancho La Costa. In the center of Rancho La Costa area is Denk Tank Mountain. Denk Tank Mountain is the highest point in Carlsbad. Denk Tank Mountain offers a spectacular panoramic view of much of coastal San Diego. Rancho La Costa Preserve is managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management(CNLN). Through out the year, CNLN and the San Diego Mountain Bike Association have trail building days. These trail building days are a key part of keeping these heavily use trails in good condition for the mountain biker.

View La Costa Hills Moutain Bike Trails in a larger map

Rancho La Costa has three main trails. Visit one of the San Diego Bike shops to get a map of the trails. There are two trails going to the top of the hill on the south side of Denk Mountain (“Switchback” on the west side and “Vista Del Mar” on the East side). Connecting these to trails is Tank Hill / Denning fire road along the ridge of the top of Denk Mountain.

I suggest that you start at the parking area near the crossing of Camino Junipero and Corta Romero and ride east to Sitio Salvia and turn into the gravel road on the east side of the road. From there you can connect to the west switchback trail call “Switchbacks” or “The Old Switchbacks”. A mile up the “Switchbacks” you will come to the Tank Hill fire road. If you are an aggressive down hill full suspension mountain biker you can make a sharp right turn and go down the NASCAR. This is the best steep downhill trail in the entire San Diego Coastal region. You will often see fully armored downhillers on their Trek full suspension mountain bikes bombing down NASCAR.

If you are looking for a longer, less aggressive route I would suggest that you continue east on the Tank Hill / Denning fire road up to the top of Denk Mountain and take a breather and be impressed with the 360 degree view of San Diego.

Once you are rested and have placed a rock on the pile at the vista (This is a ritual that all in the know mountain bikers do), continue east to the Vista Del Mar trail. Eventually you will descend to Corte Romero near where your car is parked.

This mountain bike route will take mountain bikers 45 to 90 minutes. Catch your breath and try the other trails of Rancho La Costa.

For more information about this area contact El Camino Bike Shop, San Diego’s best Bike Shop.

Archipelago Ride 2011 Teaser

El Camino Bike Shop, Epic Rides, events, La Costa Hills, Trails in La Costa / San Elijo No Responses »

Apr 222011

Archipelago Ride 2011 Teaser from Harold Preston on Vimeo.

North County SAN DIEGO Turkey Day MTB Ride – 7AM!

29ER, bike routes, Course Map, Epic Rides, La Costa Hills, Trails in La Costa / San Elijo, W5 Rides 1 Response »

Nov 242010

Erik Dekold is looking to start an annual Mountain Bike Ride in San Elijo. Here is his email:

Subject: North County Turkey Day MTB Ride – 7AM!
Looking to get out for an early morning MTB ride before eating waaaay too much? A few buddies and I want to get a North County tradition started, modeled after the Turkey Day ride up in the Bay Area which draws nearly 400 people – all riding to the top of a peak with tons of food and drink. More info on that one here:

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=574879

We’re going to meet at the fountain in the town square of San Elijo Hills, departing at 7AM, so be there a little early. We’ll ride to the top of Frank’s Peak, which has an incredible 360 degree view of the North County. Although it’s too late notice to bring food this year, feel free to bring a couple of your favorite beers or whatnot to consume once we reach the top. Expect to be done and back to the cars by around 9-9:30.

Please spread the word to anyone not on this list. Hope to see you out there!

Kurt G. – 408 316 2504 cell

Here are the locations:

View North County San Diego Turkey Day Locations in a larger map

Archipelago Mountain Bike Ride – La Costa to Penasquitos

bike routes, Course Map, El Camino Bike Shop, events, La Costa Hills, Trails in La Costa / San Elijo, W5 Rides 5 Responses »

Apr 102010

Epic North County San Diego Mtn Bike ride on Saturday April 17th – 7am.

Epic NC SD Mtn Bike Ride

Our good friend Rich J is putting together his second annual Archipelago Ride starting from La Costa Hills and mostly traveling on some great trails to Penasuitos. Here is Rich’s description:
You have done your taxes and paid the man. That big hole in your wallet stings so now is the time for a ride and a cold one. This year we will ride segments that have names like The Jungle Ride, The Gauntlet, Herbie’s Trail, The Crosby Switches. The old standbys are still there and sorry but The Way Up still is The Way Up and it isn’t any easier. This year we will have greener grass more flowers and no asphalt. Not like we had a lot of asphalt before but this year there is more dirt then ever.

We will meet at North of the Border at 7:00 am and organize the shuttling process. There will be some with trucks and vans that can help shuttle but not knowing how many riders we have yet please plan it like you have to do your own shuttle but if you can squeeze on somewhere that will help make the world greener. I will let you know if some serious means to shuttle a lot of riders happens. Once we shuttle up to La Costa we will drive to the end of Junipero Serra, down the block from the usual trail head because this year we will go up Vista Del Mar instead of The Switchbacks.I want to be riding by 8:00am sharp.

Sagwagon will meet us at Elfin , Hernandez Hideaway, Lusardi Canyon and Black Mountain. Sag stations will have water and energy( Clif) bars and most likely a beer at Black Mtn. We will go up the Lopez Canyon Trail to end the ride at North of the Border. Food drinks and cold beers await. The ride will probably take until 3:00 to 3:30 for everyone to finish.

Entry fee will be $15 collected at North of the Border or if you meet us at La Costa and for $15 a classic Archipelago tee shirt will be available. The shirts will have the open spaces laid out like the Hawaiian Islands with a Hula skirted dancer palm trees and the date on front. A course map and sponsor logos on the back. You better let me know if you want one of these one of a kind classics or I may not get enough of them made.

Epic Action Cam is throwing in an action cam. Raffle tickets will be available for $1 a piece or $5 for 6 or $10 for 12.

If anything changes or gets added I will let you know. RSVP Rich@sdmba before April 10th so I can make adjustments and other plans as needed. All levels will be accommodated, no soul left behind, we will have dedicated sweeps.

Yours Rich