Encinitas Ranch

Hike at Encinitas Ranch for Mountain and Sea Views in San Diego County

A hiker surveys the sandstone formation and distant mountain views at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

Rare Torrey pines, striking sandstone bluffs, mountain and ocean vistas ... find these trademark San Diego features on an unassuming suburban hike! Head to the Encinitas Ranch community next to the eponymous golf course for a 2.75-mile loop with about 300 feet of elevation gain and opportunities for more local adventure.

A woman walks by a cactus covered trailside at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

Park along Paseo De Las Flores just north of the golf course and Quail Gardens Drive. The trailhead will be alongside a colorful floral display next to an Encinitas Ranch sign, across from an agricultural field (download a map too!). Head east past a little free library, ascending a dirt track flanking a white picket fence. You’ll soon reach the high point of the hike, overlooking the neighborhood of Rancho Ponderosa and prominent peaks beyond. On a clear day, you can actually see five mountain ranges: San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Palomar, Julian, and Cuyamaca from left to right. 

Dog statue at vista point in Encinitas Ranch San Diego County

Hiker walks on trail with Torrey Pine trees at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

Hiker walks along a trail and looks out to the mountain scenery at Enicinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

It’s a fantastic panorama, but what’s even better is that this segment of the trail travels under majestic, rare specimens of Torrey pines and, though they were purposefully planted here, it’s a treat to see their curled branches and long needles. You’ll also find California sycamores and eucalyptus here (though no oaks, despite “Encinitas” meaning “little oaks” in Spanish), providing plenty of shade. Take time to find multiple spur trails heading east. This is the Hidden Ridge Trail, which travels parallel to the Ranch Loop Trail you’re on and gives you an up-close view of the sandstone bluffs. Take time to explore this path, and for extra mileage and elevation, take it down past chaparral to Garden View Road before heading back up to the Ranch Loop.

Person biking a trail at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

Hiker overlooking the mountain scenery in the distance at Encinitas Ranch in North San Diego County

After a memorial statue for a local pooch, the trail curves west and provides you with a welcome surprise—nice views of the Pacific as you work to complete the loop. The path eventually curves north (turning right at Las Verdes Park), but you can optionally continue west to run into Quail Gardens Drive and the entrance to the must-visit San Diego Botanic Garden. Otherwise, continue north along the cactus- and bougainvillea-dotted hillside that borders the golf course and your eventual deposit at the starting point and your car.

To get to the Encinitas Ranch Loop trailhead, take the I-5 to the Leucadia Blvd. exit and head east. After 0.8 mile on Leucadia Blvd., take a right onto Quail Gardens Dr. followed by an immediate left onto Paseo De Las Flores. After 0.3 mile, the trailhead (and street parking) will be on your left. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Tram to Cool Treks

    Elevate your fun, getting whisked from palm trees to alpine wilderness on the world’s largest rotating tramcar. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway transports you up and away on a 2.5-mile scenic route from the desert floor to the refreshing wilderness of Mount San Jacinto State Park.

    View
  2. Coming Up Roses

    Looking to spice up your hiking life? Give your partner a rose—Mount Rose! The 10-mile out-and-back peak hike goes up to one of the grandest views in all of Lake Tahoe. Get ready f

    View
  3. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View
  4. Vista Hermosa Park in Echo Park Los Angeles

    Vista Hermosa, Echo That!

    Tucked in Echo Park, the little-known gem of Vista Hermosa Natural Park feels worlds away thanks to its serene beauty and thoughtful design. At 11.5 acres there’s still plenty to explore. And it's got a premier view of the iconic Los Angeles skyline.

    View