Do Denk

Hike to the highest point in Carlsbad at Denk Mountain

In San Diego’s inland Carlsbad community a prominent peak beckons locals and visitors alike. Denk Mountain is the highest point in Carlsbad. At just over 1000 feet, Denk Mountain (named after a family who once owned most of the surrounding land) is hardly a “mountain” but the prominent nature of its apex provides a mountain-class panorama. Reach it via a 3.5-mile figure-eight loop that nets 800 feet of elevation.

Find street parking at the intersection of Corte Romero and Camino Junipero in the La Costa neighborhood of Carlsbad. Then find the unassuming trailhead at the northeast corner, marked by signs for Rancho La Costa Habitat Conservation Area. Immediately cross a small footbridge with rules of the trail etched into the planks - hikers have right of way over the bikers who also enjoy this route. The switchbacks then begin and do not let up until you’re at the peak!

Ignore the first two spur trails (one connects to the Mule Deer and one deposits you at another suburban entrance to the reserve). After just over 1 mile of hiking through chaparral favorites like sagebrush, chamise, sumac and lemonade bush, you’ll reach a four-way intersection. For now continue straight onto the switchback trails, which eventually curves east past a eucalyptus-surrounded water tank (the Denk tank!) and connects with the other path leading to the summit.

At the apex benches provide great rest points to take in the vistas from all directions: to the southeast, spy Mt. Woodson and Cuyamaca and to the north, check out Double Peak of neighboring San Marcos. Perhaps most impressively is the Batiquitos Lagoon feeding into the Pacific Ocean to the west; the coastal views stretch far beyond that though!

On your way down, take the left path of the fork. This is the Mule Deer Trail, which you will continue on at the aforementioned four-way junction. This eventually exits you at Sitio Salvia, a connecting neighborhood road. Walk along the sidewalk flanked by dense patches of aloe vera on the way back to the original trailhead and your car. Denk, done.

To get to the Denk Mountain trailhead, take the I-5 to the Leucadia Blvd. exit and head east. After 1.9 miles, Leucadia Blvd. turns into Olivenhain Rd. and after another mile continues straight onto Rancho Santa Fe Rd. After 1.9 miles, turn right onto Camino Junipero and park at the intersection with Corte Romero. 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