Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

In search of coastal sage scrub

Remnants remain in some of our coastal canyons and in special reserves.

Housing developments, shopping centers, and golf courses have diminished coastal sage scrub habitats.
Housing developments, shopping centers, and golf courses have diminished coastal sage scrub habitats.

The coastal sage plant community has been nearly eliminated in San Diego County, replaced by housing developments, shopping centers, business centers, and golf courses. However, remnants remain in some of our coastal canyons and in special reserves. One such remnant, on the Encinitas Ranch, includes a public trail on a coastal ridge that passes through Torrey pines and sage scrub. Take in stunning views of sandstone cliffs and the ocean beyond as it goes past a golf course and to the Magdalena Ecke Open Space Preserve.

Parts of this trail are on sidewalks along high-traffic-volume city streets. Begin walking west up the street, past a Walmart, to Calle Barcelona. Turn left at Calle Barcelona and head to the signal light on Leucadia Blvd., crossing to the south side of this busy road, which then becomes Garden View Road to the south of Leucadia Blvd. A paved trail begins at the southwest corner of the Garden View Rd. and Leucadia Blvd. intersection. The elevation of this paved trail gradually increases as the ridge is climbed. The vegetation on either side of the trail is restored habitat in which coastal sage species such as bush sunflower, San Diego goldenbush, black and white sage, and California sagebrush are thriving with the irrigation provided. There are also a few large scrub oaks and numerous Torrey pines, which may predate the restoration.

After walking roughly 0.5 mile, there will be a bridge crossing Leucadia Blvd. The bridge is primarily for golf carts, but pedestrians can legally walk across it, taking care not to obstruct traffic. Unless you are a member of the Encinitas Ranch Golf Club, do not turn left or enter the course. Instead, immediately turn right once across the bridge and go up the trail to the top of the ridge. Turn left upon reaching the ridge crest. The trail continues through coastal sage scrub with the golf course and scattered eucalyptus trees on the left and rust-colored sandstone cliffs on the right. There are outstanding views to the east, encompassing the extensive housing developments of Encinitas and Carlsbad, as well as west to the ocean. A little over 0.25 mile ahead, the trail crosses the golf course (stay on the trail) and reaches Quail Gardens Dr.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The trail continues on the other side of Quail Gardens Dr., dropping into the Magdalena Ecke Open Space Preserve. Although managed by San Diego County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the trails are not well marked or maintained. However, they present an opportunity to check out more extensive coastal sage scrub. Return to Quail Gardens Dr. after exploring this area.

To complete the hike, retrace your steps to the intersection of Garden View Rd. and Leucadia Blvd. Cross at the signal where Garden View Rd. becomes Calle Barcelona as it enters Carlsbad and return to your vehicle. Or, for a longer hike of 4.5 miles, an alternate return is possible. After returning to Quail Gardens Dr., head south to Leucadia Blvd. Turn left or east on Leucadia Blvd. and follow it to the signal light on Garden View Rd./Calle Barcelona, returning to where you parked your vehicle.


  • Distance from downtown San Diego: 30 miles. Allow 45 minutes. Take I-5 N 28.5 miles to Encinitas. Exit at Leucadia Blvd. and go 1.5 miles east, making a left turn onto Town Center Place. Find a place to park near REI in the large lot serving the numerous surrounding businesses and restaurants.
  • Hiking length: 3.75 miles out and back.
  • Difficulty: Moderately strenuous due to the 1000 feet of elevation gain/loss. Care must be taken when exposed to heavy traffic. In some areas the trail may be covered with loose sand and gravel, making slipping or falling possible. Trekking poles recommended. Carry water. There are no public facilities other than the restrooms in REI and a neighboring Starbucks in the parking area.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema
Housing developments, shopping centers, and golf courses have diminished coastal sage scrub habitats.
Housing developments, shopping centers, and golf courses have diminished coastal sage scrub habitats.

The coastal sage plant community has been nearly eliminated in San Diego County, replaced by housing developments, shopping centers, business centers, and golf courses. However, remnants remain in some of our coastal canyons and in special reserves. One such remnant, on the Encinitas Ranch, includes a public trail on a coastal ridge that passes through Torrey pines and sage scrub. Take in stunning views of sandstone cliffs and the ocean beyond as it goes past a golf course and to the Magdalena Ecke Open Space Preserve.

Parts of this trail are on sidewalks along high-traffic-volume city streets. Begin walking west up the street, past a Walmart, to Calle Barcelona. Turn left at Calle Barcelona and head to the signal light on Leucadia Blvd., crossing to the south side of this busy road, which then becomes Garden View Road to the south of Leucadia Blvd. A paved trail begins at the southwest corner of the Garden View Rd. and Leucadia Blvd. intersection. The elevation of this paved trail gradually increases as the ridge is climbed. The vegetation on either side of the trail is restored habitat in which coastal sage species such as bush sunflower, San Diego goldenbush, black and white sage, and California sagebrush are thriving with the irrigation provided. There are also a few large scrub oaks and numerous Torrey pines, which may predate the restoration.

After walking roughly 0.5 mile, there will be a bridge crossing Leucadia Blvd. The bridge is primarily for golf carts, but pedestrians can legally walk across it, taking care not to obstruct traffic. Unless you are a member of the Encinitas Ranch Golf Club, do not turn left or enter the course. Instead, immediately turn right once across the bridge and go up the trail to the top of the ridge. Turn left upon reaching the ridge crest. The trail continues through coastal sage scrub with the golf course and scattered eucalyptus trees on the left and rust-colored sandstone cliffs on the right. There are outstanding views to the east, encompassing the extensive housing developments of Encinitas and Carlsbad, as well as west to the ocean. A little over 0.25 mile ahead, the trail crosses the golf course (stay on the trail) and reaches Quail Gardens Dr.

Sponsored
Sponsored

The trail continues on the other side of Quail Gardens Dr., dropping into the Magdalena Ecke Open Space Preserve. Although managed by San Diego County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, the trails are not well marked or maintained. However, they present an opportunity to check out more extensive coastal sage scrub. Return to Quail Gardens Dr. after exploring this area.

To complete the hike, retrace your steps to the intersection of Garden View Rd. and Leucadia Blvd. Cross at the signal where Garden View Rd. becomes Calle Barcelona as it enters Carlsbad and return to your vehicle. Or, for a longer hike of 4.5 miles, an alternate return is possible. After returning to Quail Gardens Dr., head south to Leucadia Blvd. Turn left or east on Leucadia Blvd. and follow it to the signal light on Garden View Rd./Calle Barcelona, returning to where you parked your vehicle.


  • Distance from downtown San Diego: 30 miles. Allow 45 minutes. Take I-5 N 28.5 miles to Encinitas. Exit at Leucadia Blvd. and go 1.5 miles east, making a left turn onto Town Center Place. Find a place to park near REI in the large lot serving the numerous surrounding businesses and restaurants.
  • Hiking length: 3.75 miles out and back.
  • Difficulty: Moderately strenuous due to the 1000 feet of elevation gain/loss. Care must be taken when exposed to heavy traffic. In some areas the trail may be covered with loose sand and gravel, making slipping or falling possible. Trekking poles recommended. Carry water. There are no public facilities other than the restrooms in REI and a neighboring Starbucks in the parking area.
Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego's Uptown Planners challenged by renters from Vibrant Uptown

Two La Jolla planning groups fight for predominance
Next Article

Flowering pear trees in Kensington not that nice

Empty dirt plots in front of Ken Cinema
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.