Encinitas Coastal Rail Trail

Encinitas, California

Save

View all 4 photos

All 4 photos

Save Review Directions Add Photo

Details

Distance

2.61 miles

Elevation Gain

33 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Meghan White

The Cardiff/Encinitas Coastal Rail Trail (part of the longer, ongoing project to eventually run 44 miles between Oceanside and San Diego) is a beautiful, mellow, and well-maintained pathway that runs from the corner of Chesterfield Dr. & San Elijo Ave. (right across the street from the Patagonia store in Cardiff) to the corner of Santa Fe Dr. and San Elijo Ave.

This particular stretch of the Coastal Rail Trail is about 1.3 miles long, and is the perfect length for a morning jog back and forth, a dog walk, or surf check. It's also a gorgeous spot to watch the sunset.

Close proximity to coffee shops and restaurants in Cardiff like Best Pizza and Brew, Lourdes Mexican Food, VG's Donut & Bakery and Rose Hill Purveyors also makes this trail perfect to grab some food/coffee and walk with a friend to one of the benches along the trail for a ocean-view picnic!

The Coastal Rail Trail can definitely be pretty busy, especially in peak summer/tourist times, but it's absolutely worth a visit.

Download the Outbound mobile app

Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.

Get the app

Download GPX File

Features

Fitness

Chillin

Photography

Running

Hiking

Beach

Dog Friendly

Family Friendly

Food Nearby

Groups

Picnic Area

Romantic

Scenic

Wildflowers

Encinitas Coastal Rail Trail Reviews

Have you done this adventure? Be the first to leave a review!

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

San Elijo State Beach Campground

This campground is located right next to the beach as well as next to the San Elijo Lagoon. Head to the beach during the day for a swim. This is also a great place to catch a sunset. If you want to stretch your legs and get moving a bit, you can hike around the San Elijo Lagoon to the east of the campground. If you bring your gear with you, you can briskly Stand up Paddle in the lagoon and bra...

Annie’s Canyon Trailhead

If you're looking for a super short hike, this 10 minute flat walk couldn't be more ideal. Start at 840 N Rios Avenue, Solana beach and walk east towards the FWY 5 where you will see Annie’s Canyon on your right. There is only one way to go up the canyons and it gets pretty tight in places, but you'll discover some cool little hideaway spots along the way. You'll notice a few trails going up ...

Coastal Roots Farm

Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas, California provides high quality, freshly picked organic produce with a pay-what-you-can pricing model. If you can afford to, pay their asking price, especially when you consider in return they allow people in need to buy for less than normal market prices. Best place for organic, regenerative, vegetables. What an mazing foundation and awesome farm, that serves ...

Stonesteps Beach

Stonesteps Beach is incredibly scenic during every season. In the winter this beach is usually fairly rocky, and in the spring/summer the sand returns. If you're looking to hang out on this beach just be sure to set up your towel or chair a good ways away from the cliffside as there is a lot of known bluff failure in this area. This beach has also closed at certain times due to that bluff fai...

Photograph Surfers at Beacons Beach

Pack for a day of fun, and don’t forget your camera! Getting there is easy. You can plug “beacons beach” or Leucadia State Beach right into your gps. You’ll find it right off of Neptune Street, where you can park in the parking lot on top of the sea bluff. Walk down the windy beach trail and you are there! Enjoy your time there and don’t forget to pick up any trash you see! Let’s keep our beac...

Grandview Beach

Grandview Beach is a great spot for surfing when conditions line up (see Surfline). it's also an ideal spot to kick back and relax (bring your whole fam, dogs too). If you're looking for a little fitness, you can start at either Grandview Beach and head south along the beach to the San Elijo lagoon (only doable at very low tide), or you can start there and head north...either way you'll be am...