San Diego County enjoys beautiful weather most of the year for many outdoor activities, including cycling.
There are 1,340 miles of bikeways in the county, according to the San Diego Association of Governments, which offers a list of 13 bike paths with designated lanes and signage for safe riding.
But there are also bike routes for mountain biking, scenic routes near the water and city views for commuters.
This guide offers scenic biking trail suggestions and safety information from the San Diego Mountain Biking Association, the San Diego County Bike Coalition and the San Diego Association of Governments.
Safety information
California law states that everyone under the age of 18 years must wear a bike helmet while riding a bicycle.
But this is not the only best practice while riding a bike on city streets and designated bike trails.
“Ride with a friend and bring water,” San Diego Mountain Biking Association executive director Peter Hulburt said. “The buddy system isn’t just more fun, it’s safer.”
He added that bikers should be courteous to hikers and yield to them and horses when riding on multi-use trails. And bikers should use a trail bell to prevent most unexpected run-ins.
The San Diego Mountain Biking Association hosts guided rides for various skills every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
The San Diego County Bike Coalition also offers workshops, webinars and cycling certification courses throughout the year for riding bicycles safely. Some of these include route planning, rules of the road and maneuvers to avoid crashes.
City scenes
Inland Rail Trail: In the North County, the Inland Rail Trail provides cyclists with views of Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The Inland Rail Trail is a 21-mile bike path that is 8 to 10 feet wide with a 2-foot-wide unpaved shoulder and barriers separating the trail from motor vehicles. This commuter trail mainly provides views of planted landscaping such as flowers and trees, the Buena Vista Creek, Palomar College, shopping centers and five North County Transit District SPRINTER stations. The trail starts at the Escondido Transit Center and moves east to North Melrose Drive in Oceanside.
Morley Field Trail Gateway: Mountain bikers can enjoy views of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, Balboa Park and blooms of crown daisies in the spring at Morley Field Trail Gateway. It comprises three trails. The longest one is 3.3 miles and has a mix of road shoulders and concrete walkways. The 2.4-mile trail is mainly a dirt road with sections of rocks on the trail. The 2.3-mile trek is a blend of grass, dirt and rocks. The three trails can be entered via the northeast side of Balboa Park.
San Diego River Trail: For a scenic route through the central parts of San Diego County, there is the San Diego River Trail. It starts at Mast Park in Santee and ends at Ocean Beach Dog Beach, running mostly alongside the San Diego River. Bike riders go through the communities of Tierrasanta, Mission Valley, Morena and Sports Arena. Some of the sightseeing opportunities include Ocean Beach Dog Beach, Robb Field Skate Park, Sea World, Mission Bay, the Fashion Valley shopping center, Mission Valley Library and Snapdragon Stadium.
Mountain views
Penasquitos Canyon: Union-Tribune reporter Maura Fox said the Penasquitos Canyon is mainly for hikers, but that there are also areas for mountain biking. She recommends that cyclists go through the main part of the canyon. The lower part of the canyon is the Penasquitos Canyon Valley loop, according to the San Diego Mountain Biking Association. This area is approximately 6 miles and 82 feet in elevation. The Penasquitos Canyon also has other trails where mountain bikers can ride up parts of the canyon, with trails as long as 23 miles and as high as 1,957 feet in elevation. Cyclists are allowed to go up to 10 miles per hour on these trails. Some of the terrain includes a waterfall, California live oak trees, sycamore trees, volcanic rocks, a freshwater marsh and locals such as Pacific tree frogs, mallard ducks, raccoons and coyotes. Penasquitos Canyon is located south of Ted Williams Parkway and west of Interstate 15, with one of the main entrances near the intersection of Black Mountain Road and Mercy Road.
Laguna Mountain Recreation Area: To the east, find the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area. The San Diego Mountain Bike Association recommends this area for the Big Laguna Trail, a path for cross-country bikers. Riders can start at the Laguna Campground and loop around the Big Laguna Lake and head back to the campground for about a 32-mile trek. There is also a 14-mile route that connects to the lake and goes south to the Meadows Trailhead. Mountain bikers can see pine trees, the Cleveland National Forest, the Mount Laguna Observatory and Anza-Borrego Desert on these routes. Visitors will need to purchase a day pass or can use their national park pass.
Black Mountain Open Space Park: Michael Uppenkamp, trail crew leader at San Diego Mountain Bike Association, recommends Black Mountain Open Space Park for mountain biking. Riders can reach the peak of the mountain on a 2.5-mile dirt trail beginning at Hilltop Community Park. The climb goes through coastal sage scrub and chaparral landscapes. The top of the mountain gives visitors 360-degree views of Lake Hodges, Poway, Carmel Valley and Solana Beach on clear days. The city of San Diego Parks and Recreation department states Black Mountain Open Space Park has more than 80 species of birds, bobcats, deer, frogs, kangaroo rats and rattlesnakes.
Water views
Bayshore Bikeway: Cyclists can get a scenic route through Coronado, Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and the San Diego Bay on the Bayshore Bikeway. This 24-mile bike bath starts at Coronado Landing and goes south along the Silver Strand, past Imperial Beach and loops back north through Chula Vista, National City, Barrio Logan and ends at the Broadway Pier. Cyclists can also ride the Coronado Ferry to connect back to Coronado or reverse back through the South Bay and back to the Silver Strand to get back to Coronado. It is primarily a flat ride with designated bike lanes, separated from vehicle traffic by dividers and barriers. The trek to and from Imperial Beach and Coronado can get windy, and the path to and from downtown San Diego and National City goes next to Harbor Drive, so cyclists should be extra vigilant of their surroundings. On part of the Bayshore Bikeway is in Chula Vista, cyclists will find murals that have been created by artist Michelle Guerrero.
Encinitas Coastal Rail Trail: Along the North County’s westside is the Encinitas Coastal Rail Trail. This bikeway connects several businesses, parks and community resources. Some of the landmarks on this trail include Cardiff State Beach, Cardiff Elementary School, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, Swami’s Seaside Park and the NCTD’s Encinitas Coaster station. This trail runs from the San Eljio State Beach campground site off Chesterfield Drive to Swami’s Beach Park in Encinitas.