There’s some wonderful running in the beach towns north of San Diego. Here, we focus on the best places to run the Encinitas Area (about 25 miles north of San Diego), from Solana Beach to Leucadia.
San Elijo State Beach, Google Street View
Great Beaches for Running. There are miles of beach running in the area north of San Diego. One can run for 6 miles, nearly continuously, from the southeastern boundary of Swami’s State Beach (Tower 10) at Solana Beach, north to Grandview State Beach. There’s a series of towers that are good markers. From Tower 10, it’s 1.5 miles north along Cardiff Beach to Tower 16, then another 1.5 miles north to the south end of Swami’s. We also love the 1.2 mile stretch between Swami’s and Moonlight Beach. From Moonlight Beach, there’s another 2 miles of lovely, continuous beach running north to Grandview Surf Beach, passing Leucadia State Beach with bluffs above.
San Elijo Lagoon. Mark Lowenstein
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. There are 7 miles of dirt trails in this gorgeous, 970-acre coastal wetlands area. This is easy-to-moderate trail running, with wonderful views of coastal strand, salt marsh, freshwater/brackish marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub, and mixed chaparral that change regularly with the light and tides. To get the heart rate up, run the short Annie’s Canyon Trail. Access points are at the Nature Center (good parking), or at one of the access points in the Solana Beach residential area. Good to combine with Cardiff Beach bike path/beach — access is via an underpass at the southwestern end of the Preserve. TRAIL MAP
Bike Path Along San Elijo State Beach. A paved bike path runs alongside (but separated from) the South Coast Highway for 1.6 miles from the south end of San Elijo State Beach north to Swamis Seaside Park. There are some great water views along here. Nice to combine with a run on the 2-mile San Elijo State Beach. ROUTE MAP
There’s some wonderful running in the beach towns north of San Diego. Here, we focus on the best places to run the Encinitas Area (about 25 miles north of San Diego), from Solana Beach to Leucadia.
San Elijo State Beach, Google Street View
Great Beaches for Running. There are miles of beach running in the area north of San Diego. One can run for 6 miles, nearly continuously, from the southeastern boundary of Swami’s State Beach (Tower 10) at Solana Beach, north to Grandview State Beach. There’s a series of towers that are good markers. From Tower 10, it’s 1.5 miles north along Cardiff Beach to Tower 16, then another 1.5 miles north to the south end of Swami’s. We also love the 1.2 mile stretch between Swami’s and Moonlight Beach. From Moonlight Beach, there’s another 2 miles of lovely, continuous beach running north to Grandview Surf Beach, passing Leucadia State Beach with bluffs above.
San Elijo Lagoon. Mark Lowenstein
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. There are 7 miles of dirt trails in this gorgeous, 970-acre coastal wetlands area. This is easy-to-moderate trail running, with wonderful views of coastal strand, salt marsh, freshwater/brackish marsh, riparian scrub, coastal sage scrub, and mixed chaparral that change regularly with the light and tides. To get the heart rate up, run the short Annie’s Canyon Trail. Access points are at the Nature Center (good parking), or at one of the access points in the Solana Beach residential area. Good to combine with Cardiff Beach bike path/beach — access is via an underpass at the southwestern end of the Preserve. TRAIL MAP
Bike Path Along San Elijo State Beach. A paved bike path runs alongside (but separated from) the South Coast Highway for 1.6 miles from the south end of San Elijo State Beach north to Swamis Seaside Park. There are some great water views along here. Nice to combine with a run on the 2-mile San Elijo State Beach. ROUTE MAP
One of the best convention center/airport runs in the world. Scenic multi-use paths run through several parks along North San Diego Bay. It's up to 7 miles from the Convention Center to Liberty Station Park, with water views the whole way.
Another great running option in the airport/convention center/downtown area. Harbor Island, Seaport Village, waterfront park. All along the water, numerous distance options.
One of the great urban parks of America, featuring 65 miles of trails through gardens, groves, and important sights such as the Zoo and several museums. Many options for running, good variety of terrain and challenge.
A 46,000 acre aquatic playground. We’ve mapped a well-known 12-mile loop, almost all of it on well-marked off-road paths, with water views, lovely parks, beaches, bridges, and an island.
Classic beach boardwalk run on a 3.2 mile multi-use path between North Pacific Beach and South Mission Beach. A festive scene, with water views and lots of shops, bars & restaurants. Beach also runnable. Combine w/best sections of Mission Bay route.
A good option for runners who want a long, flat, off-road trail in the Mission Bay/Mission Valley area. We've mapped a 7.5 mile one-way route from Ocean Beach to I-805 in Mission Valley. The westernmost 3 miles is the prettiest section.
At the tip of Point Loma, with fantastic views of the water, San Diego downtown & harbor, and Coronado Island. Also includes the 2.2-mile RT Bayside Trail, down to the water.
A good running option just inland from Mission Bay. Pleasant campus for running, then 6+ miles of trails in Tecolote Canyon Nature Park. Can be combined with paths along Tecolote Shores, Fiesta Island, and Southern Shores Park.
A destination in San Diego since the Hotel Del Coronado was built in 1900. Numerous running options, much of it on off-road paths, all open and with great ocean views.
Some nice running in south San Diego near the Mexico border. Enjoy miles of trails around wetlands in the Tijuana Slough/River estuary area. There's also some good beach running in the area.
Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach is a great place to run in San Diego, staying high on windy cliffs with great views. A real treat at sunset. At the end of the road, hike down the cliffs onto the beach.
A beautiful and affluent seaside community 13 miles north of San Diego. Wonderful oceanside roads and trails, and a hilly residential community with gorgeous homes and views.
A beautiful State Preserve of 2,000 acres, 5 miles north of San Diego, incorporating the rare Torrey pine. Run-nable hillside hiking trails with great ocean views. Also great running on the beach here.
The 5 miles from La Jolla Shores to Torrey Pines is one of the ultimate beach runs. Big wide beach, towering cliffs overhead, crashing waves, seamless firm sand, sunsets….it doesn’t get better than this.
Pleasant campus situated between La Jolla Shores and Torrey Pines, just west of I-5. Nice paths and a shaded canopy make for a nice standalone run or as an add-on to nearby routes.
Some scenic, gentle trail running in the Sorrento Hills/Mira Mesa area! Nice variety of canyon/ranch type terrain, gorgeous live oaks and sycamores. Easiest is the 5+ mile Los Peñasquitos Canyon Trail. There are also more challenging options.
A unique running opportunity. Take the Coaster train north from Solana Beach and then run back on the Coast Highway. One can go as far as Oceanside, which is 16 miles. Bike lane along the road, ocean views the whole way.
5,800-acre regional park located in La Mesa. The 3-mile path along Lake Murray is popular with runners. There are also 30+ miles of trail running, ranging from the easy Grassland Loop to a 3 mile climb to the top of Cowles Mountain.
A 5-mile loop trail around a reservoir in the Scripps Ranch area, northeast of downtown. Popular spot for running, bicycling, and other activities. Paved park service road is relatively traffic free. Nice views to water and valleys.
Great running options in this coastal town include ~6 miles of coastal road/path between Ponto State Beach and Carlsbad Village with unobstructed water views, the Batiquitos Lagoon Trail, some nice beach running, and trail running at Lake Calavera.
There's a nice variety of running options in Oceanside, including the Strand Path along the beach, a scenic loop around the Marina, the 9-mile San Luis Rey River Multi-Use Path, and lovely trails in Guajome Regional Park.
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