The Beautiful Coastal Trails of Encinitas
Throughout much of San Diego’s coastal north county, trails abound. Many communities and cities have set aside natural undeveloped land for trails for walking, running and horseback riding. Some of these trails are quite serene and beautiful with their surrounding trees, vegetation, and spectacular views. As an example, Encinitas presently has over 85 acres of open space and over 40 miles of trails waiting for your enjoyment. Encinitas also has plans for adding another 40 miles of trails. Some of the larger neighboring north county cities have even more. Many of these trails are lined with towering and fragrance Eucalyptus trees that provide shade for the warmer summer months. In the late winter (when the attached pictures were taken), new growth abounds, and lush green grass and vegetation can be found surrounding the trails. The scent of new growth, blooming vegetation and Eucalyptus fills the cool air making for a wonderful immersive experience.
A few days ago, I went out for a walk on some trails in Leucadia, which is part of Encinitas. Leucadia is a small eclectic coastal surfing community that hangs on to its small beach-town character. The trails, as they are so close to the coast, are lush with growth and towering Eucalyptus groves. In some locations, the trails also offer some spectacular ocean/coastal views. On this outing, I was focused on exploring a smaller area known as Indian Head Summit and the adjacent trail system. In recent years, this area has become more popular, particularly on weekends. On the weekday I walked the trails, very few people were there.
Adjacent, you will find a few pictures of the area mentioned above, to give you a flavor of the wonderful walking and hiking trails available awaiting you exploration. In some ways, they represent a stark contrast to the more arid and desert natural environment that greater Southern California and much of inland San Diego is. These trails in Encinitas and all along San Diego’s coastline are a rewarding surprise for those that explore them.
