[SDCBC] San Elijo Hills

[Philip Erdelsky]

To:           SDCBC Mailing List
Subject:      San Elijo Hills
From:         Philip J. Erdelsky <pje at efgh.com>
Date:         02-07-2008

There are some interesting new bike paths in the new San Elijo
Hills district of San Marcos. Some of them are unpaved and
suitable only for mountain biking, others are double trails with
a paved part and an unpaved part running side by side. The
unpaved part is usually surfaced with what is sometimes called
"decomposed granite", which is firmer than plain dirt but softer
than asphalt.

Most of the paths are not suitable for transportation cycling
because they are very hilly. But some of them are good
recreational paths offering great views of Lake San Marcos, San
Elijo Hills and the ocean. One trail has a view of the dam for
Lake San Marcos, which is in a deep and inaccessible canyon and
cannot be seen from most other vantage points.

If you use the Thomas Guide, make sure you have the latest (2008)
edition. Earlier editions omit many roads in this area.

The San Marcos Park and Rec. Dept. has posted a trail map:

http://www.ci.san-marcos.ca.us/upload/images/Community%20Services/Trails/PDFs/SouthCityTrails.pdf

If your browser chokes on that URL, just bring up the San Marcos
Web site at

      http://www.ci.san-marcos.ca.us

and navigate to the trail maps. You'll find them eventually.

The trails can be rather difficult to follow, because most are
still unsigned.

The best path, in my humble opinion, is the CERRO DE LAS POSAS
RIDGELINE TRAIL. It begins on Double Peak Dr. (which is closed to
automobiles but open to bicyclists and pedestrians) and runs west
about 1.6 miles along the Cerro de las Posas ridge to a prominent
radio tower at the west end of the ridge. The views are terrific.
The path is quite hilly, but the asphalt pavement is new and
smooth.

There are paths from the radio tower down into San Elijo Hills to
the south and Lake San Marcos to the north. I haven't explored
them fully, but I think you can make all the way without leaving
the pavement. However, there is a small section of one path
which, although paved, is so steep that an official sign advises
bicyclists go dismount and walk. (I took their advice.)

"Cerro" means hill. You don't want to know what "Posas" means. I
found two possible definitions on the Web site of the Spanish
Royal Academy, neither of which is very inspiring.

Photograph at http://www.efgh.com/bike/cdlprt1.jpg

-- Philip Erdelsky