Explore the best rated trails in El Cajon, CA, whether you're looking for an easy walking trail or a bike trail like the Rose Creek Bike Path and Coastal Rail Trail . With more than 20 trails covering 109 miles you're bound to find a perfect trail for you. Click on any trail below to find trail descriptions, trail maps, photos, and reviews.
This is an urban ride, folks! What a gorgeous collection of national wildlife area, coast, cityscape and yes, there’s gonna be some homeless folks and some trash along the eastern corridor. But still, for a city, it was a great , scenic ride. The awesome brewery Novo brewery at the southern junction, at silver strand, is a great midpoint lunch or dinner spot. Good beer. Then we headed north on the western side in the gorgeous evening sun through Coronado. We took the ferry back to the city across the bay. If you like nature and cities, I highly recommend!!
This particular trail is very well kept up, has a wide path of roughly 10 feet wide, and the trail itself goes under Riverford Road so that you don’t have to cross into the traffic if you don’t want to. The groundskeepers are constantly working on the shrubbery on both sides and keeping the fences kept up, and there are almost always people on the trails whenever we go, merrily saying good morning to us! My husband and I ride the distance and then turn around and go back, which ends up being a little over 6 miles which is just perfect for us. And, it’s a little bit challenging because there are changes and it is not a paved path, but a hard sand one.
My wife and friends have enjoyed this path a couple of times. It offers a rear view of the city. Traffic is minimal- a great Beginner Trail. The very west part off the trail has a homeless camp but again, a different view or aspect of life. I personally did not feel threatened but a female friend felt intimidated. I would highly recommend for new bikers or walkers / runners.
As many have already described this path, the west side is scenic and a great bike path. The east side.....well it's Chula Vista and what can you say. Lots of homeless camps and burned-out homeless camps along the way. Poorly marked in many places. I've traveled this path many times and I now always do the west side only. I always feel safe on the west side and the opposite on the east.
This is very easy and pleasant trail. Took my 8 year old on it today and he was able to finish the whole distance. We could not make it back as it was too much for him. We will definitely come back.
I do my cardio workouts on this trail 4 days a week. Are there homeless? Yes. Could it be touched up and repaved a bit? Yes. Cleaner? Yes. What part of San Diego doesn’t these days? With the homeless, I don’t bother them and they don’t bother me, and they are few and far between. This trail is a key to my overall health and fitness. I don’t have to pay a monthly or annual membership fee to use it. It doesn’t close at 11pm, and it’s just outside my door. And the best part it’s free. I love it!
We are 4-78 year olds on Ebikes. Have ridden this path last year. Today we were sitting at a picnic table having lunch and the park ranger/patrol stopped and told us we are not allowed on any part of the Mission Bay Bikepath. All is considered boardwalk. The whole path circling the bay. We had to leave thru the parking lot back to Mission Bay Rv Resort where we are staying. Sadly, we will not be coming here again.
Between the poor maintenance of the asphalt and trying to dodge the homeless carts and random people walking through the trail, I’m not sure it’s the safest bike route I’ve ever taken. I started at the Escondido transit station and won’t be doing that again!
I roller skated the trail today and it’s well maintained. I prefer an asphalt trail, but this was fine for skating on. A newer skater might struggle with the expansion joints and sand, but it was relatively smooth aside from that. Most people walking/biking etc were staying where they’re supposed to be, but every once and awhile you’ll get a “face in the phone” who you’ll have to navigate around. Enjoy ¿¿
As the title describes, I triked the complete length of the trail from Mission Valley all the way to Dog Beach this past week and it's deplorable. About 70% of the length of the trail's surface is bone-shakingly bad. From the parts that are concrete, to the asphalt sections, there are few sections that are in decent, ridable shape. It has been poorly looked after by San Diego Parks and Rec. As mentioned here previously, the homeless population has taken over. It has become seriously unhealthy from garbage and encampment sites. It' so sad as this was one of my favorite rides in the city.
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