Rancho La Costa is a habitat conservation area in Carlsbad and managed by the Center for Natural Lands Management, consisting of several non-contiguous parcels of land. We had previously hiked the Ridgeline Trail above Box Canyon. For this adventure we were hiking Denk Mountain, slightly east of the Ridgeline area.
Denk Mountain is home to a pretty extensive network of trails, so you can plot out routes of varying length and difficulty depending on what you’re after. This was our first time here, so we picked out a shorter route that looked like it would still hit the highlights as we explored the area: take the Switchbacks Trail to the viewpoint atop Denk Mountain, then descend along the Mule Deer Trail and connect back to the Switchbacks Trail.
We parked along the street amid a small throng of mountain bikers unloading their bikes. It should be noted that this is a very popular mountain biking spot, so be prepared to share the trail. The trailhead was easy to spot near the beginning of the street.
Near an informational kiosk, a wooden footbridge spanning a small culvert reminded visitors of basic trail etiquette.
The trail was a narrow single track winding through coastal sage scrub. The buckwheat was blooming beautifully, adding bright splashes of white to the brown and green hillside.
Just under .5 mile we encountered a “Y” junction. The right fork led downhill towards another neighborhood access point. We turned left up the hill, following the sign for “Switchbacks.”
As promised by the name, the trail began to switch back up the flank of the diminutive mountain. It turned tightly at the end of each switchback, no doubt making for an exciting descent on bike. It also made for pretty easy going uphill on foot.
We found some spectacular sage blooms as we continued our climb.
Our ascent was rewarded with some fantastic views. To the west we could see the blue expanse of Batiquitos Lagoon leading out towards the fogged-in Pacific Ocean.
Just under the 1 mile point, we passed through an interesting outcropping of boulders, which provided a tiny bit of shade and a potential spot to sit down and rest along side the trail.
Flowering Buckwheat cascaded over the tops of the rocks.
We continued on and quickly found ourselves on the open hillside again, surrounded by sage.
At 1.15 miles, we came to a 4-way junction with the Mule Deer Trail. We made note of the crossing since we’d be returning on that trail, but for now we went straight, following the sign for “Switchbacks.”
We continued climbing, zig-zagging up the hillside. We caught a glimpse of the nearby water tank through the brush on the northwest side of the preserve.
At 1.5 miles we came to another junction. To the left, a short spur trail led to a fire road which traversed the mountain’s ridgeline. We turned right, to continue up the Switchbacks.
At the 2 mile point we came upon a 4-way junction, with a wooden bench on the left. From here, we could see some structures at the top of the hill where the viewpoint was. We were almost there.
We took the fire road to the right, aiming for the viewpoint. Almost near the top, we noted the Mule Deer Trail branching off to the side. We made a note of the junction as we’d be descending along that trail, but for now continued up the hill until we reached the top. The viewpoint consisted of a wide open area that allowed views in all directions. There was a kiosk with a trail map and other information, and a shaded picnic table on the north side.
The day was a bit hazy, but looking east we could make out the silhouettes of Cuyamaca and Mt. Woodson.
And of course Batiquitos Lagoon and the ocean to the west.
We took a short break to admire the views and have a snack, then retraced our path down the hill to the Mule Deer Trail we had noticed earlier, and turned left.
This trail didn’t mess around with any gently graded curves winding leisurely along the hillside the way the Switchbacks Trail had. This trail cut diagonally down the flank of the mountain, descending quite efficiently. But although it was noticeably steeper than the Switchbacks had been, it really wasn’t all that bad – we dropped about 200 feet over the next .5 mile or so.
Around 2.6 miles, we found ourselves at the junction we had noticed on our way up where the Switchbacks and Mule Deer Trails crossed. You can take a left and follow the Switchbacks back to the start, but we were still in exploration mode and continued straight along the Mule Deer Trail.
We continued to descend towards the field of houses that marked the edge of the Preserve.
We spotted a small butterfly feeding on some blossoms on the edge of the trail, and had just enough time to grab a single quick shot before a trail runner heading uphill scared it off.
At 2.9 miles we came to another junction where we turned left, heading back towards the start of the Switchbacks Trail.
Here we found more Buckwheat and Mustard blooms to brighten up the surroundings.
There were also some impressive Prickly Pear Cactus specimens to admire.
Around 3.2 miles we once again connected with the Switchbacks Trail, and this time we turned right to retrace our route back to the trailhead.
Directions:
Take 5 North to the the La Costa Ave exit. Turn right onto La Costa Ave and continue for 4 miles. Turn left onto Rancho Santa Fe Road. After .8 miles, turn right onto Camino Junipero, then in approximately .2 miles turn left onto Corte Romero. Park along the street and find the trail head at the beginning of Corte Romero. map
| Total Distance: | 3.5 miles |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Total Ascent: | 690 feet |
| Dog Friendly?: | Leashed dogs allowed |
| Bike Friendly?: | Bikes allowed |
| Facilities: | None |
| Fees/Permits: | None |
For more information, visit:
City of Carlsbad – Rancho La Costa Preserve & Villages of La Costa Trail Guide
Center for Natural Lands Management – Rancho La Costa Preserve
Trail Map
View route or download GPX in CalTopo
