Coast to Crest Trail Status

The gap begins at the Fairgrounds at Jimmy Durante Blvd. To go west to the beach will involve crossing Jimmy Durante Blvd., the Fairgrounds, as well as the railroad bridge and Camino Del Mar. A turn-around area on the Fairgrounds property just before the railroad tracks was identified in the Reach the Beach Feasibility Study.

What’s been done:

• A Reach the Beach Feasibility Study, done in 2012, studied various trail alignments, and recommended that a crossing both north and south of the river be constructed.
• Trail easements have been secured along a portion of the Fairgrounds property.
• A grant application for design of a north crossing was made, but not received.
• SANDAG has agreed to construct a railroad bridge undercrossing for the continuation of the Del Mar River Path trail on the south side of the river when the railroad bridge is replaced as part of the double-tracking project. Est. before 2030.

The Coast to Crest Trail will be constructed under a new El Camino Real bridge (to connect the existing trail segment on Horsepark to a new trail segment on Polo Fields) when the old bridge is replaced by the City of San Diego. Est. 2024.

This City-owned property commonly known as the Polo Fields is now leased to Surf Cup Sports. Construction of this trail section is the responsibility of the lessee and connections are needed at both ends. The west end will be connected to the future trail underpass at El Camino Real. The east end of the trail will be connected to the Osuna Valley segment in 2023/4 (see next gap).

Progress made! Construction grant received in 2021, est completion 2024. At the east end of the Polo Fields, the trail is planned to cross the river to the south/east and connect to San Dieguito Road. This involves the construction of a 160-foot-long bridge and a short section of trail to reach San Dieguito Road.

What’s been done:
A Bridge Feasibility Study has been completed. The Study analyzed types of bridges that could be utilized, the environmental impacts associated with the bridge types and locations, and estimated cost. An important trail easement along private property was obtained in 2017. Permits and compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and construction will be future steps.

The trail is planned along the San Dieguito Road road right-of-way through this section to the Black Mountain Open Space Park trail staging area. The trail will connect to the Lusardi Creek County Preserve. Planning is proceeding with County Public Works and Parks departments as a capital improvement project.

This gap extends from the existing San Pasqual Valley Staging Area (Bandy Canyon Rd. at Hwy. 78) to Boden Canyon. The first two miles is planned through orange and avocado groves on the farm leasehold. A general alignment has been scouted with the lessee. The last section is across rugged terrain.

Issues:
The west end of this gap requires crossing Hwy 78 and the east end is through rugged terrain.

This gap assumes that the trail is continuing on the north side of Hwy 78 from the existing Clevenger Canyon North Staging Area. A feasibility study was completed that evaluated several trail alignment alternatives through this rugged terrain.

This gap is an existing dirt road that would connect Gap 4.1 to the existing Lower Santa Ysabel Truck Trail. Some improvements are needed that will require agency coordination with the California Dept. of Fish & Wildlife and the City of San Diego, each of which own a portion of the road.

The challenges on this lengthy gap involve identifying an alignment connecting Black Canyon Road, around the north of Sutherland Reservoir to Mesa Grande Reservation. A preliminary alignment has been identified. The reservoir is owned and operated by the City of San Diego. Once past the reservoir, the trail will be on property owned by the San Dieguito River Park JPA, but much of the land is remote and rugged. Additional field reconnaissance, environmental studies, and design details are necessary.

The trail must pass through a portion of the Mesa Grande Indian Reservation. Discussions with the Tribal Council for an easement are underway.

Once past the reservation land, the trail will continue on scenic but very rugged land owned by the San Dieguito River Park JPA to connect to the County’s Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West. Park Rangers have conducted a few exploratory hikes through this property to identify potential routes. Environmental studies are also required.

When completed, this gap will connect existing trails on the County’s Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West to Highway 79/Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East. Until recently, half of this gap was on private property, but in 2015 the County of San Diego acquired 175 acres that will join the two Preserves. A trail alignment will be identified and built through this gap when the County updates their Resource Management Plan.

When completed, this gap will connect the east end of the existing trail across the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve East to the beginning of the existing Volcan Mountain Summit Trail.  More field work is needed to identify a preferred alignment.