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The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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Trail Popularity ?
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Activity Recordings
Trailforks users anonymized public ridelogs from the past 6 months.
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Activity Recordings
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Jump Magnitude Heatmap
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SaveOne of San Diego County’s most precious natural resources, Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve offers approximately 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, equestrian trails, as well as picnic areas and scenic mountain viewing points. In addition, the natural beauty of the Reserve includes such native plant communities as oak riparian, oak woodland, coastal sage scrub and chaparral. All wildlife and natural resources at the Reserve are fully protected so that future generations may also enjoy these wonders.
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
Land Status: Conservation Reserve

Access Info:
The Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve is located at 8833 Harmony Grove Road, Escondido, CA 92029. The entrance to the Reserve is located between the 6 and 6.5 mile markers on Harmony Grove Road.
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
19 trails
- Hike
19 trails
- Trail Running
19 trails
Region Details
- 5
- 2
- 9
- 3
Region Status
Caution as of Nov 7, 2021Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 19
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 19
- Trails Hike
- 19
- Trails Trail Running
- 19
- Total Distance
- 15 miles
- Total Descent
- 2,747 ft
- Total Vertical
- 942 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 1,332 ft
- Reports
- 86
- Photos
- 192
- Ridden Counter
- 2,286
Popular Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Trails
Mountain Bike Routes
title | rating | distance |
---|---|---|
Spinning Wheel | 11 miles | |
Elfin Forest via Equine | 10 miles |
Photos of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Mountain Bike
trail: Los Cielos - Elfin Connector
0 |
Feb 16, 2022 @ 7:17am
Feb 16, 2022
trail: Los Cielos - Elfin Connector
4 |
Feb 16, 2022 @ 7:17am
Feb 16, 2022
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
11 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:14pm
Dec 18, 2021
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
12 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:14pm
Dec 18, 2021
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
13 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:13pm
Dec 18, 2021
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
7 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:13pm
Dec 18, 2021
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
4 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:13pm
Dec 18, 2021
trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
6 |
Dec 18, 2021 @ 2:13pm
Dec 18, 2021Videos of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Mountain Bike

trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
6:47 |
389 |
May 26, 2017

trail: Equine Incline
7:43 |
708 |
Aug 3, 2015

trail: Equine Incline
8:25 |
311 |
Jan 21, 2015

trail: The Way Up Trail
11:37 |
25 |
Dec 17, 2021 , Escondido

trail: Lake Hodges Overlook Loop
10:11 |
51 |
Dec 17, 2021 , Escondido

trail: Ridgeline Maintenance Road
4:34 |
26 |
Dec 17, 2021 , Escondido

trail: The Way Up Trail
8:29 |
49 |
Dec 17, 2021 , Escondido
Recent Trail Reports
status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ridgeline Maintenance Road | May 17, 2022 @ 3:46pm May 17, 2022 | Very Dry | niterider03 | ||
Lake Hodges Overlook Loop | May 17, 2022 @ 3:46pm May 17, 2022 | Very Dry | niterider03 | ||
Me-xal Trail | May 17, 2022 @ 3:46pm May 17, 2022 | Very Dry | niterider03 | ||
The Way Up Trail | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson | ||
Quail Trail | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson | ||
Hodges Overlook Shortcut | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson | ||
Tyke's Hike | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson | ||
Mariposa | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson | ||
Cielo Trail | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Variable | johnpaterson | ||
Chaparral Trail | Dec 18, 2021 @ 9:30am Dec 18, 2021 | Ideal | johnpaterson |
Activity Feed
username | action | type | title | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | socalluke | vote | route | Spinning Wheel | Jun 20, 2022 @ 3:28pm Jun 20, 2022 |
![]() | socalluke | wishlist | route | Spinning Wheel and 1 more | Jun 19, 2022 @ 3:05pm Jun 19, 2022 |
![]() | joberfest | wishlist | trail | Equine Incline and 2 more | Jun 12, 2022 @ 4:12pm Jun 12, 2022 |
![]() | marvinstorey | wishlist | route | Spinning Wheel | Jun 8, 2022 @ 10:11pm Jun 8, 2022 |
![]() | AndrewSiminoff | ridden | trail | The Way Up Trail and 3 more | Jun 8, 2022 @ 9:43am Jun 8, 2022 |
Recent Comments
username | type | title | comment | date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | trail | Absolutely zero payback on any climbing you... | Apr 5, 2022 @ 4:46pm Apr 5, 2022 | ||
![]() | trail | Definitely getting overgrown. Still fun, though. | Apr 14, 2021 @ 4:57pm Apr 14, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | This is a great finish downhill with some... | Apr 14, 2021 @ 4:55pm Apr 14, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | Ride the counter clockwise downhill. Both... | Apr 14, 2021 @ 4:51pm Apr 14, 2021 | ||
![]() | trail | A tough climb because of the endless loose... | Mar 2, 2021 @ 12:47pm Mar 2, 2021 |
Nearby Areas
name | distance | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lake Hodges | 6 | 9 | 1 | 2.4 km | |
Yellow truck | 1 | 2.6 km | |||
San Elijo Hills | 10 | 9 | 3.7 km | ||
North County Coastal | 4.3 km | ||||
Rancho La Costa Preserve | 11 | 8 | 3 | 4.3 km |
Local Badges
-
Elfin Forest Top 10 Trails3 awarded -
Completionist2 awarded
Activity Type Stats
activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | ridelogs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Bike | 19 | 15 miles | 2,746 ft | 6 miles | 942 ft | #2,466 | #1,257 | 192 | 86 | 2 | 1,417 | |
Hike | 19 | 15 miles | 2,746 ft | 6 miles | 942 ft | #1,925 | #1,119 | 86 | 178 | |||
Trail Running | 19 | 15 miles | 2,746 ft | 6 miles | 942 ft | #1,936 | #1,118 | 86 | 61 |
- By stoker1223 & contributors
- Admins: SDMBA, MountainBikeBill, bmstone, spokeswoman, Jmlascala71
- #8433 - 6,125 views
- elfin forest recreational reserve activity log | embed map of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve mountain bike trails | elfin forest recreational reserve mountain biking points of interest
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