more stats
2,312 ft
Distance
28 ft
Climb
-214 ft
Descent
00:02:33
Avg time
-186 ft
Altitude change
132 ft
Altitude min
322 ft
Altitude max
318 ft
Altitude start
132 ft
Altitude end
-8.047%
Grade
-30.864%
Grade max
7.88%
Grade min
704 ft
Distance climb
1,560 ft
Distance down
47 ft
Distance flat
00:02:33
Avg time

Palacio Drop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Los Peñasquitos Canyon
    San Diego, California
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    60 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 75 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
    • 5 in Adaptive Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #100011 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #35284 in E-Biking
    • #350131 in Trail Running
    • #340948 in Hiking
    • #10830 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #5273 in Adaptive Biking
  • State Ranking
    #3,509 in Mountain Biking · California [+]
    • #779 in E-Biking
    • #14,278 in Trail Running
    • #14,580 in Hiking
    • #238 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #321 in Adaptive Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat, Adaptive MTB
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • Land Owner
    City of San Diego

Connecting Del Mar Mesa to Carmel Valley at Carmel Country Rd. Fun downhill sections, almost black diamond.

Adaptive Bike Info
aMTB Black Rating: Advanced obstacles exist, some trail obstructions.

Dilemma: Drainage ditch at bottom. Some slight narrow off camber near the end too

Tags

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 24 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 219 rides
  • Last: Oct 13, 2026
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Palacio Drop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 19, 2026 @ 2:19pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Jul 19, 2026
Trail is perfectly rideable but it's very dusty right now
Nov 2, 2025 @ 8:01am (America/Los_Angeles)
Nov 2, 2025
Apr 28, 2025 @ 4:20pm
Apr 28, 2025
Horses are keeping the trail soft and square-ruts are forming. Stay mostly to the left to avoid ruts.
Sep 7, 2024 @ 6:54am
Sep 7, 2024
Right line is open and voids the worst of the middle sinkhole, rut at the end is rideable but about knee deep
Jul 28, 2024 @ 10:05am
Jul 28, 2024
Still big rut in the middle. Left side seemed ok.
more »
Status:
on Jul 19, 2026
Very Dry
Avg: 3.89 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to palacio-drop trailhead (32.943700, -117.199330)

      Photos

      3 more »
      mtb
      81 |
      Dec 17, 2023 @ 1:12pm
      Dec 17, 2023
      mtb
      81 |
      Dec 17, 2023 @ 1:11pm
      Dec 17, 2023
      mtb
      116 |
      Feb 19, 2022 @ 1:25pm
      Feb 19, 2022

      Videos

      5 more »
      Amflow Avinox demo ride vs. steep hill San...
      mtb
      6:28 | 205 | Apr 22, 2026 , San Diego
      San Diego Mountain Bike Trail Review for...
      mtb
      15:53 | 62 | Oct 3, 2025 , San Diego
      Palacio Drop HIGHLIGHTS - Adaptive MTB - PQ...
      mtb
      2:10 | 381 | Apr 1, 2021 , San Diego
      Palacio Drop - Penasquitos Canyon (sorta), San...
      mtb
      230 | Feb 13, 2021 , San Diego

      Routes with this trail

      ★ 4.0 • 17 miles • 1,348 ft • 45 • Loop •
      A customizable, base-idea loop that includes Tunnel 4, Deer canyon, Ocean Air/Carmel Mt and PQ canyon....
      ★ 3.5 • 18 miles • 1,648 ft • 18 • Loop •
      One big ass loop with all the good stuff, adding ocean Air and The Shits. Adaptive Info: aMTB riders will...
      22 miles • 1,408 ft • 22 •
      This is a sizable loop that showcases the main canyon, Tunnels, Deer Canyon and the Carmel Mountain mesa...
      3.8 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★ 75%
      3 ★ 25%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      3 Reviews & Comments

      mjones1625
      Didn’t pay attention to direction. Walked my bike up it. Don’t go west to east here.

      Deep trenches and overgrowth as well.
      Harshitm2
      Big chasm in the middle, only right line is passable

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      • By brianpetryTF Pro TRAILFORKS & contributors
      • #130155 - 1,776 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Palacio Drop located?
      Palacio Drop is located in Los Peñasquitos Canyon, San Diego, California, United States. It is part of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 32.9437, -117.19933.
      ▼ How hard is Palacio Drop?
      Palacio Drop is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 8.047%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Palacio Drop?
      Palacio Drop has 28 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 214 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 132 ft to 322 ft.
      ▼ Is Palacio Drop a point to point trail?
      Palacio Drop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Palacio Drop?
      Palacio Drop is 2,312 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Palacio Drop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Palacio Drop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Palacio Drop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Palacio Drop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Palacio Drop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 minutes to ride Palacio Drop. The trail is 2,312 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Palacio Drop?
      Palacio Drop is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,694 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,674 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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