more stats
1,634 ft
Distance
-112 ft
Descent
00:01:08
Avg time
-112 ft
Altitude change
182 ft
Altitude min
294 ft
Altitude max
294 ft
Altitude start
180 ft
Altitude end
-6.9%
Grade
-32.4%
Grade max
-1.6%
Grade min
1,634 ft
Distance down
00:01:08
Avg time

Swallowtail Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Adaptive Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Encinitas Ranch Pathways and Trails
    Encinitas, California
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    25 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
    • 5 in Adaptive Biking
    • 5 in Gravel Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #142550 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #153780 in E-Biking
    • #373221 in Trail Running
    • #365861 in Hiking
    • #13863 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #7266 in Adaptive Biking
    • #20411 in Gravel Biking
  • State Ranking
    #5,365 in Mountain Biking · California [+]
    • #3,281 in E-Biking
    • #14,754 in Trail Running
    • #14,900 in Hiking
    • #312 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #431 in Adaptive Biking
    • #1,327 in Gravel Biking
  • Trail Type
    Mixed
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, Fat, Adaptive MTB, CX, Gravel
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1

An out-and-back trail that becomes steep and rutted. The north end stops at a gate that marks private property. Nice views along the way however.

source: The UNPavement
Disclaimer

The northern end dead-ends at private property

Adaptive Bike Info
aMTB Blue Rating: Intermediate features and steeper terrain.

Deep ruts and gate blocked with cactus

Tags
Views

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 6 rides
  • Last: Jul 24, 2026
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Swallowtail Trail Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jan 1, 2021 @ 12:21pm
Jan 1, 2021
 If you fall your screwed. Highly recommend to not ride
more »
Status:
on Jan 1, 2021
Dry
Avg: 3.55 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to swallowtail-trail trailhead (33.082470, -117.283190)
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      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

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      3.0 ★★★★★
      2 Ratings
      5 ★ 50%
      4 ★
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      2 ★
      1 ★ 50%

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      Nearby Trails

      Encinitas Ranch Pathways and Trails

      • By jpmcgheeTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
      • #176412 - 1,428 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Swallowtail Trail located?
      Swallowtail Trail is located in Encinitas Ranch Pathways and Trails, Encinitas, California, United States. It is part of the Encinitas Ranch Pathways and Trails trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.08247, -117.28319.
      ▼ How hard is Swallowtail Trail?
      Swallowtail Trail is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Swallowtail Trail?
      The trail has 112 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 182 ft to 294 ft.
      ▼ Is Swallowtail Trail a point to point trail?
      Swallowtail Trail is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is mixed.
      ▼ How long is Swallowtail Trail?
      Swallowtail Trail is 1,634 ft long. The trail type is mixed.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Swallowtail Trail?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Swallowtail Trail. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Swallowtail Trail? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Swallowtail Trail are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Swallowtail Trail?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 minute to ride Swallowtail Trail. The trail is 1,634 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Swallowtail Trail?
      Swallowtail Trail is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 18 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 22 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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