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Trails

Harbaugh Seaside Trails

(153 Google Reviews)

  • TRAIL STATUS: OPEN
  • DIFFICULTY: Easy

  • DISTANCE (ROUND-TRIP): .5 mile

  • TIME: 20 minutes at a leisurely pace

  • HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

  • RESTROOMS: No

  • PETS/ANIMALS: Leashed dogs welcome

  • ENTRANCE:
    See map 1
    See map 2

  • CLOSEST PUBLIC TRANSIT:
    Solana Beach Train Station See map
    Breeze Bus 101: Schedules

  • BICYCLES: Yes

  • PARKING: None

  • TERRAIN: A flat wide path. The wave-style trail is accessible from Coast Highway 101’s Rail Trail in Solana Beach to the overlook deck at the northern end of the property.

More

Meet the newest Nature Collective hike!

Explore this new 3-acre coastal overlook at the gateway between Cardiff-by-the-Sea + Solana Beach. Cherished for its open space and expansive marine views, Harbaugh Seaside Trails is ideal for dog walking, sunset watching, and peaceful contemplation in nature.

  • La Orilla Trail

    • DIFFICULTY: Easy

    • DISTANCE (ROUND-TRIP): 2 miles

    • TIME: 40 minutes

    • HOURS: Sunrise to sunset (both for trail and parking lot)

    • RESTROOMS: No

    • PETS/ANIMALS: Horses + leashed dogs welcome

    • ENTRANCE: La Orilla Trailhead Rancho Santa Fe, CA   See map

    • CLOSEST PUBLIC TRANSIT: None available.

    • PARKING: Small dirt parking lot with roughly 8 spots, along El Camino Real.

    • TERRAIN: Uneven, including erosion-control stairs on steep sections.

  • Annie’s Canyon Trail

    • DIFFICULTY: Easy (with strenuous portions)

    • DISTANCE (ROUND-TRIP): 1.4 miles

    • TIME: 40 minutes

    • HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

    • RESTROOMS: No

    • PETS/ANIMALS: Leashed dogs welcome, except in the slot canyon portion.

    • ENTRANCE: Rios Ave Trailhead   See map

    • CLOSEST PUBLIC TRANSIT: Solana Beach Transit  See map

    • PARKING: As you drive to the end of Rios Ave, there’s a cul-de-sac, which is where the trailhead is located. Find street parking along Rios Ave. Though we’re in nature, remember that we’re parking in a neighborhood, so please keep all driveways clear.

    • TERRAIN: A mostly even path to reach Annie’s Canyon Trail. However, watch out for tree roots that people could trip on. Note some soil erosion on the descending trail from Annie’s Canyon viewpoint and some stairs.

      The slot canyon’s vertical, narrow areas could aggravate claustrophobia. On the slot canyon path, there are ladder-style stairs, and on the switchback approach, you encounter wooden-plank stairs. At certain points, you need to scramble (aka use your hands + feet to propel yourself up).

  • Lake Drive Trail

    • DIFFICULTY: Easy

    • DISTANCE (ROUND-TRIP): 1.3 miles (to hilltop overlook and back)

    • TIME: 40 min

    • HOURS: Sunrise to sunset

    • RESTROOMS: No

    • PETS/ANIMALS: Leashed dogs welcome

    • ENTRANCE: Near the intersection of Sea Village Way + Lake Dr (Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA)   See map

    • CLOSEST PUBLIC TRANSIT: Highway 101 + Chesterfield (Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA)  See map

    • PARKING: On-street

    • TERRAIN: Details TBD – will include some stairs and inclines.

Keep an eye out for:

No. 1

Myron + Joan Overlook

which provides expansive views of both the Pacific and the lagoon.

No. 2

Our donor dedication area

recognizes some of the 1200 people who helped save this spot from becoming a hotel, including the late George + Betty Harbaugh, whose charitable foundation donated $1.1 million and secured the naming rights to the property.

No. 3

Native plant communities.

Find all 4 marked along your path – maritime succulent, maritime chaparral, maritime scrub, and coastal dune.

No. 4

Donor Monument

The donor monument is a welcoming place to relax at Harbaugh Seaside Trails, designed in the coastal rail trail mosaic motif.