Trail Advocacy & Projects

The San Diego Mountain Biking Association staff and volunteers work every day to improve trail access for mountain biking in San Diego County. These efforts include keeping in regular contact with federal, state and local land managers, communicating the need for more and better trails with elected officials, locating funding and opportunities for partnerships, understanding where the opportunities and constraints exist, and prioritizing our work in order to use our time effectively.

Working on trails and advocacy generally takes two forms - short term projects and long term efforts.  

Short term projects can include trimming/brushing, tread work projects to control erosion, and even bridge replacement. Many factors have to be taken into consideration such as weather, soil conditions, funding, city/county/agency permission and staff availability, and whether the appropriate environmental studies are completed if necessary.  

Long term efforts include all of the work that happens before the shovels can even hit the ground.  This work is all about meetings, emails, phone calls, being involved in public planning processes and public comment periods, keeping an eye on jurisdictional agendas and land use decisions which might affect current or future trail access, engaging other stakeholder groups, and so much more. Master Trails Plans, Public Access Plans and general park planning are all part of the mix. These plans can occur in the same open spaces or parks where short term efforts continue each season. Developing and getting these plans approved and implemented can take years, if not decades. This the long game that is necessary to ensure that we have trails now and in the future.  

There are many opportunities in San Diego for improved recreational trail access but there are also significant issues and challenges. The complexities of land ownership, mitigation, and conservation land and habitat protection requirements along with future development mixed in with federally listed endangered species, cultural resources and water management are a few of the constraints placed on trail development or improvement.  There needs to be a balance between the conservation of our open spaces combined with responsible management and reasonable public access.  

Here are some of our ongoing trail projects, advocacy efforts and programs.  

Any questions can be sent to info@sdmba.com



SAN DIEGO

TRAIL ADVOCACY & PROJECTS








CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST

MT LAGUNA RECREATION AREA

Location: Cleveland National Forest east of San Diego

Land Manager: USFS Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: In NEPA Study Phase



ANDERSON TRUCK TRAIL

Location: Alpine, CA

Land Manager: USFS, Cleveland National Forest, Descanso District

Expected Completion: pending land acquisitions for access

Status: in process



PALOMAR

Location: Central and Northern San Diego County

Land Manager: USFS Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District

Expected Completion: Unknown

Status: No current projects or planning 




DALEY RANCH

Location: Escondido

Land Manager: City of Escondido

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: Ongoing




BLACK MOUNTAIN OPEN SPACE PARK

Location: Black Mountain Open Space Park

Land Manager: City of San Diego

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: Ongoing 




LOS PENASQUITOS CANYON PRESERVE

Location: Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve

Land Manager: City of San Diego & County of San Diego. Del Mar Mesa holdings by California Department of Fish and Wildlife & others

Expected Completion:  Multi Year Project

Status: Ongoing




SYCAMORE CANYON & GOODAN RANCH

Location: Poway, CA

Land Manager: County of San Diego

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: Planning Phase




BALBOA PARK & FLORIDA CANYON

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: City of San Diego

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: ongoing planning 




SD URBAN CANYONS & TRI-CANYONS

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: City of San Diego

Expected Completion:  Multi-Year project

Status:  Ongoing planning and implementation




OTAY REGIONAL TRAIL ALIGNMENT STUDY

Location: Chula Vista, CA

Land Manager: Multi-jurisdictional

Expected Completion: unknown

Status:  In Planning




SAN DIEGO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: U.S. Fish & Wildlife

Expected Completion:  Multi-Year Project

Status:  In Planning




CUYAMACA RANCHO STATE PARK

Location: Cuyamaca, CA

Land Manager: California State Parks

Expected Completion:  Multi-Year project

Status: Waiting on implementation on General Plan approved in 2015




STOWE TRAIL

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: U.S. Marines

Expected Completion:  Ongoing

Status:  In discussion




BIKE PARK DEVELOPMENT

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: Multi-jurisdictional

Expected Completion:  Multi-Year Projects

Status: Ongoing




MISSION TRAILS REGIONAL PARK

Location: Mission Trails Regional Park | Santee, CA

Land Manager: City of San Diego

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Projects

Status: General Plan Approved by City Council 2019 - Phase 1 Priorities set 




LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL ALIGNMENTS

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: Multi-jurisdictional

Expected Completion: Multi-Year Projects

Status: In Planning with some gap completion ongoing




RANCHO LA COSTA PRESERVE

Location: Between Carlsbad and San Marcos, CA 

Land Manager: Center for Natural Lands Management

Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: Ongoing maintenance




SAN DIEGUITO RIVER PARK

Location: San Diego, CA 

Land Manager: San Dieguito River Park Joint Powers Authority

Completion: Multi-Year projects

Status: Ongoing




VISTA SANTA FE TRAIL

Location: Pacific Highlands Ranch

Land Manager: City of San Diego

Completion: 2020 




CHULA VISTA CANYON TRAILS

Location: Chula Vista, CA

Land Manager: City of Chula Vista

Completion: Multi-Year Project

Status: Ongoing




OTAY VALLEY REGIONAL PARK

Location: Chula Vista, CA

Land Manager:

  • City of San Diego
  • County of San Diego
  • US Fish and Wildlife
  • City of Chula Vista & others

Completion: Ongoing

Status: Project implementation and planning ongoing




TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY REGIONAL PARK

Location: Chula Vista, CA

Land Manager:

  • City of San Diego
  • Border Field State Park: California State Parks

Status: maintenance and infrastructure issues ongoing




ELFIN FOREST RECREATIONAL RESERVE

Location: San Diego, CA

Land Manager: Olivehain Municipal Water District

Status: Maintenance Ongoing




CDFW LANDS & TRAIL ACCESS

Location: California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Completion: unforeseeable

Status: advocacy ongoing




TRAIL BELL PROGRAM

Location: San Diego, CA

Project Manager: SDMBA

Status: Ongoing




BIKE TOOL STATION PROGRAM

Location: San Diego, CA

Project Manager: SDMBA

Status: Ongoing