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1.6 miles
Distance
-518 ft
Descent
00:11:02
Avg time
-518 ft
Altitude change
522 ft
Altitude min
1,041 ft
Altitude max
1,041 ft
Altitude start
522 ft
Altitude end
-6.3%
Grade
-29%
Grade max
2.1%
Grade min
125 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
1,217 ft
Distance flat
00:11:02
Avg time
Horned Lizard Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaRancho La Costa Preserve
Encinitas, California -
Difficulty Rating
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Local Popularity100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 80 in Trail Running
- 90 in Hiking
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Global Ranking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM
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DirectionBoth DirectionsPopular Direction Shown
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Climb DifficultyBlack Diamond
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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Dogs AllowedYes
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eBike Allowed
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TTFs on TrailDrop, Jump
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Land OwnerCenter for Natural Lands Management
Fun downhill with some fast sections. Climb Switchbacks and descend Horned Lizard for a solid loop.
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 14 rides
- 10 miles average
6 Months
- 171 rides
- 9 miles avg distance
All
- 1,121 rides
- Last: Jun 19, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Horned Lizard Trail Reports
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Trail Conditions
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Partial
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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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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- > 90%
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- bi-directional trail
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- > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
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- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Directions to horned-lizard trailhead
(33.087190, -117.214000)
Photos
97 more »
Videos
17 more »
10:18 |
510 |
Aug 7, 2023 , Encinitas
12:29 |
550 |
Mar 15, 2021 , Encinitas
15:40 |
250 |
Feb 16, 2021 , Encinitas
6:48 |
408 |
Jan 12, 2021 , Encinitas
Routes with this trail
★ 4.3 • 7 miles • 1,148 ft • 4 • Loop •
Though Rancho La Costa is a small area, and this route is relatively short, as the , every inch is packed...
★ 5.0 • 11 miles • 2,102 ft • 11 •
This route ascends the water tower access road at Rancho la Costa Preserve to ride Horned Lizard, then...
★ 5.0 • 20 miles • 3,672 ft • 39 •
20 miles and tons of climbing to hit the fun downhills in Rancho La Costa. This route has you do and Drop...
11 Reviews & Comments
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Nearby Trails
- Lizard Shortcut 384 ft
- Whip Tail 915 ft
- Switchbacks 1,558 ft
- Drop Down (nascar) 1,572 ft
- Nascar Alt. Line 1,621 ft
Rancho La Costa Preserve
- By jabrones & contributors
- #21623 - 10,897 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Horned Lizard
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Where is Horned Lizard located?
Horned Lizard is located in Rancho La Costa Preserve, Encinitas, California, United States. It is part of the Rancho La Costa Preserve trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 33.08719, -117.214.
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How hard is Horned Lizard?
Horned Lizard is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.3%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
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What is the elevation gain for Horned Lizard?
The trail has 518 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 522 ft to 1,041 ft.
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Is Horned Lizard a point to point trail?
Horned Lizard is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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