San Diego gravel runs from flat canyon trails near the coast to ranch roads up in North County. Closest to the city is the main dirt trail through Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, and every spring the mixed-surface Belgian Waffle Ride pulls in gravel riders from across the region. Here are the local clubs posting gravel rides on RiderFinder.
No cycling clubs listed nearby yet.
Where to ride gravel in San Diego
Start with Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The main trail is dirt and mostly flat, about 6 miles each way between Sorrento Valley in the west and Rancho Peñasquitos in the east, with a small seasonal waterfall near the middle. Bikes are allowed on it, which makes it a popular place to learn loose-surface handling without real climbing.
North County has the longer dirt. Around Lake Hodges, the San Dieguito River Park has trails along both shores, and Del Dios Highway runs past the lake if you want to link them by road. Further east, Daley Ranch above Escondido covers more than 3,000 acres of conservation land, with old ranch roads and multi-use trails open to bikes: enough for a hilly morning on dirt.
The event that defines San Diego gravel is the Belgian Waffle Ride. It mixes pavement, dirt, sand and short stretches of singletrack across North County, and it has started and finished at the Del Mar Polo Fields since 2025. The 2026 long route was about 106 miles with roughly 7,500 feet of climbing, with shorter Wafer and Wanna distances if you’re easing in. Lots of local clubs train for it together through the winter, so now’s a good time to find a group.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I ride gravel near San Diego?
Closest to the city is the main trail through Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, about 6 miles of dirt each way between Sorrento Valley and Rancho Peñasquitos, open to bikes. Inland, the San Dieguito River Park trails around Lake Hodges and the ranch roads at Daley Ranch in Escondido add longer dirt.
What surface is the Belgian Waffle Ride?
Mixed: part pavement, part dirt, sand and singletrack across North County San Diego. BWR California has started and finished at the Del Mar Polo Fields since 2025. In 2026 the long Waffle route was about 106 miles with roughly 7,500 feet of climbing, with shorter Wafer and Wanna distances for first-timers.
Can you bike through Los Peñasquitos Canyon?
Yes, on the main trail: a mostly flat dirt route of about 6 miles each way linking Sorrento Valley to the Poway side, with a small seasonal waterfall near the middle. Side trails are narrower and some are hikers only, so stay on the main trail and ride it slowly when it’s busy.
How do clubs end up on this page?
Clubs show up when they’ve posted a gravel ride on RiderFinder or Strava recently, or have one coming up. A name or description alone never gets a club listed, so the list tracks the rides clubs actually post.