Review Date
January 21, 2012

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Every few months

Reviewed by: jpwegner ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
There is some really great country within our own backyard through this canyon. Beautiful landscape, mild ride, creeks with mini-waterfalls. Highly recommended easy-does-it trail.

Recommended Route:
Sabre Springs to Sorrento Valley and back.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Lake Poway

Review Date
December 24, 2011

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 1 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: ihaveagibsonsg ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
This trail system has received a lot of heat lately from the MTB community over the closure of the Del Mar Mesa intestine Trails. If you can get over the fact that the epic tunnels trail is closed, you would have discovered by now that there is another tunnels style trail on the southern side of the canyon.

This is the EASIEST real trail system to ride in all of San Diego. It is also one of the coolest in the summer since it's close to the ocean. The fire roads are exceptionally flat and you will only do maybe 300ft of climbing in a 15 mile ride. You can either stick to the fire roads and double track or venture off to find switchbacks and tight single tracks loaded with bike friendly jumps and obstacles. Just pay attention to where the other bikers are going and follow them when they head off the main trail. The best trail in here by far is called cobbles. It has many hips and jumps to keep your adrenaline flowing unless you're too scared to hit some of em! Pay close attention to where some of the bike tracks lead, there's jumps in places you'd never expect them. This trail flows really well and you can maintain 20mph+ if you push it! Another one of my favorite trails connects to a park on the south side of the canyon. It is a dense forest with very low branches. It's about 10 degrees cooler in here so it is a nice break from the summer heat. It's about as tight as a single track can get! Watch your speed because the low hung branches sneak up on you and will knock you off your bike HARD. If you have a 29er like me this trail gets even harder because it puts you that much closer to the branches. Also keep an eye out for trees on the ground that will knock your pedals. There's wear marks on the trees that people commonly brush against.

The fire roads can get quite congested during weekends and holidays. Go in the morning or weekdays to avoid the crowds. There is a "waterfall" in the center of the canyon that all the families are heading to. I wouldn't consider it a waterfall at all, there is water and it makes noise but it is definitely not falling more than 3 feet. The worst part about this canyon is that if it rains even a little bit, the rangers close the trails and don't open them for days even after the trails have dried out! It's absurd but many people don't listen and enter the trails anyway.

Recommended Route:
I start from the Sorrento Valley Road trail entrance parking lot. Take the trail under the bridge and up and over the hill. Go down the hill and keep an eye out for a bridge called Wagon Wheel Crossing. Cross over the bridge and Go Right and there is very quickly a fork in the road. Go left to climb up a real fun single track or go right to continue on a flat single track. The single track to the left leads to nowhere but it is a blast to descend. Once back on the single track heading east continue on it until you get to the waterfall. Once you pass the water fall head left to access cobbles. Have a blast in cobbles and explore the rest of the canyon on your own. Cobbles is the real gem to me in this canyon.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
Del Mar Mesa, Black Mountain

Review Date
March 30, 2011

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: Radical Rad ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
Wow....I can't believe the last review of this trail was back in 2008. By far, PQ Canyon Trails and Del Mar Mesa Trails have to be some of the better trail loops I have ever ridden. I think it is a great place for a beginner to start riding. If you're not a fan of hills, This is the place for you.

What I like about it is if you want hills, take power lines up to the single tracks in Del Mar Mesa. If you're bored and like fast technical ducking, take tunnels.

I'll choose PQ over most just because there are so many options.

Recommended Route:
I recommend starting out at Canyonside Park and head west towards wagon wheel on the north trail. Then loop around back east on the south trail. Got some good moderate climbs and lot of flats.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
I love going up powerlines and up to Del Mar Mesa single tracks. I also love the options to go down cobbles and back to canyonside park or west towards wagon wheel.

Review Date
May 14, 2008

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 3 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: pink taco ,  Racer

Summary:
Tunnel trails dominate, tight on some, but overall if you have any skills at all you will love every inch of this trail. Alot of hard work went into this trail and deserves greatb praise to it's builder. You can loop a great ride through all it's glory.

Review Date
April 21, 2008

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 2 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 2 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: EBasil ,  Cross Country Rider

Summary:
As of April, 2008, the Del Mar Mesa singletracks are gone. As I write this, they're fenced, staked and preliminary bulldozing is about to start.

This means that about 50% of the singletrack network that was in and outside of Los Penasquitos Canyon is gone. The remaining trails, including all those within the Preserve, are still there and this does include some decent singletrack and excellent "fire road" rides for beginner/intermediate and/or commuters.