Escondido Creek

A challenging run for the truly committed. At most levels, numerous areas of impenetrable snags will be encountered.

Water quality is generally horrendous due to being downstream of the city of Escondido and a large industrial chicken and cow farm which will contribute massive amounts of fecal material whenever it rains enough to make this river flow at boatable levels. Local environmental groups Escondido Creek Conservancy and Carlsbad Watershed Network are working to restore the creek, and bring back good water quality.

Posted to RBP, 2/23/1998

Difficulty: Class III-IV (rapids), Class V (trees)

Portages: Count on at least one, probably more, depending on your tolerance for strainers. Expect strainers to be different each occasion you may do this run.

Mile-by-mile gradient from Elfin Forest Preserve)      110609095754022 (last half-mile)

Drainage area: ~40 sq. miles

Elevation: ~540 (put-in), ~100 ft (take-out)

To get to the take-out from I-5: Take Manchester Rd to Rancho Santa Fe Rd. Continue 1 mile past the Harvest Ranch Market at the Encinitas Rd intersection. Make a right down Camino Del Norte Rd to the low-water creek crossing (this crossing will probably be closed when the creek is flowing).

To get to the put-in (from the take-out): Continue on Rancho Santa Fe Rd, make a right just before San Marcos Creek at Questhaven Rd. Make another right in about 1 mile at an unmarked road (this is Elfin Forest Rd), and continue to the creek (where the road will turn sharply left (NW) and become Harmony Grove Rd). Proceed to Elfin Forest Preserve where you can put-in.

To get to the put-in from I-15: Exit west at Valley Parkway, make a right at 9th, this then turns left at Hale. Make a right

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