Southern California - Route Question in North San Diego County

For a point of reference I live in Cardiff so I typically start heading either North or South on the coast hwy. There are two rides I like that I want to string together into one big loop.

One is elfin forest/harmony grove out to Escondido and loop back on Del Dios through Rancho Santa Fe back to the coast. Although I really don't like that downhill stretch of Del Dios along Lake Hodges, blind corners, gravelly shoulders, fast cars, don't like.

Another is to go south to Carmel valley to the 56 trail to Camino Del Sur then back to the coast through Fairbanks via San Diegeno.

So to get to my ???, is there a decent/paved path that will get me from Via Rancho Parkway over to W Bernardo drive west of the 15. I believe that is in the vicinity of that new bridge but are the approaches paved or dirt trails.

Thanks,
Dan

Del Dios has recently been improved. The traffic still stinks, but the should is nice & wide & smooth. You need only endure it for a little while and the ride on Linea del Cielo more than makes up for it.

Here you go. (This is going up in the Route Repository too.) (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Quail+Pl,+Carlsbad,+CA+92009&daddr=Elfin+Forest+Rd+to:County+Hwy+S6%2FDel+Dios+Hwy+to:Linea+Del+Cielo+to:Lomas+Santa+Fe+Dr+to:33. 112249,-117.290726+to:Quail+Pl,+Carlsbad,+CA+92009&geocode=FUws-QEdjKgC-SlTO16uqnTcgDHx4pkgL1RFtA%3BFRa9-AEdhBAE-Q%3BFYKJ-AEdEtUE-Q%3BFeqP9wEdrksD-Q%3BFap19wEdpKYC-Q%3B%3BFUws-QEdjKgC-SlTO16uqnTcgDHx4pkgL1RFtA&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=1&mrsp=5&sz=12&via=1,2,3,5&dirflg=b&sll=33.05183,-117.207885&sspn=0.214385,0.434647&ie=UTF8&ll=33.060759,-117.205582&spn=0.107182,0.217323&t=h&z=13&lci=bike)

That be the route. But I want to extend it by getting over to W. Bernardo rd and go through the 4S area to take either Camino Del Sur or Black Mountain down to the 56 trail.

I guess I can just check it out for myself one of these weekends.

Why risk it? There's no need to risk an afternoon (or your life) on a narrow/dangerous road in the Age of Information. Look around in Gmaps; you can even see the road-view and check the road conditions, shoulder width, and even get an idea of the traffic conditions.

As a matter of fact, you're in luck: there is a new, stressed ribbon, bicycle/pedestrian-only bridge over Lake Hodges that will take you straight to West Bernardo Road (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=272+East+Via+Rancho+Parkway,+Escondido,+CA+92025-8005+%28North+County+Fair-Westfield%29&daddr=33.050904,-117.075849&hl=en&geocode=FUWX-AEdXLAF-SF1HMhjOdBi9SnhdmQ1WPHbgDHkleyTWXaJlA%3B&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&dirflg=b&sll=33.04299,-117.059412&sspn=0.026801,0.054331&ie=UTF8&ll=33.060579,-117.074132&spn=0.013398,0.027165&t=h&z=16&lci=bike).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3604209503_916cd82eab.jpg

I ride that bridge when I commute to work. Turn onto Sunset Drive, at the golf driving range across from the mall. At the end of Sunset is a small parking area, and a trailhead. The path is paved down along the east side of the 15, under 15, when it turns west to go to the bridge there is a section about 1/3 of a mile that is crushed rock/gravel/bad pavement. I ride it on 25C gatorskins without any fear. Just watch for big rocks.