Copper Creek Serenity

Hike to Copper Creek Falls in Rancho La Costa Preserve

The journey to Copper Creek Falls in Carlsbad’s Rancho La Costa Preserve is a serene 3.25-mile hike following a peaceful creek with a bit of local history and beautiful canyon scenery. The actual “falls”? Well, it’s more of a small oasis, so you’ve just got to go with the flow on this hike, best visited after recent rains.

Find street parking along San Elijo Road just past Fallsview Park next to a rather hidden trailhead beside a fenced-off area (on your left). Take the preserve’s trail that parallels the asphalt road (and accompanying fence) below power lines. To your right is a towering hill; this is neighboring Denk Mountain, which can also be accessed from this trail. At just under half a mile, you start to enter the canyon, as the trail features change dramatically.

Pass by a gate and sign for the Copper Creek Falls trails and feel free to grab a complimentary walking stick (just make sure to drop it off on the return trip), provided by the Center for Natural Lands Management, which maintains this area. You’ll soon pass by a trail junction (leading to Rancho Summit Road), cross over some rocks, under some riparian flora, and across two quaint footbridges over the stream. Soon the trail opens up and offers beautiful views of the canyon.

Here you'll find an interpretive sign detailing the area’s mining history - the Encinitas Copper Mining and Smelting Co. operated here in the early 1900s, and today some ruins still exist. The trail continues, hugging the hillside and flanking a steep canyon drop-off. Look down below to see the paralleling stream, but be sure to keep an eye out for a viewpoint that overlooks the small but scenic falls. You should refrain from climbing down; the view from above is just fine!

Soon ,you'll reach a T-junction with a fire road. This is your turnaround point, but there’s room to continue exploring the network of trails (you can take the nearby Whiptail Trail to get up to Denk Mountain from this route too). Return the way you came.

To get to the Copper Creek Falls trailhead and street parking, take the I-5 to the Leucadia Blvd. exit and head east. After 1.9 miles, Leucadia Blvd. turns into Olivenhain Rd. and after another mile continues straight onto Rancho Santa Fe Rd. After 2.8 miles, turn right onto San Elijo Rd. Parking and the trailhead will be on your right in just over 1 mile. No dogs!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Hidden Gems of Reno Tahoe

    Step into a land where adventure meets relaxation. Reno Tahoe is where the spirit of the great outdoors and the energy of vibrant city life inspire you to live with no limits.

    View
  2. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  3. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  4. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View