Coming soon, the missing half-mile link

A draft environmental study for extending River Path Del Mar beyond the Grand Avenue Overlook finds the project will not have a significant impact on the lagoon environment with only minor mitigation measures needed. The City of Del Mar may soon approve the study and begin plans to extend the existing trail southeast along the southern side of San Dieguito Drive for half a mile to the Crest Canyon Trailhead. This link will provide a continuous trail through Crest Canyon, across Del Mar Heights Road, through the Torrey Pines Extension, Carmel Valley Road, and across Torrey Pines Reserve to the Pacific Ocean. A remarkable link, made up of a single, five-foot-wide decomposed granite path and a six-foot-wide boardwalk path along the lagoon, completes the loop around Del Mar’s perimeter as envisioned in their 1976 Community Plan. “The project will enhance access to outdoor recreation opportunities such as walking, bicycling, bird watching, and photography,” according to the City. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2023.