Biking around Coronado. A San Diego essential and a great way to spend the day.
Bikes and San Diego go hand in hand. Bikes and Coronado are attached at the head like a pair of Siamese twins. The bike culture in Coronado runs deep. Look in any direction on any day and you are bound to see more than a few locals and visitors pedaling around the island. Wide, flat, roads and quiet residential streets make Coronado a perfect destination for a mellow bike ride.
With its single main street, Orange Avenue, Coronado maintains a small town atmosphere but at the same time is a world class resort destination and tourist attraction. Coronado is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado ("The Del") which, according to Patricia Schultz’s is one of the 1000 places you should see before you die. According to Wikipedia, "The Del" was supposedly also the inspiration for the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz. Author L. Frank Baum would have been able to see the hotel from his front porch overlooking Star Park. Because of the reported association with Oz, Coronado is often associated with the color green and is sometimes referred to as "The Emerald City".
Coronado is not technically speaking and island but for all practical cycling purposes it is and island as there is no direct way to ride from the mainland. The main options for entry on to Coronado are driving over the bridge (no need to stop to make a call on the suicide phone you are about to perk up when you get to ride on Coronado) or to take the ferry. The Coronado/San Diego Ferry
shuttles passengers between the Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego and
the Coronado Ferry Landing. The ferry leaves San Diego on the hour from
9am to 9pm, and from Coronado every half hour from 9:30am until 9:30pm
(10:30 on weekends). This route will take you from the Ferry Landing on a grand tour of Coronado.
View Coronado in a larger map
The ride in this loop is really the grand tour of Coronado. It covers the city and Tidelands park. The complete loop is 23.89 miles. If you are looking for a shorter ride, either jump off before going out along the Silver Strand or go straight to the Silver Strand and cut off some miles by skipping the short tour of the city. Either way it is up to you. Coronado is the kind of place where you can pretty much get off and ride. Ask anyone for directions to "the del," The Silver Strand, or the Ferry Landing and you will be back on track in no time.
From the ferry terminal head out on First Street. Across the water you will see the San Diego skyline. As you travel West you will be heading toward the Naval Base and you might be able to see an aircraft carrier docked at the naval facility. Take a left on Alameda Boulevard and head into a residential neighborhood. Coronado is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.
Alameda will change names to Ocean Blvd. and then again to Dana Place as you pass The Hotel Del Coronado. Just past the hotel, go right on Silver Strand Blvd. and head out the Silver Strand which is a 7 mile long state beach. Headwinds, crosswinds, or tailwinds are common so be careful. This part of the ride is an out and back so whever you get tired, bored, or if you come to the end, turn around and head back the way you came.
Take a right on Adelia Avenue then a right on 10th street then a left on Glorietta Blvd. Glorietta will wind around. Before you hit the intersection of 4th street be sure to get on the bike path. Follow the path around and wind your way back to the ferry landing.
Ride Summary:
- Total Distance: 23.89miles
- Total Elevation: 30 feet (this ride is essentially flat)
To download additional information about your ride, right click on
the links below and then click "save link as" to download the file to
your computer.
Download a GPX file you can use to upload to your Garmin
Download a KML file you can use to upload to Google Maps or Google Earth
