Carlsbad topographic map

San Diego is characterized by a diverse topography that features coastal plains, rolling hills, and rugged mountain ranges. The city is situated along the Pacific Ocean, where it boasts an extensive shoreline with sandy beaches and tidal zones. As you move inland, the landscape transitions from the flat…

Average elevation: 410 ft

Escondido has a borderline semi-arid climate (Köppen: Bsh) and hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with hot summers and cool wet winters. Owing to its inland setting it is considerably warmer than coastal cities like San Diego, Carlsbad or Oceanside during the summertime, and cooler in the winter.…

Average elevation: 896 ft

Average elevation: 719 ft

Average elevation: 659 ft

Oceanside features a diverse topography characterized by its coastal setting and gentle inland elevations. The city is predominantly flat, with its elevation averaging around 66 feet (20 meters) above sea level, allowing for expansive views of the Pacific Ocean along its roughly 3.5 miles of coastline. Inland,…

Average elevation: 105 ft

At an altitude of 1,198 feet (365 m), Rattlesnake Mountain is the highest point in Santee. Rattlesnake Mountain is home to the Sky Ranch community, and is topped with a large illuminated star during the holiday season.

Average elevation: 564 ft

Average elevation: 121 ft

Average elevation: 761 ft

Encinitas lies on rugged coastal terrace. The city is bisected by a low-lying coastal ridge that separates New and Old Encinitas. In the north of the city, the coast rises in elevation and the land is raised up in the form of many coastal bluffs. These cliffs are subject to collapsing on the narrow beach. The…

Average elevation: 105 ft

Average elevation: 79 ft

Average elevation: 367 ft

The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in microclimates. In San Diego, this is mostly because of the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May…

Average elevation: 187 ft

Average elevation: 1,631 ft

In January 2006, Ramona Valley was designated the country's 162nd American Viticultural Area (AVA) by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which recognized the area for its distinctive microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes.

Average elevation: 1,539 ft

Average elevation: 751 ft

Average elevation: 5,725 ft

Average elevation: 1,115 ft

Average elevation: 505 ft

Average elevation: 1,837 ft

Average elevation: 584 ft

The climate of Rancho Santa Fe is, for the most part, typical of the San Diego metropolitan area though its higher elevation and inland location lends itself to larger temperature variations.

Average elevation: 223 ft

Average elevation: 1,175 ft

Pine Valley is named for the locally unique strand of Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) found along Pine Valley Creek, a seasonal drainage in the foothills of the Laguna Mountains in central San Diego County. According to the United States Geological Survey, Pine Valley is located 3,736 feet (1,139 m) above sea…

Average elevation: 4,236 ft

Average elevation: 69 ft

Average elevation: 4,731 ft

Average elevation: 305 ft

Average elevation: 233 ft

The Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres/720 sq mi (1,900 km2) of inland montane regions—approx. 60 miles from the Pacific Ocean—within the counties of San Diego, Riverside, and Orange, California. The landscape varies somewhat, with mostly chaparral canyons, arroyos and high desert, but…

Average elevation: 1,955 ft

Average elevation: 3,189 ft

Average elevation: 33 ft

Average elevation: 3,501 ft

Average elevation: 240 ft

Average elevation: 79 ft

Average elevation: 1,020 ft

Average elevation: 2,149 ft

Average elevation: 3,635 ft

Descanso is located east of Alpine and west of Pine Valley. At a 3,450 feet (1,050 m) elevation, it is located at the south entrance to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and also borders Cleveland National Forest to the west and east.

Average elevation: 3,501 ft

Average elevation: 141 ft

Average elevation: 627 ft

Average elevation: 98 ft

Average elevation: 3,661 ft

Average elevation: 322 ft

Average elevation: 1,319 ft

According to the United States Geological Survey, Pine Valley is located 3,736 feet (1,139 m) above sea level, at 32°49′17″N 116°31′45″W / 32.82139°N 116.52917°W / 32.82139; -116.52917. Interstate 8 passes east-to-west along the southern border of Pine Valley, and crosses Laguna Summit…

Average elevation: 3,967 ft

Average elevation: 1,319 ft

Average elevation: 2,972 ft

Average elevation: 4,154 ft

Average elevation: 568 ft

Average elevation: 604 ft

Average elevation: 4,137 ft

Average elevation: 1,152 ft

Average elevation: 620 ft

Average elevation: 233 ft

Average elevation: 1,893 ft

Average elevation: 79 ft

Average elevation: 600 ft

Average elevation: 584 ft

Average elevation: 620 ft

The highest point in the community is Black Mountain, which rises to an elevation of 1,500 feet (460 m).

Average elevation: 515 ft

Average elevation: 4,131 ft

Average elevation: 2,723 ft

Average elevation: 636 ft

Average elevation: 371 ft

Average elevation: 5,594 ft

Average elevation: 1,073 ft

Average elevation: 292 ft

Average elevation: 3,730 ft

Average elevation: 587 ft

Average elevation: 653 ft

Average elevation: 1,522 ft

Average elevation: 138 ft

In January 2006, Ramona Valley was designated the country's 162nd American Viticultural Area (AVA) by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which recognized the area for its distinctive microclimate, elevation, and soil attributes.

Average elevation: 1,529 ft

Average elevation: 1,499 ft

Average elevation: 200 ft

Average elevation: 397 ft

Average elevation: 2,907 ft

Average elevation: 466 ft

Average elevation: 686 ft

Average elevation: 207 ft

Average elevation: 2,546 ft

Average elevation: 256 ft

Average elevation: 509 ft

Average elevation: 174 ft

Average elevation: 210 ft

Average elevation: 404 ft

Average elevation: 1,696 ft

Average elevation: 387 ft

Average elevation: 584 ft

Average elevation: 820 ft

The reservoir is formed by El Capitan Dam on the San Diego River and has a capacity of 112,800 acre-feet (139,100,000 m3). The 237-foot (72 m) dam is composed of hydraulic fill and was completed in 1934. The dam is owned by the city of San Diego (Originally owned by the Kumeyaae tribe) and its primary purpose…

Average elevation: 1,785 ft

It sits on both sides of Interstate 8 at the eastern extent of the California coastal region and the western extent of the Peninsular Ranges, about 30 miles east of downtown San Diego, at an elevation of about 2,000 feet.

Average elevation: 1,906 ft

Average elevation: 59 ft

Average elevation: 16 ft

Average elevation: 266 ft

Average elevation: 138 ft

Average elevation: 610 ft

Average elevation: 184 ft

Average elevation: 92 ft

Average elevation: 246 ft

Average elevation: 384 ft