Hiking and Nature Trails
A day hike through the canyons and hills of Mission Trails Park is a great way to escape to nature without leaving the city.
Hiking
Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument. Driving here is a treat in itself, as a vast view of the Pacific unfolds before you. The view is equally enjoyable on Bayside Trail (2 miles round-trip), which is home to the same coastal sagebrush that Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo saw when he first discovered the California coast in the 16th century. After the hike, you can explore nearby tide pools, the monument statue, and the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Don't worry if you don't see everything on your first visit; your entrance receipt ($20 per car) is good for seven days. 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr., Point Loma, San Diego, California, 92106. 619/523–4285; www.nps.gov/cabr. Parking $20.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. Twelve miles of trails at this inland park north of Mira Mesa accommodate equestrians, runners, walkers, and cyclists as well as leashed dogs. Look at maps for trails specific to bikes and horses. The trail parallels Los Peñasquitos and is marked by a small waterfall at the 3.5 mile marker. Hikers can cross the creek and loop back among large rock boulders—it's an unexpected oasis amid the arid valley landscape. 12020 Black Mountain Rd., Rancho Peñasquitos, San Diego, California, 92129. 858/484–7504; www.sdparks.org.
Mission Trails Regional Park. This park 8 miles northeast of Downtown encompasses more than 7,000 acres of wooded hillsides, grasslands, chaparral, and streams. Trails range from easy to difficult; they include one with an impressive view of the city from Cowles Mountain and another along a historic missionary path. The park is also a popular place for rock climbing and camping (the Kumeyaay Lake Campground is open on weekends). Lake Murray is at the southern edge of the park, off Highway 8. 1 Father Junípero Serra Trail, Mission Valley, San Diego, California, 92119. 619/668–3281; www.mtrp.org.
Torrey Pines State Reserve. Hikers and runners will appreciate this park's many winning features: switchback trails that descend to the sea, an unparalleled view of the Pacific, and a chance to see the Torrey pine tree, one of the rarest pine breeds in the United States. The reserve hosts guided nature walks as well. Dogs and food are prohibited at the reserve. Parking is $20–$25, depending on day and season. 12600 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, California, 92037. 858/755–2063; www.torreypine.org. Parking from $20.
Nature Trails
San Dieguito River Park. This corridor begins at the mouth of the San Dieguito River in Del Mar and heads from the riparian lagoon area through coastal sage scrub and mountain terrain to end in the desert; eventually the Coast to Crest Trail will connect 70 miles to Volcan Mountain. It's open to hikers, bikers, and horses. The expansive park is also home to the Sikes Adobe Farmhouse, an 1880s farmstead that was almost completely destroyed by wildfire in 2007. After painstaking restoration it reopened in 2010 and is now home to a museum. The restored adobe creamery reopened in 2014. 18372 Sycamore Creek Rd., Escondido, California, 92025. 858/674–2270; www.sdrp.org.
