When we did our first write-up of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve several years ago, the Parry Grove Trail was closed and we weren’t able to include it. It’s taken us awhile, but we finally got back to the park to check out this trail and document it.
The Parry Grove Trail is a short loop, and includes the Whitaker native plant garden and scenic Scripps Overlook. The trail is named for Charles C. Parry, a medical doctor and botanist who first documented the Torrey Pine, christening it Pinus Torreyana. The trail includes a steep section of 118 steps – an obstacle which deters many of the Reserve’s visitors, meaning this trail is somewhat less busy than others. Continue reading Parry Grove Trail (Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve)→
Dog owners know Ocean Beach’s Dog Beach as a great spot to let their four-legged friends have some off-leash fun, but its also the point where the San Diego River flows into the Pacific Ocean – and the start of the San Diego River Trail. The estuary, where ocean salt water and fresh river water mix, is a wonderfully interesting ecosystem great for watching birds and other wildlife. Continue reading San Diego River Trail – Dog Beach/Robb Field→
When the temperature starts to rise, we like to find shorter, easier trails we can do in the evenings once it starts to cool down. The San Diego River Trail offers some great options for easy hikes that are perfect for warm summer evenings. This 2.1 mile loop along the river in the Mission Valley area is a nice spot to bring the dog or to enjoy some nice views of the river as the sun sets. Continue reading San Diego River Trail – Hazard Center/Mission Valley→
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, with its long, looping trail system, year-round creek, and easily accessible waterfall, is a highly popular hiking destination. In addition to all of its many natural attractions, it is also home to the historic Rancho Penasquitos Adobe Ranch House. The Ranch House has a long history as a private residence and bunkhouse for ranch hands. You can incorporate a tour of the Ranch House into your hike if you like, or maybe just stop by to visit some of the barnyard animals that live on the grounds. Even if you bypass the Ranch House, the eastern half of Penasquitos Canyon offers a scenic and interesting hike along Penasquitos Creek to a small but scenic waterfall. Continue reading Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve (East)→
Balboa Park has miles of trails and walking paths with something for everyone. A number of predefined routes have been established and labeled with numbered, color-coded trail markers to help visitors explore the many sights the park has to offer. Trail #43, marked with purple square trail markers, explores the western edge of the park. The trail travels primarily across paved sidewalks, passing a number of Balboa Park’s huge array of public facilities and showcasing a diverse array of plant life that can be found in Balboa Park. It is also home to an abundance of camera-ready squirrels. Continue reading Jerry Schad Memorial Trail (Balboa Park)→
The Quarry Loop in the southwest corner of Mission Trails Regional Park is a short but scenic trail with some surprisingly good views for such a short hike. From atop the ridge you can look west to the ocean and spot San Clemente and Catalina islands on the horizon, and to the southeast there are great views of the major Mission Trails peaks. Continue reading Quarry Loop Trail (Mission Trails Regional Park)→
Tecolote Canyon is one of the larger urban canyons in San Diego. It has approximately 6.5 miles of trails, however several major roads and a golf course transect the canyon, making a contiguous hike difficult. We had previously hiked the southern portion of the canyon and set off today to explore the northern portion. Continue reading North Tecolote Canyon→
The western side of Mission Trails Regional Park contains an elaborate network of trails and utility roads that can be fashioned into any number of routes with varying amounts of elevation gain. You can explore low-lying valleys and river crossings or climb to hill tops to enjoy the views. This hike along the Rim Trail provides some great views of all 5 Mission Trail Peaks and the Suycott Valley below, as well as downtown San Diego in the west. Continue reading Rim Trail (Mission Trails Regional Park)→
As highway 78 winds through the San Pasqual Valley, the tall slopes Clevenger Canyon Open Space Park loom above. The Park is bisected by the highway, and separate trail heads provide access to trails on either side. We had hiked the North Clevenger Canyon trail over a year ago, and we decided it was high time to get back and finish the job by hiking South Clevenger Canyon. The two trails offer similar terrain and views, and both are enjoyable hikes. The South Clevenger trail splits at the half mile point, with one fork going east and one going west. Our intention was to hike both forks, but if you’re looking for a shorter hike you could certainly just do one. Of the two, I found the eastern fork a little more scenic and interesting. Continue reading South Clevenger Canyon→
Famosa Slough is a 37 acre Marine Conservation Area which protects fragile wetland habitat near the point where the San Diego River meets the Pacific Ocean. While the surrounding area has been heavily developed, this small portion of wetland provides a peaceful patch of nature. The Slough is a popular spot for birdwatchers year-round, and a frequent stopover point for migrating birds in the winter. Over 190 species of birds have been spotted here. Continue reading Famosa Slough→
