Confession time: I’ve lived in San Diego for 18 years, and I hardly ever go to the beach. You have to find parking, there’s frequently large groups of people, you get sand in weird places, and hanging out at the beach usually means long periods of sitting still in the hot sun… I mean, I don’t hate it or anything, but aside from taking the dogs to run loose on Fiesta Island, when we’re looking to get outside we pretty much always choose to go hiking rather than hitting the beach.
But then comes summer, and it gets too hot to enjoy most of our favorite hiking trails. If only there were some magical way to combine the cooler temperatures and refreshing ocean waters found at the beach with our preferred activity of hiking… Duh. We can hike at the beach! Continue reading Border Field State Park – Coast Trail→
Hollenbeck Canyon is a 3,200 acre wildlife area in Jamul managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The trails are open to hikers, leashed dogs, horses, and mountain bikers. Be aware that hunting is allowed from September through January. The area includes coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodlands, riparian forests, freshwater marshes and grasslands. A seasonal creek runs along the canyon floor during wetter periods. Continue reading Hollenbeck Canyon→
One of things I think is really neat about San Diego is the number of hikeable little nooks and crannies that can be found just about everywhere. If you’re itching to go hiking but don’t have all day, fear not. Chances are there’s a decent hike within a few minutes of your house.
Rose Canyon is one of seventeen canyons and open space parks managed by the City of San Diego. Tucked in between the 5 and 805 freeways, just north of the 52 and south of the Coaster tracks, this hike won’t win any awards for seclusion, but it offers a nice little jaunt with a mix of exposed chaparral, riparian habitat, and shady oaks. Continue reading Rose Canyon→
After last year’s Chariot fire ran through Mount Laguna, I wasn’t sure what would be left along this section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). But I’ve always enjoyed this hike, and was optimistic that a year would have been enough time for some recovery to have taken place. I’m happy to report we were not disappointed. It looks as though the fire only hit patches of this area, and those parts that did burn are showing plenty of new life. Continue reading Garnet Peak via Pioneer Mail Picnic Area→
The Lake Hodges area in Escondido is a popular destination for mountain bikers and hikers looking for a a good trek not too far from home. While its convenient location means you’ll be amid freeways and homes for much the hike, they’re far enough away that reasonable peace and solitude is achievable. The climb up Bernardo Mountain provides both a good workout and expansive views. Continue reading Bernardo Mountain→
Across the road from a sprawling strip mall in Rancho San Diego lies a hidden gem of San Diego Hiking. The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge encompasses the majority of San Miguel Mountain (aka Mount Miguel, Mount San Miguel, etc) and surrounding areas. The Sweetwater River runs along the northwestern edge of the Refuge which provides riparian as well as coastal scrub habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species. This is a short, easy hike that provides a surprising amount of quiet solitude considering how close it is to civilization. Continue reading San Diego National Wildlife Refuge – Sweetwater River Trail→
Mission Trails Regional Park is one of the most popular hiking areas in San Diego County. While the park’s Cowle’s Mountain trail is easily the most well-known hike in the park, there are plenty of other less crowded (and in my opinion, more scenic) trails to explore. This route combines two of the park’s major summits in a 7.6 mile hike that will give you a great workout with some fantastic views along the way. Continue reading Mission Trails – South and North Fortuna Mountains→
Guajome Regional Park in Oceanside offers a variety of scenery on a short easy day hike. By looping together the park’s various trails into a figure “8” pattern, you can take an approximately 4 mile hike which passes by a lake and a pond, through a marsh, beneath hanging willow trees, and through San Diego’s trademark chapparal. Continue reading Hiking Guajome County Park in Oceanside→
Oakoasis is a small preserve in Lakeside that offers a short, relatively easy hike through a mix of tall chaparral and a peaceful oak grove. Some great views of San Vicente Reservoir can be found from a scenic overlook near the halfway point. Oakoasis is part of the growing San Diego Trans County Trail, which will provide a 110 mile trail from the coast to the desert once its completed. This is one of our favorite hikes to take our dogs on because the trail is wide and in generally good shape, the distance is just about right for our older dogs, and its never crowded when we go early in the morning. Continue reading Oakoasis Preserve Trail→
Located just north of downtown Julian, the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve is a 3,000 acre Preserve run by the San Diego County Parks and Recreation Department. While many parts of neighboring Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the Laguna Mountains have suffered from the devastating wildfires of recent years, the unscathed Volcan Mountain offers an increasingly rare trek through lush oaks and conifers. Continue reading Volcan Mountain Summit/Five Oaks Trail→
Confession time: I’ve lived in San Diego for 18 years, and I hardly ever go to the beach. You have to find parking, there’s frequently large groups of people, you get sand in weird places, and hanging out at the beach usually means long periods of sitting still in the hot sun… I mean, I don’t hate it or anything, but aside from taking the dogs to run loose on Fiesta Island, when we’re looking to get outside we pretty much always choose to go hiking rather than hitting the beach.
