At first glance, Buena Vista Park in Vista seems like just a small, neighborhood park. There are some nice grassy areas, picnic tables, and a scenic pond full of ducks and other waterfowl. But if you explore just a bit further, you’ll find a respectable trail system that travels along both sides of Agua Hedionda Creek. Much of the trail is shaded by both indigenous oak trees and a mix of non-natives, but there are also a lot of exposed sections and it can get pretty warm on a hot day. Plan accordingly during the summer months. Continue reading Buena Vista Park
Category Archives: Under 5 miles
Parry Grove Trail (Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve)
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)
San Diego River Trail – Dog Beach/Robb Field
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
San Diego River Trail – Hazard Center/Mission Valley
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
Mesa Trail/Big Rock Trail Loop
With its ease of access and numerous beautiful trails, Mission Trails sees a LOT of hikers. While you’ll have a hard time finding any trail with complete solitude in the park, Mesa Trail in the eastern section isn’t as heavily traveled as some of the others. This hike combines the Mesa Service Road, Mesa Trail, and the Big Rock Trail for a nice little loop with a variety of habitats to explore. You can tack on a summit of Cowles Mountain if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, but on a warm day or if you’re just out for a quickie, this short hike is quite nice by itself. Continue reading Mesa Trail/Big Rock Trail Loop
Garnet Peak via Penny Pines
Garnet Peak is one of our favorite hikes in San Diego. It’s a fairly easy hike with fantastic views, and during the right time of year there are plenty of wildflowers to enjoy. We like this hike so much, this is the third time we’ve written it up – documenting three different ways to get there. This particular route, starting from the Penny Pines trailhead along the Sunrise Highway, is probably the most popular route (likely because of the ample free parking – no Adventure Pass is required at Penny Pines). It travels north along the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) before branching off to ascend Garnet Peak. Continue reading Garnet Peak via Penny Pines
Stonewall Mine Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Stonewall Mine was once the most productive gold mine in San Diego County. Nowadays, it’s a fenced-off archaeological site with accompanying picnic area in a beautifully wooded section of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. You can just drive to Stonewall Mine, but of course we prefer the much more scenic option of hiking some of Cuyamaca’s beautiful trail system to reach the mine. This route follows the Marty Minshall Trail along the southern edge of Lake Cuyamaca and through some of the few remaining dense forested areas of the park before finally reaching the Stonewall Mine site. Continue reading Stonewall Mine Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Luelf Pond Open Space Preserve
Luelf Pond Open Space Preserve is a small but picturesque spot situated adjacent to a residential area in Ramona. There’s only a single trail, but lush oak trees and a steep climb leading to some sweeping vistas make it a worthwhile trip. Continue reading Luelf Pond Open Space Preserve
Dos Picos County Park
Primarily catering to campers and picnickers, Dos Picos is a fairly small park in Ramona with two designated nature trails, several roads, and informal meandering pathways to explore. There is a small but scenic pond where you can fish or watch the birds. And despite the ravages of drought and gold spotted oak borer beetle, there are still lush groves of oak trees creating a quiet, sylvan paradise. It’s a great choice for those with young kids or anyone looking for a short, easy hike that still provides a significant dose of nature. Continue reading Dos Picos County Park
Three Sisters
Three Sisters Waterfall is one of many remote backcountry destinations in San Diego that has become increasingly popular thanks to the publicity of social media. With three successive, cascading waterfalls and pools of cool, flowing water to swim in, Three Sisters is indeed an alluring destination. But the trail to the falls has long been a bit sketchy and until recently involved a very steep descent down a heavily eroded hillside, often requiring the use of ropes. Fortunately the US Forest Service has recently cut a new section of trail that takes a much easier and more environmentally friendly route to the falls. Continue reading Three Sisters