The chaparral covered hills leading to Cowles Mountain

Hiking Trails in San Diego County

This is the list of hiking trails in San Diego County that we have written up. Check back often as we are continually adding new trails.

Click here to see these trail locations on a map.

Trail Location Length Total Ascent Difficulty Dogs? Bikes?
Agua Dulce Loop Mt. Laguna 6.2 miles 528 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Airplane Monument & Arroyo Seco Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 7.1 miles 1280 feet Moderate No Partial
Annie’s Canyon Trail Solana Beach 1.6 miles 542 feet Moderate Partial No
Annie’s Canyon via N Rios Avenue Solana Beach 1.4 miles 180 feet Easy Partial No
Azalea Glen Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 4.2 miles 622 feet Moderate No No
Barnett Ranch Preserve Ramona 4 miles 630 feet Easy Yes Yes
Batiquitos Lagoon Carlsbad 3.2 miles Negligible Easy Yes No
Bernardo Mountain Escondido 7.5 miles 1400 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Big Laguna/PCT Loop Mt. Laguna 10.3 miles 1317 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Partial
Black Mountain via the Miner’s Ridge Loop San Diego (Rancho Penasquitos) 4.6 miles 1000 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Black Mountain via the Nighthawk Trail San Diego (Rancho Penasquitos) 4 miles 750 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Black Mountain (Ramona) Ramona 14.5 miles 3193 feet Strenuous Yes Yes
Blue Sky Ecological Reserve Poway 4.8 miles 800 feet Moderate Yes No
Border Field State Park – Coast Trail Imperial Beach 2.4 miles Negligible Easy No No
Boucher Hill Loop Palomar Mountain State Park 1.95 miles 450 feet Moderate No No
Boulder Loop Trail Escondido (Daley Ranch) 4 miles 807 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Cabrillo National Monument – Bayside Trail San Diego (Point Loma) 2 miles 380 feet Easy No No
Cactus Loop Anza-Borrego State Park .75 miles 262 feet Easy No No
Cactus Hill Loop Bonita 5.2 miles 790 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Julian 3.25 miles 900 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Carmel Mountain Preserve San Diego (Carmel Valley) 3.1 miles 348 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Cedar Creek Falls (via Julian) Julain 5.2 miles 1150 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Cedar Creek Falls (via Ramona) Ramona 6 miles 1100 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Chollas Lake San Diego 2.2 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Clevenger Canyon South San Pasqual Valley 6.4 miles 1832 feet Moderate Yes No
Clevenger Canyon North San Pasqual Valley 4.7 miles 1438 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Corte Madera Mountain Campo 7.2 miles 2543 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Cottonwood Creek Falls Mt. Laguna 1.7 miles 500 feet Moderate Yes No
Cowles Mountain San Diego (Mission Trails) 2.7 miles 915 feet Moderate Yes No
Cowles Mountain via Barker Way San Diego (Mission Trails) 2.9 miles 911 feet Moderate Yes Partial
Cowles Mountain via Big Rock Park Santee (Mission Trails) 5 miles 1428 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Crest Canyon Del Mar 2.2 miles 316 feet Easy Yes No
Crestridge Ecological Reserve – Valley View Truck Trail Crest 3.3 miles 450 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Cuyamaca Peak Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 5 miles 1539 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Cuyamaca Peak and Conejos Trail Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 7.5 miles 2976 feet Moderately Strenuous Partial Partial
Del Dios Gorge Rancho Santa Fe 4 miles 550 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Del Dios Highlands Preserve Escondido 2.6 miles 910 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Del Mar Mesa Preserve San Diego (Carmel Valley) 4.5 miles 420 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Denk Mountain (Rancho La Costa Preserve) Carlsbad 3.5 miles 690 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Dictionary Hill Open Space Preserve Spring Valley 2.1 miles 565 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Doane Valley Nature Trail Palomar Mountain State Park 1 mile 150 feet Easy No No
Double Peak San Marcos 4.25 miles 1023 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Dust Devil Nature Trail Del Mar 1.75 miles 85 feet Easy Yes No
Dyar Spring/Juaquapin Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 6.7 miles 981 feet Moderate No No
Eagle Peak Descanso 4.4 miles 1142 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Eagle Peak Preserve Julian 3.6 miles 850 feet Moderate Yes No
Eagle Rock Warner Springs 6.5 miles 988 feet Easy – Moderate Yes No
East Shepherd Canyon San Diego (Tierrasanta) 2.6 miles 310 feet Easy Yes Yes
El Cajon Mountain (“El Cap”) Lakeside 11 miles 4000 feet Strenuous Yes Yes
El Monte Park Trail Lakeside 4.3 miles 1365 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Engelmann Oak Loop Escondido (Daley Ranch) 5 miles 1100 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Equine Incline Loop/Mount Israel Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve (Escondido) 5.3 miles 1340 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Famosa Slough San Diego (Point Loma Heights) 1.3 miles Negligible Moderate Yes Yes
Felicita County Park Rancho Santa Fe .8 miles 122 feet Easy Yes Yes
Florida Canyon San Diego (Balboa Park) 1.8 miles 243 feet Easy Yes Yes
Foster Point Mt. Laguna 1.3 miles 188 feet Easy Yes No
Fry Creek Trail Palomar Mountain 1.7 miles 350 feet Easy Yes Yes
Garnet Peak Mt. Laguna 1.7 miles 530 feet Moderate Yes No
Garnet Peak (via Pioneer Mail Picnic Area) Mt. Laguna 6 miles 1400 feet Moderate Yes No
Ghost Mountain Anza-Borrego State Park 1.5 miles 570 feet Easy No No
Gonzales Canyon Del Mar 2.9 miles 436 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve Poway 6.9 miles 1630 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Guajome Regional Park Oceanside 4 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Guatay Mountain Pine Valley 6 miles 1600 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Harper Creek Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 3.3 miles 350 feet Easy No No
Harvey Moore/East Side Trail Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 10.4 miles 2030 feet Moderately Strenuous No No
Heller’s Bend Preserve Fallbrook 1.9 miles 530 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Hellhole Canyon Preserve Valley Center 9.3 miles 2314 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Highland Valley Trail Escondido 4.2 miles 373 feet Easy Yes Yes
Historic Flume Trail Lakeside 1.5 miles 385 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Hollenbeck Canyon Jamul 4.8 miles 775 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Horsethief Canyon Alpine 3.6 miles 613 feet Moderate Yes No
Hosp Grove Carlsbad 1.7 miles 378 feet Easy – Moderate Ye Yes
Inaja Nature Trail Santa Ysabel .5 mile 109 feet Easy Yes Yes
Indian Creek Loop Mt. Laguna 8.7 miles 1218 feet Moderate Yes No
Iron Mountain Poway 6 miles 1530 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Iron Mountain/Ellie Lane Loop Poway 8.8 miles 2250 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Jack Creek Meadow Loop Escondido (Daley Ranch) 5.7 miles 610 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Jerry Schad Memorial Trail San Diego (Balboa Park) 2.6 miles 187 feet Easy Yes Yes
Kanaka Flat Loop Julian (Santa Ysabel Preserve – East) 7.4 miles 1050 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Kelly Ditch Trail Julian/Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 11.2 miles 2390 feet Moderately Strenuous Partial Partial
Kitchen Creek Falls Buckman Springs 4.7 miles 912 feet Moderate Yes No
Kitchen Creek Falls (via Kitchen Creek Road) Buckman Springs 3.6 miles 620 feet Moderate Yes No
Knott Grove San Diego (Mira Mesa) 4.75 miles 285 feet Easy Yes Yes
Kumeyaay Lake San Diego (Mission Trails) 1.9 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Kwaay Paay Peak San Diego (Mission Trails) 2.5 miles 900 feet Moderate Yes No
Kwaaymii Point Mt. Laguna 1.6 miles 246 feet Easy Yes No
Kwaaymii Trail Mt. Laguna .45 miles 335 feet Easy Yes No
La Cima Trail/Soapstone Loop Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 8 miles 1044 feet Moderate No Yes
Laguna to Cuyamaca Mt. Laguna 12.75 miles 1591 feet Moderately Strenuous No Partial
Laguna Meadow Loop Mt. Laguna 7.9 miles 590 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lake Hodges Escondido 9.6 miles 559 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lake Hodges West Escondido 7 miles 500 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lake Jennings Lakeside 5.4 miles 337 feet Easy No No
Lake Poway Poway 2.7 miles 575 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lakeside Linkage Preserve Lakeside 2.6 miles 650 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lakeside River Park Lakeside 2.3 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Lopez Canyon San Diego (Sorrento Valley) 3 miles 110 feet Easy Yes Yes
Los Jilgueros Preserve Fallbrook 1.3 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve (East) San Diego (Mira Mesa) 6.3 miles 190 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve (West) San Diego (Sorrento Valley) 7.4 miles 300 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Los Pinos Peak Campo 7.3 miles 1540 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Love Valley Meadow Palomar Mountain 3 mile 396 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Louis Stelzer County Park Lakeside 2.9 miles 709 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Lucky 5/PCT Loop Anza-Borrego Desert State Park 2.7 miles 332 feet Easy No Partial
Lute Ridge Anza-Borrego State Park 2.8 miles 300 feet Easy No No
Manchester Preserve Encinitas 1.85 miles 351 feet Easy Yes No
Marsh Trail and Desert Overlook Anza-Borrego State Park 1.5 miles 350 feet Easy – Moderate No No
McGinty Mountain Jamul 5 miles 1400 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Middle Peak Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 7.9 miles 1560 feet Moderate No Yes
Mission Trails – South and North Fortuna San Diego (Mission Trails) 7.6 miles 2542 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Monserate Mountain Fallbrook 3.2 miles 1150 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Monument Peak Mt. Laguna 5.5 miles 1000 feet Moderate Yes No
Monument Peak (via Desert View Picnic Area) Mt. Laguna 2.9 miles 600 feet Moderate Yes No
Moonlight Canyon Anza-Borrego State Park 1.5 miles 394 feet Easy – Moderate No No
Morteros Trail Anza-Borrego State Park 1 mile Negligible Very Easy No No
Mornea Butte Campo 8.8 miles 1902 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Morrison Pond Bonita .8 mile Negligible Very Easy Yes No
Mother Miguel Mountain (“The Rock House”) Chula Vista 4.1 miles 1030 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Mount Calavera Carlsbad 3.4 miles 459 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Mount Gower Open Space Preserve – Southern Viewpoint Ramona 10.3 miles 3193 feet Strenuous Yes Yes
Mount Woodson via Highway 67 Ramona 5.6 miles 1500 feet Moderate Yes No
Mount Woodson via Lake Poway Poway 7.5 miles 2980 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Mountain Palm Springs Anza-Borrego State Park 3 miles 597 feet Easy – Moderate No No
Mule Hill Trail to Old Coach Escondido 6.3 miles 200 feet Easy Yes Yes
Noble Canyon Mt. Laguna 10.3 miles 650 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
North Fortuna Mountain via Oak Canyon San Diego (Mission Trails) 5.4 miles 1340 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Oak Grove to High Point Palomar Mountain 13.9 miles 3600 feet Strenuous Yes Yes
Oak Grove Loop and Visitor Center Loop San Diego (Mission Trails) 2.9 miles 300 feet Easy Yes Yes
Oakoasis Preserve Lakeside 2.5 miles 600 feet Easy Yes No
Oakzanita Peak Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 6 miles 1530 feet Moderate No No
Oakzanita Peak Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 9.2 miles 1385 feet Moderate No No
Oasis Spring Mt. Laguna 1.7 miles 425 feet Easy – Moderate Yes No
Observatory Trail Palomar Mountain 4 miles 891 feet Moderate Ye Yes
Old Coach to Raptor Ridge Escondido 4.7 miles 484 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Otay Lakes County Park Chula Vista 1 mile 320 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Otay Valley Delta San Diego (South Bay) 1.1 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Otay Valley Regional Park San Diego (South Bay) 5 miles 415 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Palm Canyon Anza-Borrego State Park 3.25 miles 655 feet Easy No No
Pictograph Trail Anza-Borrego State Park 2.9 miles Negligible Easy No No
Piedras Pintadas and Bernardo Bay Escondido 5.15 miles 500 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Pine Mountain Loop Mt. Laguna 4.9 miles 785 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Pyles Peak San Diego (Mission Trails) 5.9 miles 1862 feet Moderate Yes No
Quarry Loop Trail San Diego (Mission Trails) 1.6 miles 325 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Ramona Grasslands Preserve Ramona 3.5 miles 430 feet Easy Yes Yes
Rancho Carrillo/Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park Carlsbad 1.75 miles 191 feet Easy No Yes
Rancho Mission Canyon San Diego (San Carlos) 4.9 miles 496 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Rice Canyon Chula Vista 3.6 miles 280 feet Easy Yes Yes
Ridgeline Trail (Rancho La Costa Preserve) Carlsbad 2.9 miles 630 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Rim Trail San Diego (Mission Trails) 4.1 miles 568 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Rock Mountain Fallbrook 1.2 miles 886 feet Moderate Yes No
Rose Canyon San Diego (University City) 5.5 miles 450 feet Easy Yes Yes
Ruffin Canyon San Diego (Serra Mesa) 2.4 miles 297 feet Moderate Yes No
San Clemente Canyon San Diego (North Clairemont) 4.6 miles 223 feet Easy Yes Yes
SD National Wildlife Refuge – Par 4 Trail Rancho San Diego 3.3 miles 339 feet Easy Yes Yes
SD National Wildlife Refuge – Sweetwater River Trail Rancho San Diego 2.3 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
San Dieguito Lagoon Del Mar 2.8 miles Negligible Easy Yes Partial
San Elijo Lagoon Solana Beach 8.1 miles 530 feet Easy Yes No
San Pasqual to Ysabel Creek Escondido 5.5 miles 245feet Easy Yes Yes
Santa Fe Valley Trail Rancho Santa Fe 3.6 miles 488 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Santa Ysabel East Preserve Santa Ysabel 7.4 miles 950 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Santa Ysabel West Preserve Santa Ysabel 5.8 miles 1323 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Scripps Coastal Reserve San Diego (La Jolla) .5 mile Negligible Easy No No
Silvercrest Loop Palomar Mountain State Park 1.4 miles 275 feet Easy No No
Simon County Preserve Ramona 3.5 miles 750 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Sloan Canyon Jamul 4.5 miles 887 feet Moderate Yes Yes
South Fortuna Mountain San Diego (Mission Trails) 5.4 miles 1296 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes No
Stanley Peak Escondido (Daley Ranch) 7.25 miles 1535 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Stonewall Creek and Soapstone Grade Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 9 miles 1045 feet Moderate No Yes
Stonewall Peak Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 4 miles 840 feet Moderate No No
Stonewall Peak Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 5 miles 1085 feet Moderate No No
Sunset Trail/Big Laguna Loop Mt. Laguna 7.2 miles 970 feet Moderate Yes Partial
Sweetwater River Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 7.9 miles 700 feet Moderate No No
Sycuan Peak Jamul 2.15 miles 743 feet Moderate Yes No
Tecolote Canyon (North) San Diego (North Clairemont) 4.2 miles 450 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Tecolote Canyon (South) San Diego (Bay Park) 6.75 miles 750 feet Easy – Moderate Yes Yes
Thunder Spring and Chimney Flats Loop Palomar Mountain State Park 3.85 miles 830 feet Moderate No No
Tijuana Estuary Imperial Beach 4.2 miles Negligible Easy Partial Partial
Tijuana Estuary – North Coast Trail Imperial Beach 2.0 miles Negligible Easy Yes No
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Northeast) San Diego (South Bay) 5 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Tijuana River Valley Regional Park (Southwest) San Diego (South Bay) 4 miles Negligible Easy Yes Yes
Torrey Pines San Diego (Del Mar Heights) 5.0 miles 945 feet Easy – Moderate No No
Torrey Pines Extension San Diego (Del Mar Heights) 4.3 miles 743 feet Easy – Moderate No No
Twin Peaks Poway 2.15 miles 745 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Viejas Mountain Alpine 3 miles 1474 feet Moderately Strenuous Yes Yes
Volcan Mountain Julian 5.2 miles 1200 feet Moderate Yes Partial
Volcanic Hills Loop Anza-Borrego State Park 7.8 miles 598 feet Moderate No Yes
Walker Preserve Trail Santee 2.4 miles Negligible feet Easy Yes Yes
Way Up Trail/Lake Hodges Overlook Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve (Escondido) 7.1 miles 1542 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Weir Trail/French Valley Trail Palomar Mountain State Park 3.9 miles 745 feet Easy No No
West Mesa Loop Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 6.6 miles 1280 feet Moderate No Partial
West Side Road Ramona 4.7 miles 920 feet Moderate Yes Yes
West Sycamore San Diego (Mission Trails) 7.2 miles 1275 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Wilderness Gardens Preserve Pala 3.75 miles 340 feet Easy – Moderate No No
William Heise County Park Julian 3.2 miles 800 feet Moderate Yes Yes
Wooded Hill Trail Mt. Laguna 1.6 miles 335 feet Easy Yes No
Yaqui Well Nature Trail Anza-Borrego State Park 1.8 miles 243 feet Easy No No
Ysabel Creek to Raptor Ridge Escondido 4.4 miles 540 feet Moderate Yes Yes

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Hiking trails in and around San Diego County