This list of the best hikes in San Diego is brought to you by Wild Zora, the makers of paleo bars that take you the distance for all of your favorite outdoor adventures.
Home to idyllic year-round weather, miles of sparkling coastline, and a myriad of cultural attractions—there’s no doubt why San Diego is one of the most visited destinations in the U.S. Thanks to its unique confluence of climate conditions, San Diego happens to be a region of incredibly diverse plant and animal life. And, believe it or not, San Diego is home to several species of flora and fauna that are not found anywhere else in the world!
Heading out for a hike is one of the best ways to enjoy San Diego’s incredible biodiversity—from rugged coastline and intertidal wetlands to pine-covered mountains and high desert wilderness. The San Diego area offers dozens of hikes for a wide range of abilities. Here are our picks for some of the best hikes in San Diego.
1. Mission Trails Regional Park Trails—Cowles Mountain
Tucked into the rugged hills and valleys just northeast of downtown San Diego, Mission Trails Regional Park is one of the city’s most easily accessible recreation areas. This 7,220-acre preserve offers many hiking trails for a quick nature fix from the urban hustle, and its 65-mile trail system makes it a popular destination for hikes in San Diego and mountain bikers of all levels.
Cowles Mountain is the highest point in the city of San Diego and one of the park’s most popular destinations. A well-traveled trail begins in the San Carlos neighborhood and reaches the summit after a 950-foot climb over 1.5 miles. From the top, hikers will enjoy 360-degree views of downtown San Diego and beyond into Mexico on a clear day. It’s not uncommon for the trail to see a couple hundred hikers in a day, so opt for the lesser-traveled hike from the Barker Way Trailhead if you’re looking for more solitude.
Camping is only allowed in the park on Friday and Saturday evenings, so make a weekend out of it and grab one of the camp spots at the Kumeyaay Lake Campground. On weekdays, you’ll find plenty of other options for camping near San Diego.
Getting there: The main Cowles Mountain Trailhead is located on the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road in San Diego’s San Carlos neighborhood. The trailhead parking lot tends to fill early, but street parking is available in the adjacent neighborhood.
2. Torrey Pines State Reserve Razor Point and Beach Loop
Torrey Pines State Reserve is one of the wildest stretches of coastal scenery on the Southern California coast. The reserve protects a fragile coastal environment including one of the rarest pine species in the United States – the Torrey Pine. Hiking is a great way to experience the park and the Razor Point and Beach Loop is one of the park’s most popular hikes.
This 1.9-mile beach trail leads hikers to a dramatic overlook of the eroding coastal cliffs before descending to the wide-open Torrey Pines Beach where you can wander among the shore. No overnight camping is permitted at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, but camping is available north of the reserve at San Elijo State Beach.
Getting there: Torrey Pines State Reserve is located 16 miles north of San Diego off of Interstate-5. The Razor Point Trail begins near the Visitor Center parking area.
3. The Big Laguna—Pacific Crest Trail Loop
This 10-mile loop passes through the pine forests and wide open meadows of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area before connecting to a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which hugs the eastern edge of the Laguna Mountains providing expansive views of the Anza-Borrego Desert in the distance. The trail is moderately strenuous due to the length, but hikers should also be prepared for modest elevation gain and rocky terrain. Wildflowers are spectacular on this trail in spring and the contrast of pine forest and desert on this hike really showcases San Diego’s rich biodiversity. The Laguna and Burnt Rancheria Campgrounds provide easy access to both the Big Laguna and Pacific Crest Trail.
Getting there: The Big Laguna Trail is accessed via the Sunrise highway, about 60 miles east of downtown San Diego.
4. Mount Woodson Trail—Potato Chip Rock
Potato Chip Rock is one of the San Diego area’s most photographed geological wonders. This thin sliver of rock juts out of the mountain along the Mt. Woodson Trail, and resembles a huge potato chip balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. This somewhat challenging 7-mile round-trip hike contains several steep segments and ascends nearly 2,000 feet to Potato Chip Rock. Hikers can continue past Potato Chip Rock to the summit of Mt. Woodson for gorgeous views of Lake Poway and the surrounding area.
Getting there: Potato Chip Rock is located in the city of Poway, about 30 miles north of downtown San Diego. Find Mt. Woodson Trailhead in the Lake Poway Recreation Area on the west side of the lake. Non-Poway residents must pay a parking fee on weekends and holidays.
5. William Heise County Park—Canyon Oak Trail
Image by the Dyrt camper Berton M.
William Heise County Park is a peaceful nature park in the Laguna Mountains, located about 90 minutes northeast of San Diego. The short, 1.25-mile Canyon Oak Trail winds through oak and pine forest offering lovely panoramas of the high desert region. Canyon Oak Trail is a great family-friendly option or you can make your outing more strenuous by tacking on the 2.25-mile Desert View Trail before looping back to the trailhead via the Canyon Oak Trail.
Getting there: Follow the main road through the William Heise Campground to a small parking area on your right designated “Canyon Oak Trail Parking Day Use.” The Canyon Oak Trail begins across the road from the parking area.
6. Lake Calavera Loop Trail
The Lake Calavera Preserve is a wonderful nature preserve in the midst of Carlsbad suburbia, featuring miles of trails and routes for all levels of hiker. The 1.9-mile Lake Loop Trail follows the shoreline of the man-made Lake Calvera passing through a coastal sage scrub habitat home to a great diversity of birds. Make the hike longer or shorter by taking any number of spur trails including the jaunt to the top of Mount Calvera, the remnant of an ancient volcano. Part of the lake trail is paved and other parts are dirt and rocky making it a great choice for hikers of all abilities. Camping is available nearby at Carlsbad State Beach.
Getting there: Start from the Lake Calavera Trailhead off of Tamarack Avenue on the eastern side of Carlsbad. Parking is available along the road and there is a large trail map near the restrooms by the dam.
This list of the best hikes in San Diego is brought to you by Wild Zora
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