San Diego is the perfect place to get outdoors and explore with a hike! There are lots of great hiking trails in San Diego for a variety of hikers. Here are the top 5 hiking trails in San Diego, which are great for adults, kids, and dogs as well.
1.) Oak Canyon to Grasslands Trail
2.) Cowles Mountain from Barker Way
3.) Sunset Cliffs Park Trail
4.) Grasslands Loop Trail
5.) San Dieguito River via Coast to Crest Trail
Oak Canyon to Grasslands Trail
The Oak Canyon to Grasslands Trail is a very popular San Diego-area trail for runners, hikers, and birdwatchers. You’ll find a stream and waterfalls along the path, along with wildflowers and native trees. It’s a great spot to get out and enjoy San Diego nature!
Address: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Mileage: 3.7 miles
Loop Trail
Terrain: The trail is packed dirt that may be hard for wheelchairs and strollers to navigate.
Difficulty: This is a moderately challenging trail
Open year-round: Yes
Miles from downtown San Diego: 12.4 miles from downtown San Diego
Pet-friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be leashed. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. There is some elevation gain, so you may want to take it slow with smaller children, or bring a backpack to carry them. Kids can look for wildflowers, enjoy the stream, and watch for local wildlife along the trail.
Cowles Mountain from Barker Way
The Cowles Mountain from Barker Way Trail is a somewhat challenging trail, with over 800 feet of elevation gain. You’ll get great city views, along with views of the surrounding mountains. It’s a popular trail for hikers, runners, and mountain bikers, so you’ll probably meet others along your hike.
Address: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Mileage: 2.3 miles
In and Out Trail
Terrain: This trail is packed dirt. It’s a hard trail to navigate with a wheelchair or stroller.
Difficulty: This is considered a moderately challenging trail.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown San Diego: 12.4 miles from downtown San Diego
Pet friendly? This trail does allow dogs on a leash. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail, although it will be challenging for smaller children. You may want to take it slow, or have a pack to carry them if they get tired.
(photo courtesy of AllTrails)
Sunset Cliffs Park Trail
The Sunset Cliffs Park Trail will give you amazing ocean views, and is a popular spot for other hikers and bikers. It’s also a fun spot to bring a dog on a nice, sunny day. This is an easy trail, without a lot of elevation gain, so it should be manageable for kids as well as adults.
Address: Ladera St, San Diego, CA 92107
Mileage: 1 mile
In and Out Trail
Terrain: Sunset Cliffs is mostly a packed dirt trail, with some boardwalk as well. It would be challenging to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair.
Difficulty: This is considered an easy trail.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown San Diego: 9.2 miles from downtown San Diego
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, and they can even be off-leash in some areas.
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. Kids will love exploring the beach and the nearby cliffs.
Grasslands Loop Trail
The Grasslands Loop Trail is popular with birdwatchers, hikers, and runners. It’s a somewhat challenging route, with some elevation gain. It follows a stream and has some tree cover, so you shouldn’t get too hot hiking here, but bring plenty of water and sun protection nonetheless.
Address: 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA 92119
Mileage: 4.3 miles
Loop Trail
Terrain: This is a packed dirt trail. It would be hard for a wheelchair or stroller to navigate this trail.
Difficulty: This is considered a moderately challenging trail.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown San Diego: 12.4 miles from downtown San Diego
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail. They need to be on a leash, and don’t forget to pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. Some smaller children may have trouble with the length of the trail, but you can always cut it short or carry them in a hiking backpack.
San Dieguito River via Coast to Crest Trail
The San Dieguito River via Coast to Crest Trail follows the river, passing a historic adobe farmstead, an interpretive site, and plenty of overlooks and scenic viewpoints. It’s a popular trail, and you may find other hikers, bikers, or runners on the trail.
Address: 18448 W Bernardo Dr, San Diego, CA 92127
Mileage: 2.8 miles
In and Out Trail
Terrain: This is a packed dirt trail that would be hard for wheelchairs or strollers to manage on a hike.
Difficulty: This is considered an easy trail.
Open year-round? Yes
Miles from downtown San Diego: 26.5 miles from downtown San Diego
Pet friendly? Yes, dogs are allowed on this trail, but must be leashed. Be sure to bring bags and pick up after your pet!
Kid-friendly? This is a kid-friendly trail. Kids can look for local wildflowers and wildlife along the trail as they walk, and enjoy views of the river.
San Diego Trails
There are some great choices for San Diego hiking trails! From exploring the area’s canyons to hikes with views of the ocean, you’ll be surrounded by amazing scenery on the trails in the area. Be sure to bring plenty of water along, and wear sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from California’s sun.
RV Camping in San Diego
RV camping in San Diego is a popular pastime, and you’ll find lots of choices both along the beaches, at state parks, and at private campgrounds in the area! Some of these RV campgrounds in San Diego have nearby freeway access or are close to area beaches. Many also have swimming pools or other amenities. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is nearby and is a great place to camp where you can enjoy the trees and mountains east of San Diego.
RV Rentals in San Diego
There are plenty of RVshare rentals in San Diego, and you’ll have a variety of options for your trip! Class B campervans are popular for surfers heading out solo or with another person. Class C campers are a good option for families, and fifth-wheel trailers or Class A motorhomes provide the most room for everyone.
Other Things To Do in San Diego
There are lots of things to do in San Diego along with hiking! Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California, and you can explore the desert plant and animal life in the park. Joshua Tree National Park is about three hours northeast of San Diego and has more desert life to investigate along with hiking and rock climbing. San Diego also has plenty of excellent beaches like Silver Strand State Beach and Torrey Pines State Beach.
The San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego are great experiences for the whole family, and at night you can take a stroll along the Gaslamp Quarter downtown for charming shops and restaurants.
Enjoy your time in southern California exploring San Diego’s beautiful hiking trails!
