SAN DIEGO HIKING
Join Hike Bike Kayak for the best of
hiking in San Diego! Most of our hikes are at Torrey Pines State
Reserve or
Mission Trails Regional Park.
Torrey Pines State Reserve: a wilderness island in an urban sea. This fragile 2000 acre environment is also the home of our nation’s rarest pine tree - Pinus torreyana. As the sea rose and fell over the past million years, shelves or marine terraces were cut into the sandstone at various levels and other sediments were deposited on these shelves. The results of this process have made it accurate to describe a large part of the Reserve as a set of shelves or ancient beaches. The views combine wind bent trees, abstract sandstone formations, wildflowers, and the sea or lagoon below, all of which are constantly changing. Many artists and photographers come to enjoy and capture the flavor of the changing seasons and weather. Dramatic views are plentiful from areas of the hiking trails which parallel the bluff edge high above the sea and several viewing platforms have been built right at the bluff edge. They are excellent sites for observing the yearly migration of the
Gray Whales as well as the year-round spectacle of dolphins. This hike is typically 2.5 hours long on beautiful beach trails. Mission Trails Regional Park, a 5,800-acre park, is one of the largest urban parks in the US. In 1960, the concept of this urban park was formalized following a transfer of surplus to the city of San Diego. This gave way to the preservation of some of the last remaining open space which lies very close to downtown San Diego.
The many peaks of Mission Trails Regional Park
accommodate all levels of hikers! Leisure hikers will start at the Old Mission Dam, which was built between 1807 and 1816 under the direction of the San Diego Mission. This dam supplied water to the mission at the east end of Mission Valley. Hikers will cross over the San Diego River on an iron footbridge and hike along the Oak Canyon Trail. Wildlife is abundant in Mission Trails Regional Park. Participants may see cottontail rabbits, deer, coyote, quail and many many different types of birds. You can hike to the top of Cowles Mountain, the Highest Peak in Mission Trails (1,590 ft) and witness views to the Lagunas in the East, Mexico to the South and the Coronado Islands to the West. Equally as challenging, the hike to the top of Fortuna Mountain gives one a great view of Mission Trails Regional Park. This 4.8 mile hike includes 900 feet of elevation gain.
La Jolla Walking Tour
Cowles Mountain
Fortuna Mountain
Mount Woodson
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