10 Best Hikes in San Diego (Local’s Guide)
Are you looking for the best hiking trails in San Diego? Because of the low elevation and moderate terrain, “America’s finest city” is a fantastic hiking destination.
We lived in San Diego for 10 years and it’s where our hiking journey began.
It started with easy dog-friendly trails like Balboa Park and Mission Bay, and escalated to the more challenging ones like Three Sisters and Potato Chip Rock.
Hiking in Mission Trails - San Diego
Best Hikes in San Diego
In order of least difficult to most difficult, this is a list of the best hikes in San Diego! We’ll also note if these are dog-friendly hikes in San Diego too.
1) Sunset Cliffs Park Trail - San Diego
Neighborhood: Ocean Beach
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 1.0 mi
Dogs allowed: yes
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If you are looking for an easy trail with amazing views of the Pacific Ocean, look no further than Sunset Cliffs Park Trail.
The entire trail offers views of the ocean with waves crashing against the beach and cliffs. The city has recently completed a restoration project to add more flowering plants and reinforce the cliffs giving this roadside trail more of a nature feel.
As you can guess from the name, Sunset Cliffs Park Trail offers some of the best sunset views in San Diego (or the world for that matter).
The combination of an amazing sunset spot and a very popular city means that the trail gets busy leading up to sunset. Get there early and snag a bench to watch the sun fall behind the ocean. You might even be lucky enough to see the elusive green flash on a clear day.
For any adventurous members of your group, there are a few sections of the cliffs with cables leading down to the beach and into caves.
Do not try to access the caves until you know when the tide is negative, not low, but actually negative (ideally at least -1.0).
You can find the top of Sunset Cliffs Cave by putting “Luscomb’s Point” into Google Maps, but you will need to do a little more internet research to find where you access the cables so you can safely get down. *Always use caution when going up and down the cables as the steep sandstone cliffs are not stable.
2) Annie’s Canyon Trail
Neighborhood: Solana Beach
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 2.2 miles
Dogs allowed: yes
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Did you know San Diego had a slot canyon? Right off the beach in Solana Beach is a short hike to a pretty impressive slot canyon.
There isn’t much elevation gain so most people should be able to easily hike this trail and get a taste of stepping into a slot canyon. While nothing compared to those in Southern Utah, it is still quite impressive.
The actual slot canyon itself is one-way only so you don’t have to worry about trying to skinny your way through people once inside the narrow walls.
Because this slot canyon is rare, it has gained quite a bit of attention. You’ll want to get to the trailhead early and avoid weekends altogether unless you like standing in Disney-style lines.
↳ Related: California’s best slot canyon near Palm Springs
3) Balboa Park Loop
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 4.5 mi loop
Dogs allowed: yes
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The Balboa Park Loop is another easy trail that we spent many days on during our time in San Diego. The trail gives you a nice tour of San Diego’s most iconic park and the surrounding neighborhood.
About half of the trail is on sidewalks along the road and half is on paths through Balboa Park.
While the overall trail is easy and mostly flat, there are a few sections with steeper hills as you enter and exit Florida Canyon. Florida Canyon is our favorite part of the park because of the diversity of plants and wildlife.
If you have time, I recommend spending a half or full day in Balboa Park enjoying everything it has to offer. The west side of the park is filled with museums, fountains, and gardens.
If you are visiting in March, check out the Japanese Friendship Garden with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. The Japanese Friendship Garden is not dog friendly, so leave your pup at home if you plan on checking it out.
4) Torrey Pines Beach Trail
Neighborhood: La Jolla
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 3.3 mile loop
Dogs allowed: no
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Loved by locals and visitors alike, Torrey Pines State Reserve has something for anyone looking to get some fresh ocean air.
Our favorite way to enjoy Torrey Pines is by hiking the trail from the top parking lot down to the beach and back up.
This trail has some stairs and a few switchbacks, making it one of the more challenging of the easy San Diego hikes. The challenge is worth it as the stairs lead you down to a gorgeous beach.
Make sure you check the tide schedule before you start your hike because the beach is inaccessible and potentially dangerous during high tide.
The loop trail has a few spurs along the way for you. Check these out because they offer great angles for photos to catch the cliffs and the waves crashing below. Be careful if you choose to walk along the edge because the rocks can be slick.
Keep in mind that Torrey Pines Beach Trail is only easy if you park at the top.
The parking fee for the top varies from $15-25 depending on the season. There is some free parking along the side of the road just before the entrance; but you will have walk a bit further to get to the actual trails.
5) Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail
Neighborhood: Mira Mesa
Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 6.8 mile loop
Dogs allowed: yes
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Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail is a great option for someone looking for a longer easy hike. The 6.8 mile total distance might be intimidating, but the trail is flat and easy terrain.
The canyon has a few trails to choose from that run parallel to each other, and they all lead to the “waterfall”. Waterfall is in quotes because it is more of a cascading river than a huge drop. Nevertheless, the waterfall is a great place to cool off and relax half way through your hike.
Make sure you bring plenty of water (2 L per person). While there are some trees, most of the hike will be exposed to the hot San Diego sun.
Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail is popular for runners and bikers, especially on the weekends. If you are hiking during a peak time, stay to the right to allow the faster traffic to pass on the left.
Parking at the trailhead costs $3. If you don’t have any cash on you, you can park on the opposite side of Black Mountain Road and walk the extra 1/4 mile to the trailhead.
➜ Read next: 8 Stunning San Diego Sunset Spots
6) Black Mountain - Miner’s Ridge Trail
Location: Rancho Peñasquitos
Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
Hiking distance: 4.3 miles
Dogs allowed: yes
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Black Mountain is similar to Cowles Mountain Trail, but without the crowds.
There are quite a few trails that lead up to Black Mountain but our favorite way is to start by taking Miner’s Ridge Loop, which is accessed off Carmel Mountain Road. Here is a map of all the trails around Black Mountain.
The views along the entire trail are beautiful and expansive. This trail is also a lot more lush than those in Mission Trails. Parking is free here and usually not too crowded unless you go mid-day on a weekend.
7) Cowles Mountain
Neighborhood: La Mesa
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking distance: 3.0 miles
Dogs allowed: yes
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Cowles Mountain is probably the second most known hike in San Diego after Torrey Pines, and for good reason.
It’s only 15 min from the city and it’s a quick, yet challenging 3.0 miles that will reward you with 360 degree views from the top!
I recommend getting here early because even though there is a lot of free parking right off the road, there have been times when we’ve had to park a quarter mile from the trailhead.
The trail is also fairly narrow, and because it is an out-and-back trail it can start to feel like an ant hill if you are hiking past 10am.
One of the best and more memorable ways to hike Cowles Mountain is at night, during a full moon. You feel like you’re sitting on top of the world with the moon lighting up the city below you.
8) Three Sisters Falls
Location: Julian
Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking distance: 4.1 miles
Dogs allowed: not recommended
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The best waterfall hike in San Diego has to be Three Sisters Falls.
It takes about an hour and 20 min to get here, and you’ll have to drive down a gravel road for the last few miles, but it is well worth the ride!
While this hike isn’t too long, it will have you using ropes to traverse down large boulders and scaling up the side of steep rock walls. Because of this, it is not recommend to take small children or dogs on this hike.
At the peak of the hike, you will have scaled up the granite wall to see all Three Sisters waterfalls and I highly recommend jumping in the pool of the highest waterfall (or I think it doesn’t officially count).
You will need to buy a Southern California Adventure day pass (Big 5 in San Diego or Perkins Market in Descanso) or show your America the Beautiful pass to park in this area.
9) South Fortuna - Mission Trails
Location: La Mesa
Hiking distance: 6.0 miles
Elevation Change: 1500 ft
Dogs allowed: yes
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We have summited all 5 peaks in Mission Trail Park, but our most favorite hike in San Diego is summiting South Fortuna via the Fortuna Saddle Trail.
There are a few trailhead options, but we prefer the one close to the visitor center as you get to cross a creek and then hop right onto the main trail.
This hike is so beautiful the entire way, even along the brutal stairway to heaven that literally takes our breath away every time!
Once you’ve summited South Fortuna, you can continue on another half mile to also summit North Fortuna. The views aren’t much different, but it’s a great workout and you can say you bagged two peaks in one day!
Make sure you bring plenty of water as this hike is very exposed and dry.
Additionally, dogs are allowed on this trail, but keep in mind rattlesnakes are prominent in this area so you’ll want to keep your pup on a leash.
I also recommend stopping by the Mission Trails Visitor Center if you’ve never been, it’s actually very beautiful with great exhibits.
10) Potato Chip Rock
Location: Poway
Hiking distance: 7.4 miles
Elevation Change: 2109 ft
Dogs allowed: yes
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Potato Chip Rock is definitely one of the more unique rock formations in San Diego that draws hikers from all over the county to hike this is a very difficult hike yet rewarding trail.
You don’t have to wait until the peak to be rewarded with incredible mountain and lake views either.
Please keep in mind this trail is exposed to the sun the entire hike and gets very hot on the trail during the summer months. Plan to go early to avoid the heat and large crowds. It’s also recommended for each person to bring at 2L of water, and if you’re taking your pup bring extra water for them.
Parking at Lake Poway is free during the week, but on weekends and holidays, it's $10 for non-Poway residents.
Additional Hikes in San Diego:
Cedar Creek Falls - Julian: moderate 5.6 mi, 1049’ elevation gain, permit needed
Rock House Trail - Chula Vista: moderate 4.5 mi, 1040’ elevation gain
Double Peak Trail - San Marcos: moderate 4mi, 1036’ elevation gain
Hiking Essentials - San Diego
Hiking shoes: the mens and womens Altra Lone Peaks are our favorite
Hydration Pack: a 20-25L backpack like his Gregory 25L and her Osprey 20L are ideal for day hikes
Trekking Poles: save your knees and back with these carbon fiber poles that are incredible for the price
Sun hat: the best hiking hat you’ll ever own
Sunscreen: Coola is our go-to lightweight sunscreen that stays on throughout sweaty hikes
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