7 Amazing Dog Friendly Hikes in San Diego (Locals Guide)

Oct 29

San Diego is a very dog friendly city, and the hiking trails are no different. Whether you are an avid hiker with an adventure dog or you just want a nice trail for a stroll with your pup, San Diego has you covered.

After living in San Diego for ten years, we’ve explored our favorite hikes near San Diego and are now sharing our favorite dog-friendly hikes in San Diego from incredible off-leash hiking trails to the most amazing dog-friendly beach trails.

We will also give you some tips for hiking with dogs in the hot San Diego sun and share our favorite dog hiking gear.

Dog-Friendly Hikes San Diego

There are countless places to hike with your dog around San Diego, here are our favorite seven dog-friendly hikes:

Keep reading for more info on each of these hikes including location, difficulty and tips.

Tips - Dog Friendly Hikes

The largest obstacle for hiking with dogs in San Diego is the hot southern California sun.

Dogs don’t sweat, so it is much more difficult for them to stay cool on hot days. Short-nosed dogs like pugs and bulldogs are especially susceptible to heat because they can’t breathe as well.

Start early in the morning
Bring more water than you need
Stop for breaks in the shade
Monitor your pup for potential signs of heat stroke

Best Dog Friendly Hikes - San Diego

1) Mission Bay Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 6.3 mi roundtrip (out and back)
Elevation Change: 39 ft
Neighborhood: Mission Bay

Mission Bay Trail checks in as our easiest dog friendly hike in San Diego. It is really more of a walk than a hike, but our dogs loved strolling along the bay so much that we had to include it on this list.

Yoda (our elderly pug mix) especially enjoyed a relaxing Sunday morning walk getting his paws wet and sandy.

Mission Bay Trail is an out and back, and the distance will depend on where you park and how far you want to go.

There isn’t a mountain peak or a waterfall at the pinnacle of the hike, so just enjoy the journey and turn around when you are ready. I recommend wearing shoes that you can slip on and off so you can wander off the paved path and feel the sand between your toes.

2) Fiesta Island Dog Park

Difficulty: Easy (half dog park, half hiking trail)
Hiking distance: 1-2 miles
Elevation Change: >100 ft
Neighborhood: Fiesta Island

Fiesta Island is a man-made island in Mission Bay. A 4.2 mile paved road around the island's perimeter is a great place for a run or bike ride, but the true gem of Fiesta Island is the dog park.

This is not your typical dog park. It is HUGE, and there are miles of trails to walk with your pup.

The giant off-leash area includes two larger beach areas and a few smaller beach areas.

It is truly a dog paradise with multiple trails that allow dogs to meet and play one-on-one or in small groups. This can be especially beneficial for puppies because they won’t get trampled on by a pack of big dogs playing as you get at some dog parks.

3) Cowles Mountain Trail

Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking distance: 3.0 miles
Elevation Change: 908 ft
Neighborhood: San Carlos

Cowles Mountain is the most popular hike in San Diego.

At 1,593 ft, Cowles is the tallest mountain within the city of San Diego. 3 miles might not seem like a lot, but the trail is pretty steep at points.

The consistent elevation gain on the way up will keep your heart pumping, making Cowles Mountain a popular hike for people looking to get a workout.

Cowles Mountain can be a challenging hike for dogs with short legs or bad hips. There are many large “stairs” carved into the rock that can be difficult to maneuver. If you have to lift your dog onto the couch or bed, plan on carrying your pup for a significant part of the hike.

The trail does not have any shade, so get there early to avoid the heat. If you plan on hiking Cowles Mountain on the weekend, get there EXTRA early. By 8:00 am, the small parking lot is full and cars line the streets.

4) Balboa Park Loop

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 4.5 mi loop
Elevation Change: 344 ft
Neighborhood: Hillcrest

The Balboa Park Loop 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. This is our favorite part of the park because of the diversity of plants and wildlife.

Most of the loop trail is in the sun, but there are trees throughout the park if you want to take a break in the shade.

Another great place to relax along the trail is Morley Field Dog Park. The entrance to the dog park is about a quarter mile south of the Upas St. and Florida St. intersection in the northwest corner of the Balboa Park Loop.

5) Black Mountain via Miner's Ridge Loop

Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking distance: 4.3 mile loop
Elevation Change: 797 ft
Neighborhood: Rancho Bernardo

Black Mountain is a great hike if you are looking for a good workout, but you don’t want to be around as many people as Cowles Mountain.

The 30-minute drive from downtown San Diego keeps the crowds down, but don’t expect solitude if you come during a peak time.

With a summit of over 4,000 feet, Black Mountain is much higher than the hikes within the city limits.

When hiking Black Mountain, we recommend taking summiting via Miner's Ridge Loop.

Additionally, always stay alert for mountain bikers, especially when hiking with dogs because you never know how your dog will react to a bike flying down the hill.

Bikers are supposed to yield to hikers, but this does not always happen. It is best to stay safe and keep your pup close.

6) Tecolote Canyon Trail

Difficulty: Easy
Hiking distance: 6.7 mi roundtrip out and back
Elevation Change: 419 ft
Neighborhood: Linda Vista

Tecolote Canyon Trail will always be one of our most memorable trails in San Diego because it was our daily hike during the initial pandemic lockdown.

The southern section of Tecolote Canyon Trail does not have many trees, leaving you to bake in the sun. If you are getting a late start or hiking on a hot day, you might want to skip the south part and join the trail at one of the trailheads north of Tecolote Park.

We normally use the trailhead near the USD baseball/softball complex (GPS: 32.778068, -117.181461) because it’s easy to access.

Once you are in Tecolote Canyon Preserve, there are a bunch of different trail options. The main one winds along a small river through the forest.

Arya loves the never-ending supply of sticks and all of the smells from the wildlife hiding in the trees. Keep an eye out for bobcats and snakes. While these animals are not common, this is one place in the city where wildlife can be seen.

Read next: Best Hikes in San Diego

7) Potato Chip Rock via Mt Woodson

Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking distance: 7.3 mi roundtrip out and back
Elevation Change: 2,119 ft
Neighborhood: Poway

Have you ever seen pictures of people posing on a rock shaped like a potato chip floating in the air? Potato Chip Rock at the top of Mt Woodson is probably the most insta-worthy hike in San Diego because of this captivating feature.

Unfortunately, you will have to wait in line to snap a selfie. Every time we hike Mt Woodson, there is a long line (30+ minutes) for pictures on the Potato Chip Rock.

If you avoid weekends, you might be lucky enough to get this sought-after shot without the wait. Also, parking is free during the week ($10 on the weekend).

You start off in Lake Poway Park on the Sumac Trail. At the southern tip of the lake, you will come to Lake Poway Trail which will lead you to Mt Woodson Trail. I know this sounds confusing, but follow the groups in front of you who are likely headed to Potato Chip Rock.

If all else fails, download the follow the route on AllTrails .

Once you get past the lake, the uphill climb starts. Make sure you have plenty of water because the uphill stretch is in full sun and seems to go on forever on hot days.

While the hike up is challenging, Mt Woodson offers great views of the valley below. Take your time and enjoy a snack with a view from the top before meandering down the mountain.

Hiking Gear for Dogs

Dog Water Bottle: This bottle/bowl combo carries over a 1/2 liter of water and a silicone bowl flips up for easy water breaks on the trail.
Hands-Free Dog Leash: If you have never hiked with a hands-free dog leash, be ready for a game changer. We originally got this leash so we could run with Arya, but now we use it all the time.
Dog Harness w/Handle: I love the handle in case I need to quickly grab her when off-leash or help her up rocks. It also has a front D-ring to help with pulling.
Dog Wax: If your dog has sensitive paws and hates booties, try out this dog wax that prevents cracking and hot spots.

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