San Diego Hiking Locations

There are many great hiking options in the San Diego area. These locations offer breath-taking nature sights and hiking difficulty levels from easy to challenging. Choose between nature reserve areas, lake fronts, mountains and more.

Lake

One of the best hiking areas in and around San Diego is the 8.7-mile trail from Lake Poway to Mount Woodson. This trail begins in a public park at Lake Poway and leads up in the mountains along a fire trail that overlooks a dam. Sections of this trail are challenging but the rest are fairly mild.

Beach

Perhaps the prettiest hike in the San Diego area is the trail along the Sunset Cliffs. This trail is 3.7 miles long and filled with breathtaking views of the cliffs' edge and the ocean below. This trail is rather populated during the weekend, so it is perfect for a weekday hike to avoid the crowds.

Reserve area

For natural beauty and possible wildlife sightings the Torrey Pines State Reserve hiking trail is a wonderful choice. This trail winds for 5.6 miles through the reserve and Torrey Pines Scenic Park.

Mountain

For a real workout plus spectacular mountain views, the trail at Cowles Mountain is perfect. This trail is 4.7 miles long, three miles of which are vertical climbs, so only choose this trail if you want a work out. Along the way you can reach the highest point in San Diego and see the city spread out before you.

No matter what you are looking for in a hiking trail, you can find one to suit you in San Diego. Find breathtaking views, true workouts, beautiful look-out points and a unique view of the city all along these trails.