Quite a nice short trail if you dont take the extra mile path. A good climb and scenic view. Other websites will say this is easy difficulty trail. But it can be semi moderate with the uphill, climbing, &balancing. You might not want to bring your unfit elderly that aren't used to non flat surfaces just an fyi. Going early in the morning, we had cloudy weather. The highway on the side that leads into this can be a bit unimmersive. But still worth the hike. read more

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*Hidden gem *part of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve *several trails with mild to strenuous levels (slot canyon is strenuous... but there were parts of the switchback trail that was labeled as moderate that were a bit strenuous *Know your limits, hydrate, wear good hiking /walking shoes and listen to your body *incredible plant and wildlife biodiversity *birding hotspot * trail is unpaved *trail starts at the end of a cul de sac... street parking is free but depending on the day and time can be hard read more

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Before they made this place "upscale" lol, I knew it as the root many, many years ago! I suggest finding a spot to park on N. Rios Ave. From there, it is an uphill hike to even get to the rock trails. Enjoy the nature along the way. It's worth it once you are there. Beautiful rock formations and beautiful views from the top. Some of the paths in the rocks are roped off now, they didn't use to be. It's a tight squeeze making it to the top. If you are claustrophobic, I don't recommend it. It seemed tighter than it did 25 years ago, ha. All and all, this is a beautiful hike. Make sure to bring some water, especially if it's a hot day! read more

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This is a very short little offshoot trail on the much larger San Elijo Ecological Reserve trail system. It's the only place in San Diego County where you're going to find a slot Canyon like this. It's also one of the only hikes that's appropriate to do on warmer days safely. It's very well marked and not far down from the main trailhead. If you just wanted to do the Annie's canyon hike you could probably do the whole thing in 30 minutes, but we did it as part of a larger hike, about 6 miles over 2 hours. It takes about one minute to walk through the actual slot canyon but it's super cool. The walls are high and narrow. A lot of people have carved graffiti into the side of the walls, which I'm generally not a fan of, but it kind of adds a little something to the allure here. When you get to the end of the slot, there's a ladder going up. When we got there, it was kind of a traffic jam as we were waiting for several people to go up. Definitely an appropriate hike for kids, but they ask that you don't bring your dogs into this section of the reserve.. read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - The start of Annie's Canyon - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Up and down and all around! So glad I did my research on where to park and chose the right starting point. My son had one request while in the area: a hike. This was PERFECT! We are so glad we chose the harder option also. The slots and ladders were SO cool. The parking on the street may be hard to come by depending day and time. The hike itself can be very busy also. read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

This is a Hidden Gem this Trail is very simple and pretty easy for people of all ages there are some incline areas but just go slow and the hike is pretty short best part is the secret ladder area but it could get congested when it's very crowded and prepare to park on the street and walk a distance during the crowded times it's very neat to be able to watch the view of the freeway during the hike this has been a good kept secret for a while but because of social media many people know about this Trail now so during busy times there might be a lot of people they're not actually be aligned during your hike read more

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If you don't want to drive miles inland to the desolate areas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to experience the slot canyons, then check out this coastal trail in Solana Beach. The trailhead was at the end of a cul de sac. Parking was all curbside along this dead end which must be annoying for residents as vehicles will be parked in front of their residences all day long. Annie's Canyon Trail is a gentle hike that is great for families. The slot canyon section was terrific albeit very narrow in certain spots. If you are claustrophobic, then this may not be suitable. The rest of the trek was flat and short. Construction had closed off the eastern portion of the route on the other side of the highway for the longest time. That cut the length of the trail by at least in half. One can complete the modified loop in less than an hour so it's not much of a challenge. You can even repeat the circuit multiple times if there are no crowds. The views from within the slot canyon were picturesque. Kids probably enjoyed the passage because it felt like climbing around a rock playground for them, including the ladder and stairs to help you ascend to the top of the formation. From there, the perch overlooking the San Elijo Lagoon was nice. Annie's Canyon is a good place to bring visitors without wearing them out. In terms of a true hike, I only gave three stars because of the lack of difficulty other than the climbing. read more

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I was exhausted just getting there from the street. So, I took the outside trail. It's a good workout either way.

Access Annie's Canyon from N.Rios Avenue. There's always plenty of free street parking in the residential area of your going on the weekdays. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends and going thru the slot canyon wouldn't be any fun. If you can go during the week, you will feel like you have the place to yourself. It's a short well maintained dirt path to the entrance of the slot canyon. It's one way in and you climb up to the exit. Take your time going thru the slot canyon. It's very short. There's been a lot of work in the area recently with new steps added, which is nice. I remember having to scramble up certain areas in the past. You will be rewarded with a beautiful view at the end. Walk back to the trail head via the Gemma Parks Trail so that you're walking along the water and see all the birds. No dogs allowed though I do see people still bringing their dogs thru the canyon and hauling them up the two metal ladders at the end. I don't recommend it. read more

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Used to hike this spot in HS before everyone found out about it. It still a light hike that mostly anyone can do. I took the little for a day out and we went here. The "hike" starts with a very easy walking trail then you hit the beautiful canyons. With small narrow spots of the canyons it gives a really natural trail feel. It was bitter sweet seeing a line at the canyons because it's became so mainstream now. Parts of the trail are blocked off for good reason I'm sure. Nonetheless it's still a good time to get out and do something at no cost. I'll be returning during a weekday for a less crowded look read more

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A great little hike, not strenuous. But, there is a part that might not be suitable for young kids. If you are claustrophobic, it might be for you. It was busy when we went and we had to wait in a line to get into the canyon part. Parking is street parking so factor that into your hike. We enjoyed it and got great photos. Would not recommend on a very hot day. But, we went on a beautiful spring day and it was perfect. read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Started my hike from the La Orilla Trailhead and made a pass through Annie's Canyon on my way out to the South Cardiff Beach. I returned by way of the other side of the lagoon and used the pedestrian bridge under I-5 to get back to my car. The trail from La Orilla trailhead to the canyon is easy, but it is sand which for some may be unpleasant. I definitely was getting sand in my shoes the whole way. Annie's Canyon was a lot of fun, albeit short. Reading the sign you can choose to go up the slot canyon or the switchback. The sign says the slot canyon is difficult and the switchback is moderate. I chose the switchback, and found that when you get to the top you cannot go back down through the slot canyon. So I came back down, and went up again through the canyon. And I will tell you - the slot canyon is WAY easier than the switchback to get to the top. The area around San Elijo Lagoon is beautiful and while most of the hiking is easy, it is definitely worth checking out. Annie's Canyon is a fun little side jaunt that mixes it up a bit. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area and looking for some outdoorsy fun! read more

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What an amazing and fun trail! The start of it was very scenic and comfortable to walk, then at the fork, turning right leads you to the slot canyon with has about moderate difficulty to hike. The slot canyon, the tight space, the metal ladder were the kids favorite part. They had so much fun hiking to this little trail. It took us about 45 minutes to go through it round trip, but that could also be due to us moving quite fast since we did it at sunset. My young kids found this to be quite thrilling. read more

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One of the most fun hiking trails I've been on. The canyon itself is relatively short, but the trail leading from the parking lot to the canyon was a little longer. A very engaging and unique hike. We parked on a street and hiked around 15 to 20 minutes to get to the canyon itself. The hike to the canyon was quite hilly, so be prepared for that. Hiking through the canyon was extremely fun. There are stairs and ladders to get up and it is a one-way hike because it is so narrow. Makes for amazing and unique pictures and the view once you get to the top of the canyon is incredible! We came at around sunset time so it was even better. I highly recommend this hike. It was pretty tiring, but not too bad. Definitely not for claustrophobic individuals but the ladders and stairs made it so much fun. read more

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TripAdvisor recommended this hike, and I was so excited to try hiking a slot canyon. I wasn't aware there were any in SoCal. It was a quick hike, about 20 minutes from the trailhead taking the "difficult" route through the narrow slot canyon to the overlook at the top. On the way back, we took the additional short (less than a mile) loop down by the lagoon. It was really peaceful, and we saw lots of different birds. I highly recommend this short hike. If you don't want to go through the slot canyon, there is an easy route with steps to the top. read more

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Highly recommended hiking trail! There is an easy 10-15 hike to the Annie's Canyon Trail, then there is a loop, and you want to make sure you take the path from the left. The view was memorable and the journey was fun. Tips: - good hiking shoes highly recommend! Some places are sandy slippery, not a difficult hike but needs to be focused. Not suitable for people who have difficulty walking, especially at the top. - you might need to have both hands to hold on, especially at the 'top', therefore, do not recommend holding a phone or a water bottle. - when you see the sign for Annie's Canyon Trail, take the path on the right. It's the fun, exciting, and slightly challenging trail. Part of it is narrow and some parts are steep, and some stairs. It is a one way path and will reach the top, and the path down is the path that was the one on the left. (So if you take the left, easier path up, you will totally miss the fun! read more

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I love this hike, it's a very short mild hike for those who are okay with some tighter spaces and a little bit of height The canyon itself is not even a quarter mile, and then the trail leading back down is all switch backs and can be tough on the knees if you're older. Id recommend going early morning or off season because it does get very hot, and if you get claustrophobic and feel like you can't finish the canyon portion it's easier to turn back around when there isn't a huge crowd Even if you don't get the canyon complete go for some nice photos, you can even take the switch backs up and just sit at the top. I love coming here and do the loop at least 2 times Everytime I come. Go with some friends, it's a cool experience and challenges you a bit if you arent used to a hike read more

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Beautiful trail however it gets very crowded, so come early or during off times. Parking was a bit tough too/full, so allow time for that if busy. Loved seeing the lagoon. Pretty setting in an easy to get to location. Great spot for all ages! read more

Nice small hike. The two sides connect with each other. Left route is easy, just stick to the trail. Right side is a bit tight on the passes, and you do have to climb up/down a bit depending on the side you came from. If you are claustrophobic, just stick to the east route and come back the same way. read more

04-20-2025 We started our hike around 5pm on a Sunday. Second time being here. Loved it, not so crowded and plenty of parking. Beautiful rock formations to enjoy and the climb was easy. Recommended time to hike is early morning or around 5 pm when it's not so hot. read more

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Super cool hike! A hidden gem in San Diego. You wouldn't even know this sand formation is in there! Pretty incredible. A lovely 1.5 mile hike round trip. A well kept sand trail with views of the estuary, depending on what time of year, beautiful flowers and the sound of birds and the freeway lol! There were also a lot of lizards sun bathing in the sand. We had a cool time exploring this area and climbing thru the canyon. A must see if you're in the area! read more

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Make sure to wear the right shoes! Kids had a blast. There is a 10-15 min hike before the actual "hike" make sure to choose the difficult pathway to make sure you end up with all the "cool" stuff read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Stairs - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

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What a fun trail! It starts out easy, but it gets more difficult depending on what you're interested in. The best part is climbing through the narrow canyon, requiring mounted stairs and some good hand grip strength as well. The trail is very well maintained, and there are great views as well. It's great for someone who is moderately in shape, and you definitely need good shoes to get up the canyon! There are children who go on this trail, but it's likely that they'll need some help with some of the bigger steps and perhaps the ladder as well. Definitely check out this trail! It's such a fun trail with a great view. read more

This spot has been on my list since I moved to California, recently having moved a bit closer, I was excited to finally check it out. What an awesome hidden gem in the middle of a busy suburb! It felt like a mini Grand Canyon. So happy this nature was preserved in the middle of a large highway as well. The hike can be adjusted to your fitness level with a nice loop around the marsh as well. A small detour will take you to Annie's canyon, which are natural mud (?) waves and that hike can be challenging with metal stairs and small spaces and a quick elevation jump but a ton of fun and worth it! If you go the opposite direction to the left you can hike up a bit easier to a view point. Parking is at the end of a street with houses and there's also a bike path alongside the hiking path. The only downside is there's a very busy highway which can add a lot of noise to an otherwise calm place but there are pockets of peace along the walk. read more

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We parked along Solana Hill street and had a 0.6 hike to the actual start of Annie's Canyon Trail. That hike in the beginning was the hardest because it had at least 3 big hills of ups and downs! Annie's Canyon was actually very easy to complete and unique! If you have claustrophobia, do not go through the slot canyons. The ladder part was fun and well made! I also spotted a unique bird, the California Towhee. I liked this "hike" but would want to find an easier way to get here rather than coming from Solana Hill street. read more

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A family favorite hike, especially loved by the kids! The kids enjoy going through the sandstone slot canyons with narrow walls and ladders! Easy to complete hike in a hour. Recommend not going after rain or on a misty day as gets muddy and slippery. Two options to reach the viewpoint. Moderate route is via uphill switchbacks and difficult is through the narrow sandstone slots. We've had 5-7 year olds complete the difficult route with ease, but depends on comfort level of supervising adult with them. read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Two options to reach viewpoint. - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

Slot canyon Hike Few entrances Easy hike Ladder climb in slots Well marked One way for the slot Can get busy Tours available (not needed) High steps in the slots Wildlife read more

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Muy divertido sábado.! Lo pasamos super bien, llegamos temprano y caminamos todos los senderos excepto los humedales Dejamos el cañón justo para la hora de comer, aprovechamos el sprouts que está cerca donde compramos pollos bebidas y deshechables para comer en Solana Beach read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Cañón Annies - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

This trail is worth a visit. I used Google map to get there and it brought me to Solana Hills. I would recommend getting off the Manchester Ave exit from the freeway and parking right off there. The walk to the slot canyon trailhead is faster. The walk from Solana Hills was up and down. It was more rigorous than Annie's trail! The Slot canyon is literally 10 minutes to the top without human traffic. Definitely get there before 930am. The flat switch backs down the canyon have a nice view of the lagoon and beach. We hiked slot canyon twice. The teens weren't happy at first about coming but wanted to go again. That says alot! read more

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Parked in the lot behind the chevron and parking was plentiful. It's about a 15 minute walk or so to the actual trail. There's signs so you shouldn't get lost! The actual trail itself was pretty cool. Pretty steep incline so it's not really toddler friendly (learned the hard way, we had someone who was able to hold the toddler with one arm and climb up the steep ladders with the other.) read more

Annie's canyon trail have a few steep hills, including an optional slot canyon to viewpoint which is ranked "difficult," or you can choose "moderate." Depending on which one you choose, it can be relatively easy, or more strenuous. It takes about one hour to complete the trail, and dogs are welcome on the moderate trail. the trail has some narrow passages, but they are manageable, you may have difficulty getting through the tight squeezes of the canyon. the trail is not for people who are claustrophobic. Address for parking and it's FREE 2550 Via Poco, Cardiff, CA 92007 It's a short hike around 2.5 miles but worth it. Recommended it Enjoy the trail and leave no trace read more

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What a lovely hiking trail! We wanted to do a quick hike to burn a few calories for our dinner :P We go there around 12:30pm so parking wasn't too bad, but I could see it being difficult earlier in the day during peak time. I loved this little hike though! - Family-friendly: we saw so many families with small children and even with elderly folks - Dog-friendly: almost all of the trail was dog-friendly. The only part that they weren't allowed was the "difficult" slot canyon trail to get to the top. - They offered a "difficult" trail and a "moderate" trail, so that was nice it had options. The moderate trail had somewhat high steps, so be aware of those. - The difficult trail gets backed up because of how narrow it is and when busy The top is very narrow, so when it gets crowded, it's a bit of a wait if you want to take photos. With good weather, this place is pretty and a great spot. read more

Lovely, Simple and Pretty detour off the trail. I initially thought this would be a longer section of the hike... But once we got there, it took less than 20 minutes to get through. We went on a cloudy day in the middle of the week, so there was no crowds or hold up to get through the canyon. My friend who I went with and who has been in several times says that on the weekends I can get very crowded. The sand is soft and the incline is not very bad at all... The only section that requires you to use a little bit of strength would be the last few steps to get out of the canyon. After making this trip, I realize that this hike would be perfect for my niece and nephew who are 9 and 12 years old since it's short, sweet and has pretty views. read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

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Quick beautiful trail with good photo ops. Took about 15 minutes to complete. Stop by if you're in the area! read more

Annie's Canyon Trail - Hiking Near Me - Encinitas, California

I've been to Annie's a couple times and I never get sick of it. It's a perfect length for a nice hike, especially if it's a beautiful day out. I would say it's more on the difficult side if you go the canyon route, which I definitely recommend (unless you are uncomfortable with very tight spaces) read more

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This trail is so fun for children. Nice 2 mile loop makes it doable for many ages. The right side scenery of the chainlink fencing is super ugly, but the canyon itself was worth it! read more

Great trail to do any day of the week - pretty crowded on weekends, especially during the slot parts. Rest of trails nearby and attached to main trail are almost never crowded! Pretty flat too, so great for people who don't want an uphill/downhill hike! read more

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There are multiple ways to get to the slot canyon. The longer route is to park off Manchester Avenue and cross the pedestrian bridge over the San Elijo Lagoon. This route is at least 3 miles RT. We decided on the shorter route. We started from the trailhead located at the end of North Rios Avenue. The hike from there is a little under 2 miles RT and fairly easy. According to my Garmin, the elevation gain was only 500 feet. The highlight of the hike is the slot canyon. Overall, I enjoyed the hike if I can even call it a hike. It was short and sweet. A couple of things to note... *This is a very popular hike, and the slot canyon will get congested. That said, be prepared to wait and be quick with your photos. *I am a fan of everyone being active, but keep in mind that this is a slot canyon, and some parts are very tight. I am not the widest person in the world and at some parts, both my shoulders scraped the canyon walls. There are even spots on in the canyon where I had to walk sideways and suck it in. *I am not claustrophobic and do not have a fear of confined spaces. No shame if you are. *The hike to the slot canyon is one-way. Don't be a fool and start from the top. *The trailhead is located off a residential street. Street parking is scarce and your parallel parking skills will be put to the test. Just remember...be respectful of the homeowners and their homes. 2025 Yelp Review #2 read more

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I love hiking at Annie's! It's an easy trail with some fun sections where you can climb up to the peak. There's street parking available, which is convenient. Just be sure to check the weather--during heavy rain, the canyon slot is usually closed for safety. It's a great spot to enjoy the outdoors! read more

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Fun and cute lil trail to hike in San Diego! I overestimated this hike, since All Trails said it was 2.3 miles round trip, and would take about an hour to finish! It took my friend and I less than 30 minutes from beginning of the marked trail and finishing the loop, and that's with a few stops to take pictures. Since it was so short, we did another round of pictures. Granted, there were only a few people that went around the same time as us There is only one way into Annie's canyon , and you cannot turn around, only forward. So if you got a cute picture of your friend who was behind you and you want the same, too bad! lol you have to do another round to take the same pic. Or if your friend finds a little mini route behind you that you didn't notice, nope you gotta go around again! LOL both things I definitely I did during my time in the canyon There are some graffiti and carvings from previous visitors from awhile back. The limestone is soft and easy to carve and it is frowned upon to do so now. It's a pretty easy trail and kid friendly. It has a nice view at the top after climbing the ladder. Once at the top, there is a cool view looking down at the canyon as well. The hike back down to the starting point is fairly easy too, had steps and a decline slope Tips; We parked across the street from the overpass -- at the parking lot behind the gas station, and walked over. Maps will route you to the entrance under the overpass but there will be no place for you to stop. The dude at the gas station was helpful and told where to park and how to follow the trail to get the trailhead of Annie's canyon. read more

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