Such a gorgeous hiking park right in the midst of our North County Coastal city! There's so much to see and do here, from picnics to the many hiking trails to hosting outdoor events, including weddings (They have a wedding gazebo!). We came here seeking the suspension bridges and the butterfly garden. The park did not disappoint. Within a couple hours of hiking, we got to see both bridges, a beautiful outlook tower of Encinitas and beyond, as well as the sweet little butterfly garden next to 2 duck ponds. Although we chose to park on the neighborhood streets outside the park, there's plenty of parking inside the park ($5 day fee). There are a couple points of entrances. The lower entrance is nearest the recreational area that has a full basketball, volleyball, and pickleball court. All in all, I would highly recommend this place for a family outing, a hiking adventure, or simply a few hours of relaxing escape away from urban life. read more

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I've been coming here for 20 plus years, because it's walking distance from my in-laws house. We have many happy memories of walking here with the daughters when they were little, playing with them at the playground up top, swinging on the swings down low, playing frisbee on the grass. Today we walked a whole loop (my daughter, her college friend, and I to get some exercise before going out to brunch. We admired the view from the Osuna Overlook, walked past workers weeding and trimming the new garden area between the upper and lower parks up top with river rock bordered paths. Looks super nice! My daughter commented that they ought to let local youth paint the rocks--that'd be a cool community event! We proceeded down the paved street that passes by the Scout House, crossed over by the pollinator garden where a kind person pointed out the bat house they placed there (I learned bats are good pollinators and that they need to be protected from raccoons!) Onward to the butterfly garden where I saw a monarch butterfly! We continued to the duck pond at the lowest part of the park where there are picnic areas to be reserved for birthday parties and picnics. We saw a pair of mallard ducks and a solo heron. Spring has sprung! Everything is blooming and the wild creatures are atwitter. Truly a marvelous community park. They even host an annual half marathon here. My brother-in-law and I ran it together in 2012 and it was challenging! Perhaps the biggest challenge being the walk uphill after the race to get to the beer garden lol. I think we ended up not going there and just walking home. Anyway, if you're in the area, check it out! There are several different hiking trails and lots of flora and fauna to admire. read more

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This park is a hidden gem!!! This park is a must visit! They have so many open green areas, trees for shade, tables and grill spaces that you can rent and hiking trails!! I was shocked with how big this park was! Plus these were some of the cleanest park bathrooms I have ever seen! There was plenty of toilet paper and not a single bathroom was clogged. The floors were clean of debris, except a few leafs which was expected because it had half a ceiling to let in natural light. The parking for the park cost $5 for the day which I thought was a great deal! There is parking through out the park depending on which park you want to hang out at. There was also some free street parking before turning into the park. This park is open until 8 pm. The best part about the trails was that it had an "activity hill" which had suspension bridges plus other interactive teams. There was even a platform to learn about the critters in the area. Very family friendly. Dogs are allowed at this park but they must be on lead at all times. read more

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This area is a hidden gem for gorgeous outdoor hikes. Very close to Annie's trail, this park is huge! Came on a Saturday morning to find the suspension bridges and had a lot of fun! Parking inside the park is $3 which is not bad but leaves me wondering where my tax dollars are going, but opted for the free parking just outside the entrance. There's limited spots but did not have trouble finding one this trip. Had to use google maps to find the bridges and it took us on a little walk about but it was less uphill than if we walked straight. The bridges are close to the playground area but decided to save that for next time. Lots of clean hiking trails and some beautiful ponds! Worth the 20 min drive from Carlsbad. read more

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San Dieguito County Park is truly one of San Diego's gems. Not only does it have five different playgrounds (yes, five!), but it also offers easy walking trails for all levels and abilities-- perfect for little legs, visiting friends, and even energetic doodles. It's rare to find a park that feels this expansive yet so welcoming and well cared for. What made our visit especially memorable was Ranger Alejandro. He took the time to introduce himself to our group during a park day with our kids and dogs, offered to lead a ranger-guided doodle-and-toddler hike, and even shared his contact information. That level of kindness and community care says so much. This park is a beautiful example of our tax dollars at work, and it makes me incredibly proud to call this city home. We absolutely can't wait to go back. read more

Kid friendly Suspension bridges were smaller than expected and underwhelming Many bathrooms and kids Good place for kids to host birthday party Easy parking $3 if you park inside but lots of spots outside of the parking area if you don't want to pay read more

This is a great location for family hikes, parties, and site seeing. You can go from small to large hikes. The wedding area is very cute. They also have stationary grills. There are also very large seating area. Large enough for a family reunion. I would only hike here during the summer, for a short hike. Very dog friendly. read more

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Great park! The rangers are great, the spaces are clean and fun to explore. We love going there. The draw bridges are so much to explore and we love the new outdoor playground We hope that you will Remove the Native school so families can come enjoy it again-they left the school and do not want to go there and run into the admin that took their money. read more

Parking is $3 inside the park. Some people also opt to park outside for free, and its a short walk in depending on where you're headed. This is a great park for short family hikes. We saw several groups of people with young children and they were having a blast. There is an activity hill area where along the trails, you can climb a short ladder up throughout your hike. There are two suspension bridges and a few overlooks with educational elements (ie. learning about the wilderness animals). The park is also super dog friendly! The trails are great for hikes with your dog and there are plenty of areas to play or have a nice picnic. read more

A beautiful park located 10-15 minutes east of Solana Beach. A great place for family gatherings or a nice stroll. A very scenic, country setting with shade trees, walking paths, a playground for the kids and picnic tables. It's hard to believe the ocean is just minutes away. The serenity of San Dieguito County Park is so relaxing. read more

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San Dieguito County Park is probably one of the nicest parks in San Diego. I was really impressed with how clean and well-maintained it is. The park has everything--trails, activity areas, water stations, bathrooms, stunning views, suspension bridges, and playgrounds. There's definitely something for everyone. My friends and I went there on the weekend for a little urban hiking, and it was perfect. The trails were easy and safe, and the landscape was just beautiful. It's truly a San Diego gem! read more

Enjoyed this walk with my meetup group. We had some folks that brought their dogs. Good spot for walking and getting exercise. We will do it again. read more

San Dieguito County Park - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

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The pros are the grounds are beautiful, there are a ton of restrooms and picnic areas, and there is a lot to do. The cons are you have to pay to park, the tot area playgrounds are worn down, and it is a maze trying to figure out where things are. We came on a Wednesday morning during winter break. We were trying to go to the playgrounds. My maps directed me to enter off of El Camino Real. That was big waste of time as the amenities off of El Camino Real are picnic areas, a wedding gazebo, and hiking areas. The signage is awful on the park grounds from what I could tell. I had to google where to go, visit the county website and view a blurry map, and hope for the best with my four and two year olds in the backseat asking twenty questions. To be clear, you access the playgrounds and corresponding parking lot from Highland Drive. We went to three playgrounds which were all accessible from the same parking lot. Two of them were tot area playgrounds. Both of them were covered in leaves and very rusted. I honestly wondered if they were no longer in use based on their condition. The upper playground is definitely meant for bigger kids. It was an absolute madhouse when we went. I couldn't believe how busy it was. This playground is clean and in great shape. It looked new when we went. All in all, I won't rush back. I don't think it was worth the $3 when there are so many other, free playgrounds available in San Diego County. read more

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I went there twice for the suspension bridges & playground on in July 2021 and Jan 2022, after hike Annie Canyon, which is few miles away. Parking: Inside the park for $3 or park on the street for free which not far from entrance. Also free for handicap. 5 miles of hiking trails, 5 playgrounds (all ages), a baseball field, a basketball court, a wedding gazebo, pavilions, picnic areas, BBQs, and clean restrooms. Activity Hill - complete with 10 fitness stations, three hillside ladders and lookout platforms, two suspension bridges, and two TRACK Trails for kids with nature-themed scavenger hunts to win prizes online. I wish I discovery scavenger hunt sooner, it would be fun to try is out. read more

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Lovely park! Super chill. Not too crowded with plenty of open space and picnic tables. You can park outside and walk in or pay $3 for admission to park in the numerous lots within the park. Perfect spot for a picnic and to hang out with friends. Would definitely return and looking forward to exploring more! read more

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Cool park, but the map was confusing for me. There are a lot of trails, picnic tables, and grassy areas. Parking inside is not free, however, one can park on the dirt road adjacent to the park. Another alternative is to park a block away at the golf course entrance. read more

San Dieguito County Park - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

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This is a delightful County of San Diego Park located just east of Solana Beach. The park has an Upper Level and Lower Level connected by hiking trails. Upper Park has reserved picnic areas under sun canopies, other picnic areas, playgrounds, basketball court, and ball field. Handicap parking is available at Area 3. Lower Area is more bucolic with open green spaces, some reserved and open picnic areas, and the Wedding Gazebo. Overall, this is a very nice park to spend an afternoon with a picnic lunch, hiking, and reading under the trees. read more

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A hidden gem in the county, this park offers a bit of wilderness with many options for fun playground experiences. My three kids (2-6 y.o.) had a blast on the playgrounds. Lots of different and challenging activities. And when they were done there, it wasn't too hard to convince them to go on a 'hike. The trails are truly trails, challenging but manageable even for my 2 y.o. They were short enough that my kids didn't mind the walk, though the scurrying quails might have helped pique their interests too. The suspension bridges were a hit and talking them up kept them motivated to go on the hike. Round trip, I think it was maybe 1 mile. Great experience and good introduction to a little bit of the outdoors! read more

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There are two parts of the park, the upper and the lower. We ended up going to the lower part. There seemed to be more grassy areas and access to the trails here. There are trees in the grassy area, so you can find a spot under the shade. They have paved parking on the grounds and the cost is $3. You can also park right outside of the park for free and just walk in. They have trails in the park that are relatively easy. So, if you just want a short, easy hike, then come here. The park is not especially big, but you can find a butterfly garden and a couple of suspension bridges on the grounds. They do have restroom facilities onsite. Picnic tables are also available here, too, but it does seem like there are some areas that may need reservation and for now, because of the pandemic, those areas are closed. It looks like they also have a wedding gazebo onsite, so if you're looking to plan an outdoor wedding at a park, you can do it here. All in all, I would totally recommend this park if you just want to relax and be outdoors! When we went, it was not too busy. As for the trails, you practically can walk them without running into too many people. read more

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Great place to spend a day with the family. Lots of trails and playgrounds and shade. Lots of parking but it's $3. There is some free parking out front. read more

It's a beautiful park with really nice views my dogs and myself enjoyed it! There's different things to do here read more

San Dieguito County Park - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

Wow this place is pretty cool!!! This is a great hike with plenty to see and plenty to do. You can have picnics, play in the playground, or go on a hike. Make sure to pick up a map before you go exploring. They have many hiking trails, overlooks, and suspension bridges. There really isn't any shade and lots of hills but it will definitely do the job. I can't wait to go back to check out the other trails and Osuna Outlook, didn't get to since we were on a time crunch. read more

[Catch Up Review] We discovered this park during the COVID crazies of 2020-2021. It's one of our favorite parks to visit. Note the hours of operation before arriving; they are strict about when they open the gate but you can easily park outside to walk in and around the gates (and save money!). Frankly, the parking lots don't really take you that much farther into the park so it's definitely worth parking outside. On our first visit, we came early in the morning to try and beat the crowds and enjoy a breakfast picnic. Lots of folk come here early to walk the grounds. Everyone was generally good at social distancing and wearing a mask (early morning folks who generally didnt have kids). Once the gates open up and things warm up, you'll see more parents and kids come on the premises and we've had both good and bad experiences with the types of folks that visited. (Mind you this was before vaccinations were more available as of the date of this review submission.) We have at least on one occasion left the playground facilities because there were too many inconsiderate and not masked parents and their boisterous children. There are a few playgrounds. The biggest one is next to a bathroom, newer equipment and great for toddlers to elementary aged children. It's nice to have a new side options to try and escape the crowds. I imagine that pre-covid, this was a popular place to come and have great summer birthdays on the grass and bbq, etc. Things have been pretty shut down though otherwise.. mostly the playground and the trails are available. We loved the hikes.. not too hard but not too easy. It wasn't stroller friendly so you're looking at age 2-ish and up to go find the shakey bridges, eagle's outlook, etc. Some parts can get a little steep heading to the gate at the other end of the park. That side is great for grass picnics.. watching ducks.. and just rolling around in the grass. It's a lovely place to spend time with family. Highly recommended. read more

This park is HUGE! Get ready for some walking. This park is located in a a beautiful well endowed neighborhood. There is free parking surrounding the outside perimeter of the park or you can pay $3 for a full day and parking in the grounds. They have several areas for people to host parties, bdays bbqs and good times. This park has a lot of little trails that lead to cool look out points. Saw a couple of runners, mostly families walking around or families celebrating something. We took a little dog on the walk and she seemed tired but not wiped out from the walk, so I think it's perfect for a relaxing walk. I am not in tip top shape nor a naturey person, but the trails offered just the right amount of incline and nature. read more

Had a great hike today with my husband and grandson. We took a couple different trails and spent about 1.5hrs inside the park. Only reason it's not 5 stars it's not clear where the trails start. Maybe at each map if there was a you are here or a paper map to take with you read more

San Dieguito County Park - Pond - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Nice little park with plenty of grassy area and picnic tables. We came here to hike and get on the suspension bridges for the kids. There are 2 entrances here and you can pay a small fee to get in and park closer to everything or park a little further outside for free! There were a lot of people playing on the grass with there families. Their is a lot of space to social distance from the next family also which I like. The restrooms were pretty clean. I would definitely come back read more

San Dieguito County Park - Suspension bridge 2 - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

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San Dieguito made me feel like I'm in the middle of the forest despite being 5 minutes away from the beach. Fun trails, bridges, picnic areas, grills, playgrounds and activities in the park. Had such a beautiful day and it was so nice being able to breathe in fresh air. It felt like I was in 2 different worlds in one city. It's a nice little hidden gem in San Diego! read more

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This used to be a nice park. However, we came today after a year or so and the grounds were really a mess. The grass was overgrown and the tot lots were so rusted and dirty with tons of spiderwebs. My 20 month old daughter had some type of allergic reaction on her face/eye that she has never had before. No known allergies whatsoever! This is the only park I know of that charges money for entering the park. What are they doing with that money? Certainly not keeping up the grounds! Anyhow, this really ruined our Father's Day since we spent the rest of the day on and off the phone with triage nurses trying to figure out what was wrong with her and deciding to take her to urgent care. Parents beware! read more

I'm writing this review while listening to "The Lark Ascending" played by Tasmin Little and recorded with the BBC Philharmonic - and if you really want to indulge me, throw it on your spotify today and let it bring to mind the imagery I've experiences in the lower levels of this vast park. Leaves spiraling down to green grass, yellowed and browned from the summer scorching sun. Little rays of light dancing through branches and lighting up your daughter's magical curls as her laughter chuckles through the air. Ducks quack and hands clap in joy and you can hear yourself breathe, far enough from the freeway to feel free. A little walk, wisps of lavender, grandparents practicing tai chi in the shade and a familiar German Shepard comes to say hello. "Happy Birthday" is often sung nearby and you only catch every other word through the breeze. Switch gears and your background song to Can Can (Offenbach and Helmuth Brandenburg) and head to the upper levels where 5 playgrounds abound with toddlers. Pack your crackers and juice boxes and let the antics begin! This parent paradise saved many: and our daughter is the queen of the dreamed up towers turned castles in her mind. Kids spin round and round, running the gamut of jungle gyms as fast as their little legs can carry them, swinging and sliding at a "before nap" pace, getting out their "zoomies" and shouting their approvals of the excellent playground activities. Picnic tables a plenty Paid Parking read more

I think this park is great for families with small children. There is plenty of parking, parking is $3 or you can find parking outside the park and walk in. They have maps of the area at the entrance. There are several children playgrounds around the park. There are bathrooms on the premises at different areas of the park, they were the cleanest park bathrooms I have ever been in! There is a trail to walk around which is really easy, even for small children. They have different areas of picnic tables or you can pick an area on the green grass for a picnic. They have a gazebo, a bride and groom changing room, suspension bridges, look out areas that have recordings that give you information on the different animals and trees that live in or around the park. They have a couple of ponds where you can see ducks and turtles. This park is a great place for kids to run around, as a wedding venue, or to hold birthday party. We will definitely return. read more

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This park is HUGE...and incredibly BEAUTIFUL!! Today is my first visit! It's greener than any place I've been in North County. I feel so blest to be here! Of course there are picnic tables but it's all the old growth trees amidst such a verdant & hidden expansive "playground"! I had no idea it existed in the 7 years I have lived in North County! You MUST visit!! read more

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This place is a gem. There's a 3 dollar fee at the entrance but so many places to have a picnic or outdoor get together. So much still left to explore and for sure, we will be repeat guests read more

This is a great county park we found tucked in amongst a golf course and a housing area. It is very, very lush with lots of grass and plenty of trees and rolling hills. It has loads of playgrounds and hiking/walking trails for kids and all ages and activity levels of folks. We saw runners and walkers and hikers - everyone out there! This place would be great for a romantic lunch or a family party or corporate picnic or even a scavenger hunt! It was our first time here and we really enjoyed it. There was plenty of space and parking all around. Dogs are allowed on leash also. It costs only $3.00 to park, and there is lots of shade. There are also plenty of picnic tables to go around. read more

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A great assortment of playgrounds. Suspension bridges are a bit farther and don't seem to stroller friendly so plan for that!

San Dieguito County Park is more than a place just to hold a family party or wedding event. I literally stumbled upon the hiking trails here while attending a wedding reception. While I wasn't dressed for a hike, I kept a mental note of this park hoping to return some day. Today I returned with appropriate shoes and finally walked the trails here. If you start your hike on the top portion of this park ( Lot 4) there are several bridges and lookouts with great views of the entire area. There are trail markers all around so you always know you're various options. You can walk to the lowers lots if you also like. There are several trails that will take you to the top again. The wooden lookouts have audio stories you can chose ( via a speaker system) and provide information about the various plants and local history. During the late afternoon you can also watch the hot air balloons go by. - Park along the street to avoid the $3 parking fee. - Very family friendly, so many viewpoints and bridges that the kids love to explore. - If you do hike the trails, be sure that your shoes have some treads on them to avoid slipping and sliding. - Bathrooms up and down the hill.. read more

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This is a beautiful and very well maintained park, albeit a tad small. We were able to go on all the trails and see the entire park in just over 3 hours. Parking is $3 but if you're entering from the upper park, there's parking outside that's free. It's a tad more walking but on a beautiful day, a few extra steps won't hurt you! Obviously, the big attraction is activity hill. The 2 suspension bridges are the big draws but you have some great viewing areas and exercise stops everywhere. There's even one with an exercise bike! The upper park has plenty of picnic benches, a large playground (that seems to be under construction) and an adorable baseball field. The lower park has 2 ponds with lots of ducks and beautiful green grass that are perfect for camping. There's also a small butterfly garden that is lush and beautiful. At the time, there weren't any butterflies but quite a few bees. Trails wise, like I said, very short. I don't think any of the trails were longer than a mile. But they are paved, well maintained and a few have stairs. Going up Hawks Nest, there's a series of ladders that I did enjoy climbing up for a change of pace. It's a nice introduction to nature for any youngsters. They might run into a blue jay or two too! read more

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You know, I seem to remember coming here as a kid for a softball tournament that my father was in. I don't think anything here has been updated, repaired, or replaced since that day. This seems to be the park that time forgot. I don't know if that's a function of its immense size, apathy, or lack of funds, but, this place certainly has seen some better days. Swings are missing, metal railings are rusted, the playground equipment is dingy, even the cobwebs seem like they've been abandoned for years. It's funny, so much care seems to go into making sure the baseball field is kept up, yet, stuff for the kids to actually play on is ignored. There's a joke about our society forcing children to fight in the arena for our amusement, instead of giving them things just to play on and be happy in there somewhere. Still, the park is pretty huge. It's kind of like taking the Safari Park and opening it up for public use for picnics and hiking. There are a ton of seating tables, a lot of canopy shade, trees, trails, grass to run around through, many a grill to cook on, and some pretty nice sites to see. All of this for three dollars to park; because, you know, they need to make sure they get a new scoreboard ... for the kids. read more

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This is my favorite park in all of San Diego County. I grew up in norcal, and I often get homesick for some real trees, and San Dieguito County Park is the perfect antidote. TONs of space, and I have never seen it full. I will admit though that large kid's birthday parties are common, and sometimes you get really badly behaved kids running around screaming and banging on trash cans. I try to avoid them. Things to know before you go: -dogs are allowed. -alcohol is allowed, but no glass. -some of the larger group areas are reservation only and charge a fee based on size. You can reserve them online at the County's website. All other areas are first come first serve. -I prefer entering the park from the east side off of El Camino Real (also known as the "lower park". There is a long row of free parking outside of the park entrance if you dont want to pay the $3 parking fee inside. read more

San Dieguito County Park - Fall does exist in SD! - Parks Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Nice private park tucked away in a seemingly random part of North County San Diego. We came here for a baby shower, and it ended up being a nice time for all. It was fairly windy throughout the morning as we were setting up. We didn't find too many stray rocks anywhere to pin our stuff down. Yes, we like the fact that this is one of the most pristine parks we've encountered in a long time, but man oh man do we need some rock weights on hand. Thankfully, we had groups of bottled water to suffice. Navigating around the park admittedly is not the easiest task. The only marker of our destination was recognizing the familiar vehicles of our family and friends. Our reserved area ended up being right by the park ranger station, so we knew that we were in direct safety with the rangers (as long as we weren't destroying the place). And it could have accommodated for way more people than we actually had. I believe there were about 20 concrete benches (maybe). And it was all covered by one of those mesh "roofs" that don't completely block out the sunlight but allow just enough to where it's still bright from the sun and blocks the rain. FYI: - $3 parking fee per car. Even on a Saturday, I didn't see too many people make their way here. - RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED for parties and events in their space. Each specific area is numbered and labeled with the appropriate signage. read more

This is a great park for many things (weddings, sporting events, family picnics), but if I lived in the area, I would use it mostly as an outdoor gym. Not only are there many hilly trails to walk/run/hike, but they have incorporated a parcourse with well-maintained equipment throughout the park. There are several trail maps throughout the park, but they are a bit confusing and they don't provide distance data. I wish that the maps indicated where the parcourse equipment was located, and the distances between the stations. I followed the main trail map to "activity hill" and thought it looked like an excellent place to hold a bootcamp fitness class. There are hills to run, ladders to climb, and a variety of equipment to use for body weight strength training. We parked on the street off of Highland Drive and did not have to pay the $3 entrance fee. Even if I did have to pay, I wouldn't complain because they do an excellent job with park maintenance. This is another one of those hidden outdoor gems that makes you happy to live in San Diego! read more

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