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    Scripps Coastal Reserve

    4.7 (69 reviews)

    Scripps Coastal Reserve Photos

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    Reviews With Photos - Scripps Coastal Reserve

    I have lived in San Diego a majority of my life and I wanted to try something different. Beautiful scenery and took both of my dogs. The trail back up is quite difficult because it's all uphill.

    Scripps Coastal Reserve
    Patrick M.

    5 Big Stars for Scripps Coastal Reserve. Located just north of Scripps Pier you'll find Scripps Coastal Reserve. Breathtaking views and a nice quiet reprieve from all of the goings on of La Jolla Shores. Also a popular surf spot. If you're looking to get a nice walk or jog in, try starting down at the end of The Shores Hotel beach and go all the way past the pier to the end of the Coastal Reserve and back. Do it with no shoes on for the Earthing effect. It's worth noting that you will see a rocky area to the northern most part of the Reserve. If you navigate over the rocks you'll make it to the Torrey Pines Coastal Reserve. It's not as easy as it looks and if you get caught in high tide it could be bad news. Unless you're in good shape, I would advise against it.

    Jeff T.

    Tide pools here at a low tide of -0.4 pretty great. Not that many pool areas, but the ones here had a good amount of sea life. Saw small hermit crabs, minnow like fish, sea slugs, anemones, small crabs, mussels, barnacles, and a hidden octopus.

    Beautiful shot | IG: happyfoodieoc
    Vy D.

    This sunset watching spot is beautiful! Scripps Coastal Reserve is popular spot, it was crowded when I came. People came here for a mini picnic with sandwich, fruits, and soda. Some benches are closer to the cliff. San Diego has a lot of sunset spots but this one is definitely one of the bests.

    Lili W.

    Beautiful views! The ocean water here looked magical and clean. The walk was not as long but there were benches to sit at and take in the beauty of the earth!

    Emily C.

    Very short hiking trail that is all flat and easy to walk through. There are many plants there, many have labels of what plants are there. The trail goes in a circle and continues towards a cliff which has a very nice view of La Jolla and the beach. You get to see many people doing activities such as paragliding and surfing. The paragliders come so close that you can even talk to them! The views are great and it's a very calm walk, easy for bringing children along.

    Eva L.

    One of the best places for not only hiking, meditation, but also for great sightseeing! The hike is not that long (~15-30 min) as the trail is one loop with a stop in the middle at the cliff, where you can pause for great photos and just stare out into the water with your loved one. Let me just tell you that the view is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking! I think my group and I stayed there for a good 45 minutes just basking in the view of the waters. Occasionally, you will see some people parasailing over the beach, which is pretty cool. **Parking can be a bit tricky. I recommend finding some free parking in the residential area that is close to the entrance to the location.

    Maria C.

    I would have never known about UCSD's "secret" hideaway... Small area hidden within a residential area. Parking could be difficult since there are lot of "red" tow away zones, and security patrol manning the streets. You may have to trek to the trail, but it's def well worth the distance. Dirt paths so be mindful of the attire you wear. The trails lead to the ocean view cliffs and views of humongous homes overlooking the blue seas. You also get to see the gliders fly by and you get a great view of Scripps Pier. Bring a blanket for a small picnic or sit on one of the logs for a breathtaking view of the sunset.

    Tiffany C.

    I'm not sure what else I can add that hasn't already been said by other reviews. Parking: was easy on a mid-Sunday morning. Free parking on the street. Trail: super short and easy. It's like taking a stroll in someone's super nice backyard. The views are nothing but spectacular and breath taking. It's worth coming here because you don't have to work your butt off to end up with amazing views. It's calm, peaceful, and not crowded with people. A nice spot to picnic with a nice thick blanket (no where to sit) and chillax.

    Jennifer F.

    Just like the other reviewers said, this place isn't easy to find and there isn't a parking lot. You will need to park in the neighborhood. I came here on my birthday last year. It was a rather hot day. It's an easy walking trail (loop). Just make sure you are wearing closed toe shoes. This trail offers spectacular views of the coast. It was truly breath-taking and had a great time.

    Mateo M.

    Pretty flat loop in La Jolla that circles through a lot of California scrub. Has descriptions of some of the common plant and animal types of you're interested in learning about native vegetation and creatures. When you get by the coast, you get some great views if blacks beach, the waves and some big fancy houses. If you want an easy walk with some good views, not a bad place to go, and it's usually never crowded.

    My buddy and I created a mini rock tower.  Felt like nature's jenga!
    Arlene P.

    I'm so glad that this place was preserved! it's gorgeous and I love walking above on the cliffs or below on the sand, but I'm a little concerned about 2 things: 1) Some of the large rocks on the sand have ugly tags from USD research. I get that they need to research, but why such ugly white plastic that looks like pollution? 2) Where is the protection? It seems anyone can just come here and graffiti and I even saw 3 ladies leaving with buckets of who knows what? The signs say not to remove anything but clearly, these ladies were. How can it be a reserve if no one is protecting it? Haunama Bay in Hawaii is a Preserve too and they seem to take it more seriously than we do. Anyway... it's gorgeous I just think it could be managed better in a few areas.

    These two hikes are doable on the same day. Both have great views.
    Liz R.

    It is a nice place with great views. The loop trail it self is short about a mile, it is flat and well maintained. There is 2 hour street parking. We came on a Saturday afternoon and there was plenty of parking. My husband had visit this place for a UCSD biology extract assignment earlier this year and saw some wildlife today we only saw lizards and a lot of flowers. The views are great definitely a nice place to see the sunset, have a romantic picnic or just to watch the waives. It is a lot less crowded then Sunset Cliffs or Gliderport. And with any train on the cliffs be careful while we were there we saw SDFD and SD Lifeguards doing a Cliff-Rescue near by. If you are hiking the Ho Chi Minh Trail and want a nice relaxing place to hangout after or before this is the place for you. The Ho Chi Minh Trail is very close by.

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    3 years ago

    Asked the love of my life out up here. Beautiful spot, definitely would recommend taking a trip up here to anyone.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Scripps Coastal Reserve

    Has this trail re-opened to the public yet? (Feb 2022)

    Not yet. Still illegally closed but the California Coastal Commission case is progressing.

    Hi! Is this area currently open for hiking?

    Currently closed due to covid

    Are dogs allowed on the reserve?

    Nope.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Scripps Coastal Reserve

    It's off the beaten path, tucked away in a tony residential area of La Jolla nearly adjacent to UCSD.

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

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    Civita Park

    Civita Park

    4.6
    (176 reviews)
    8.9 mi

    Civita Park in Mission Valley has quickly become one of my go-to spots, especially since it's just…read morea short drive from home. It's super accessible with ample parking, and I love that there are multiple entry points and routes you can take depending on how long of a walk you're in the mood for. This park truly has something for everyone. There's a splash pad, basketball courts, a great playground for kids, and even a giant chess game, which is such a fun and unique touch. It's also an amazing place to walk your dog--I bring mine here all the time, and he absolutely loves all the open grass and the variety of paths we can explore. One of my favorite features is the set of stairs that lead up toward the residential areas and the dog park. If you take them all the way up, you're rewarded with really pretty views at the top, which makes the little climb totally worth it. Overall, Civita Park is clean, well-designed, and perfect whether you're looking to be active or just enjoy a relaxing afternoon outdoors. Definitely a Mission Valley gem!

    Pros: Spacious, plenty of walking paths, with nice clean facilities, which include 2 family…read morebathrooms with baby diaper changing stations and several drinking fountains. There's also a row of small fountains for kids to play, run through and splash in. Cons: It's a really nice park ON A COOL DAY. Lately, with temperatures 10 to 19° above "normal average" - or maybe it's just the new normal - it's hard to recall the last time we got to experience a cool day. But here, the way the gazebos, tables, and benches are set up reflects a pretty severe case of denial that this is Southern California, and not quite within walking distance from the beach. It WILL get hot whenever it damn pleases, with or without notice. It did so in February already, in case you missed it. We came a few times for the farmers market. Both days were unfortunately " 80°F" her weather report, which in reality feels like 92°F, and we had to scramble to find a little bit of shade, so that we could eat our street food without passing out from heat stroke. We huddled awkwardly on the curb under a small tree. Other people passing by with food in their hands looked at us with envy. NOT A SINGLE PERSON sat on the readily available benches with tables, because they were in the blazing sun, yet lacked any shade. Never mind an umbrella, not even holes to put one in!! Denial much?? It's really sad, because it's a beautiful place. It just DESPERATELY needs more shade for the visitors to feel comfortable without clinging to trees or the bathroom walls.

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    Civita Park
    Tunnel Mural
    Tunnel Mural
    Basketball court! Can you make a basket?

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    The Children's Park

    The Children's Park

    4.3
    (37 reviews)
    12.4 mi

    We enjoyed the park here! It had more people than usual when we play at parks but it was downtime…read moreand comic con weekend. Great play structures. Built with probably age 7+ in mind but my toddler was able to enjoy everything easily. The slides were metal but it didn't burn anyone going down. I was happy there was a good amount of shade! Bring your own food and snacks. Prices are ridiculous. The ice cream truck was $6 for an ice cream sandwich. Prices are not posted and I didn't have the heart to say nevermind and disappoint the kiddos. Great park!

    This is more based on the dog park that's on the same lot as the Children's Park. This one uses…read moreturf, which i find has it's benefits on the days after a rainstorm since it doesn't get muddy. There are four big pine trees with separate retaining walls around three of them for owners to sit down. With it being so close to the bay, there's often a nice breeze that goes through the park. There's no divide between small dogs and big dogs, so it's best to just keep an eye on your dog, and many owners around here are usually respectful. The street parking immediately adjacent to the park is free, however, it has a limit of 30 minutes, and the parking meter workers are strict on it if they're around. I bring my dog here around lunch time because those who live/ work in the area tend to bring their dogs during their break time and my dog gets his socialization time. They close 8am-11am MWF for maintenance/ cleaning. Currently, both gates are broken so it's not as secure as it should be, and who knows when the city will actually fix it. There're a few agility structures and a water dispenser. The children's park itself looks pretty cool for kids with a lot of structures with slides and swings. There's also another separate area with fixed exercise equipment that looks well- maintained. The water feature in the park is a water feature, not a pool.

    Photos
    Where can you find a large art sculpture and the many areas made of wood and the climbing is for exercise.
    Where can you find a large art sculpture and the many areas made of wood and the climbing is for exercise.
    The Children's Park in Downtown, San Diego, CA
    The Children's Park in Downtown, San Diego, CA
    Childrens park one of the best educational parks and for the many structures you can have fun the whole day.

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    Maruta Gardner Playground

    Maruta Gardner Playground

    4.8
    (29 reviews)
    7.3 mi

    The most amazing park my toddler and I have ever had the pleasure of visiting- thus far!!!…read more As we were driving to Old Town, we passed by a few playgrounds prompting my little monster's request for some play time. After we were doing doing some basic tourist-y things, I hopped on Yelp in search of a few parks located withing the vicinity. Maruta Gardner Playgound seemed to be the most entertaining and appropriate for my wild child. Parking was plentiful and the size of this particular playground was great. Not only was the look and design very unique, you really couldn't ask for a better view. Seating was plentiful and again, the design of things were so cool. Shade is easily found and the play structure is great for children + adults of all ages. Lastly, there are restrooms and water fountain located not too far. Shout out to Ms. Maruta Gardner!! My daughter and I thank you because this place wouldn't have been possible without you. Your dedications and love for your community was undeniable. Thank you for beautifying everything around you and rest in paradise. 5/5 Stars!! Definitely a must if you are in San Diego!!

    My kiddo loves obstacle course type playgrounds, par-core, all the things, so I googled what was…read morenear us and spotted this place. Soo cute in person, big playground, lots of space, grassy area to the little pond lake thing to walk around. Also the parking lot was really big lots of shade. We had a fun morning.

    Photos
    MARUTA GARDNER PLAYGROUND
    MARUTA GARDNER PLAYGROUND
    MARUTA GARDNER PLAYGROUND
    MARUTA GARDNER PLAYGROUND
    MARUTA GARDNER PLAYGROUND

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    Liberty Station NTC Park

    Liberty Station NTC Park

    4.6
    (173 reviews)
    10.1 mi

    We're fortunate to be able to walk to all Liberty Station has to offer. ,…read more Dog walks along the water, shopping Trader Joe's or Vons, Sephora. My optometrist is there and the Scripps clinic takes walk-ins for lab work and other services. Tender Greens, Ikuru sushi is simple and very good. Liberty Public market has all kinds of food options, Con Pane for coffee, bread and yummy carbs! Solare for Michelin recommended Italian food. The Joan performing arts center is home to Cygnet Theater company now in its second season there, it's the perfect date night spot. Kayak rentals in the summer behind the hotels and events of all sorts at the Park - Every weekend there is something going on! Grateful to have all this in walking distance to our house !

    Liberty Station NTC Park is a large neighborhood park which hosts local events and various kids…read moresports. The park, formally part of a naval training center, sits along an inlet of the San Diego Bay. Great views of downtown San Diego can be seen from the scenic walkway along the bay. Tropical vegetation lines the nicely paved and accessible walkway. I saw a few benches along the walkway to sit. I saw kid's soccer practice and people riding bikes and walking in the park. A local business offered paddle boarding with your dog for a fee. A coin show was advertised in the nearby convention center. The park is multifunctional. A footbridge is available that crosses over the small bay. I saw a building that had restrooms towards the center of the walkway. The park is a good place to run or walk. I walked to the park, so I'm not sure about parking. I noticed a little street parking.

    Photos
    Liberty Station NTC Park
    Liberty Station NTC Park
    Liberty Station NTC Park

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    Scripps Coastal Reserve - parks - Updated August 2026

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