Hubby and I hiking spot Cowels mountain beautiful place to…read morevisit Bring your hiking boots and night light for evening trails after sunset

A local and tourist fav!…read more Cowles Mountain is a San Diego classic and the highest point in the city (~1,593 ft.), which means this short hike hits HARD! The main trail is about 3 miles round-trip with a steady, rocky incline. Be prepared to have your heart pumping fast with some heavy breathing. Who needs a warm up? Just come here! There are other trails in the surrounding areas and the popular 5-Peak Challenge. It's on my bucket list for sure! Cowles is one of the most popular hikes in San Diego, so the timing matters. Early weekday mornings are ideal unless you enjoy crowds. Parking is usually easy with street spots and a small lot if you're lucky. There's a restroom, but not fully stocked or well-maintained. So use if absolutely necessary. Bring enough water (especially on a hot day), wear good shoes with grip since it can get rocky along the trail. Don't forget to stop a few times to admire the view on the way up! The payoff is worth it. You get a 360 degree view of San Diego from the oceans to the mountains. Short, steep, sweaty, and effective! 4 stars on a good day and still one of my favorite quick workouts to get the adrenaline pumping!

McGinty Mountain is a beautiful hiking trail in San Diego County, California, near Jamul. On my…read moremorning hike, the ample shade on the way up made the experience pleasant. The trail features red soil, a variety of plant species, and stunning panoramic mountain views. There's a parking lot at the trailhead, and the trail is dog-friendly. This well-maintained mountain is part of an ecological preserve managed by The Nature Conservancy, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. The trail is a 4.7-mile (7.6 km) out-and-back route, reaching a peak elevation of 2,185 feet.

A fun, short, but deceptively steep hike worth the view at the top. Fun when it's not too hot.read more

Very nice place for a family photo session. I can not speak to anything else at this location but…read morethe bridge was a last minute go too that was local and free. Walkers were mindful and our pictures came out great!

Very nice, well maintained trails. There are a bunch of different paths to take. Not a lot of tree…read morecover so I would recommend bringing water and a hat. Plenty of parking in the lot outside the trail or in front of the bridge which is also cool to walk across.

Situated 1365' above San Diego and east of downtown, Mt. Helix Park is a hidden gem to most who…read morelive in or visit San Diego. It is well worth taking the scenic drive up Mt. Helix, starting in neighborhoods and stopping at or near the summit. Parking near the top is very limited, and the road is one way, so be prepared to take the first space you find as you approach the summit and walk to the top. At the summit, you'll enjoy spectacular views that stretch from the mountains to the east, south toward Mexico, and to the Pacific coastline to the west. Here you'll also find an open air amphitheater used for concerts, as well as lookout points and trail heads. Plan to spend time here absorbing the views, fresh air, peaceful surroundings ... and maybe a picnic. I highly recomend a visit.

Amazing, only issue is parking. I'd make sure to come early or park at the bottom and get a decent…read morewalk.

A trail that isn't meant for sight seeing and fun. This trail is definitely meant for sport. 12…read moremiles out & back you get little downtime as you will be engaged on your hike to the peak, as well as your hike back to the parking lot. The Lot does open at 8am but many hikers park on the side of the road. Start early, definitely before sunrise, the sun will definitely become a factor. Pack more water than expected. Temperature's do rise fast and there is little shade. Please wear proper hiking shoes as there are parts of the trail have a lot of loose rocks. Hiking poles are definitely a plus. I recommend using the weather app to know what kind of weather you will be in the day of your hike and so you could wear proper attire. The earlier you start your hike the better, stay safe!!

Completed the Memorial Day Warrior challenge and this mountain continues to be one of my favorite…read more It's is like a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. I didn't take a lot of picture, but it was an absolutely gorgeous day... 73 degrees high. The rangers were out but I came too late to collect my badges. maybe next year. What a great event and it really brings together the local hiking community. Much thanks to the county of San Diego Parks! Please come and create your own adventure.

We tackled Volcan Mountain Trail with an eight-year-old, so we didn't make it the full way but it…read morewas such a nice experience. We also brought along our dog as it is a dog friendly trail as long as your dog is on a leash. The trail starts out pretty steep, but it's well-marked with clear paths throughout. One thing I really loved was all the signage explaining local plant life and animal tracks so it made the hike feel educational and engaging. My kiddo was really into looking at the different animal paw prints. This trail is great for hiking enthusiasts and beginners alike but just know your limits and pace yourself if you're newer to hiking. I would definitely say if it's sunny to make sure you bring plenty of water with you, but there are a lot of shady spots on this trail so that is a nice change from the hikes that are closer to coastal San Diego.

It's a good hike to pair with a trip to Julian. My husband and I picked up sandwiches in town for a…read morepicnic on the trail. Parked next to the road and knew we were in the right place because of all the other cars. We made our hike a loop as we went up the mountain, taking the 5 Oaks Trail, and then came down using the Vulcan Mountain preserve trail. The 5 Oaks Trail has more of a view. There are a few seats to stop, sit (catch your breath) and enjoy the view. Sadly, we haven't had rain so it wasn't as green as I'm sure it would be on a normal January. Nevertheless, a great hike to work off all the apple pie you eat in Julian.

Easy 2.7 mile loop. There are nice views of the surrounding mountains and small seasonal ponds…read more Getting lost is almost impossible as the starting point will always be right behind you which is the school. There is no parking available at the trailhead. Signs point to parking at the school. The start of the trail head is at 1951 Tavern Road which is a small road between the school and some private homes. Look for that sign. There is no actual sign from what I saw pointing to Wrights Field.

Fresh air! 30…read moreminutes east of San Diego City in the city of Alpine is this great hiking/walking spot. I-8 to the Tavern Road exit, then continue until you see 2001 Tavern Road which is a school. Parking nearby. Follow google maps up the side street and you'll find an entrance. Directly behind the entrance gate is the only restroom facility in the park, a porta potty. The terrain is predominantly flat. There are a few different ways to go including a moderately wide circular path. Low brush, small slightly rocky inclines and all-around in great condition for walking or hiking depending on your mood. Families, dogs, and people in various states of physical condition including pole walkers today. I found a two-hour walk to be fairly easy. There is little shade or water or restroom facilities so be prepared!

If you are a San Diego hiker and haven't done this hike- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???…read more And for those of you who see these photos and think damn I need to go do that, please be aware of the temperature because it is dangerously hot down there at lower temperatures than in other areas. The hike goes down into a canyon and the heat settles down there. Even if it's not as hot as you think coming up can be extremely dangerous. Every year I hear about somebody dying from heat stroke on that hike so don't take it lightly. I always check the weather on the actual trail using the AllTrails app. I saw that the weather out there was max 65° that day and I was like hell yeah. The hike really isn't that difficult, 3 miles down and then 3 miles back up. Lots of nice switchbacks, and there are a few sun shelters for shade. The views are gorgeous all along the trail. I've done this hike, probably 20 times over the years. It's the best in the spring and in the fall. In the winter it's way too cold. The reward for this hike is the gorgeous rock bowl and waterfall that the locals call Devils Punchbowl. This past Thursday when we did this hike, there were a lot of young folks at the Punchbowl when we got there. Some of the guys were climbing up and jumping into the water. I would not recommend it, even if the waterfall is still flowing that water is not safe to swim in. In the fall, the waterfall doesn't flow anymore after being dried out over the brutal summer, but the trees at the bottom of the canyon turn a beautiful gold color. One of the few places in San Diego you can actually experience fall.

Great trail! Well-marked path down to and back up from the falls. Gorgeous water feature!read more