If you're looking to do an easy nature trail walk, I recommend this one! Right from the start you…read moresee a lake scenery with lots of trees and plants on the water. There were trees with yellow leaves because it's fall. Didn't see much wild life. There were bridges and streams. No steep hills. Beautiful views and atmosphere.

We parked at a large lot next to the Visitor Center (plenty of spots ~ 830AM). We walked…read moreapproximately 1.5mi to the Old Mission Dam (lots of water!) then proceeded according to the Google Maps for "Oak Canyon Trail" since the map at the Visitor Center didn't show where the waterfall was. We have done portions of this hike coming from other entry points when it was DRY, and everything was rocks and dirt. With the recent rains, areas that were previously rocks/dirt were now covered with running water. It actually took awhile to get from the "Giant Oak Tree" landmark to where the waterfall was supposed to be, because two-way traffic was needing to stop and wait for each other, since in parts of the trail, only a sliver of muddy ground could be traversed. If you are wanting to do this hike now, you will not be able to take strollers on this path & you should be somewhat surefooted because the rocks can be slippery. Stupidly, I can't figure out if I actually saw a waterfall. I saw a lot of segments in which the flowing water would "fall" a foot or so (one photo attached). Overall, it was a beautiful hike and wonderful to see a familiar hiking trail completed transformed by the rains. That being said, it was supposed to be an out-and-back hike but we were not interested in clambering through mud/rocks/water again so we actually used the North Fortuna to Grassland loop trail to get back to the Visitor center. This turned a 3mi hike into an 8mi one. Our bodies were very tired

A great gem to boulder outside locally. Managed to send some boulders that were most likely v0-v1s…read moreout there. Although a few felt like v2s & up, hah! Park in the West Hills Park parking lot. Quaint park w/ clean bathroom then head your way out the park across the street. Spoke to another climber who informed us where some of the beginner boulders were. Basically about a 10 minute walk, set up, & have fun. Sunblock & hydrate especially around this time. Also, we were told there were coyotes so be careful. Luckily, we didn't see any. Stay safe & have fun!!!

I'm a beginner to rock climbing and been doing it indoors for few months now; bouldering, top rope…read moreand traverse climb. I was invited to try the Santee Boulders today and this is my first time to do it outdoors. I drove to Santee to check it out and meet new climbers as well. It was a nice day, super hot though about 89 degrees. I met the coolest climbing group and introduced myself. After watching them climb, it was little dragon's turn to climb the 5.6 boulder- oh boy the climbing starts, WOW what a workout! I did pretty good for a beginner and got to the top, awesome view. Now I have to buy a crashpad to practice my outdoor bouldering skills. It was fun and I enjoyed it. Another nice day in San Diego.

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!

Having access to hiking and mountain biking so close to the major urban center of San Diego is a…read morehuge benefit to everybody who lives here that enjoys the outdoors. Right now through March is the best time of year to visit in my opinion. Everything is beautiful and green and the flowers are starting to come out. I just hiked there this past weekend and it was spectacular. Over the course of the years when we have had super blooms, the mountainside on South Fortuna gets covered with poppies. We only saw a couple puppies here this past weekend but super exciting! With a little bit of rain in the near future forecast, the wildflowers are going to explode. So many different choices of trails to hike, but the south Fortuna Mountain is definitely my favorite. There's a kick ass section of over 200 stairs that goes straight up the hillside. That's the hillside where the poppies come out and it's one hell of a workout. It does get incredibly hot out here in the summer months. I would proceed with caution, if choosing outdoor activities here at those times. Tons of water, early morning or late evening start time for activities and adequate sun protection are a must. There is very little shade on these trails. I would also recommend always going with a buddy, just in case there's an emergency, and using the AllTrails app so you don't get lost.

I've been wanting to go to Mission Trails for the longest and finally had the opportunity to go…read morerecently. It was a typical beautiful day...I thought why not enjoy it at Mission Trails Regional Park. It was easy to get to and plenty of available parking...choice of lot or street. That's greaaat parking is not an issue whatsoever! Our goal was to see the dam. We had a pleasant walk...basking in the sun...listening to nature...reading park info displayed and signage. Along the way, we realize there were pipeline work being done for what appears to be for waste. We weren't sure for how long this work was going on. When we almost arrived at our destination, we were disappointed to find out the road to the dam was closed due to construction. I wish this sign was at the start of the trail. We could've taken another trail instead. It's all good though. We enjoyed looking at the open areas with rugged hills and valleys while taking in the nature surrounding us. Overall, it was a good outdoor experience. We'll be back :-)

This is a very nice neighborhood park at the base of Big Rock Trailhead. I stopped by the park for…read morea walk and to watch some pickle ball at play. The park has a nice grass area for dog play, but dogs must remain on a leash. There is volley ball court, basket ball court, a playground with equipment, picnic tables that can be reserved for events, restrooms, tennis or pickle ball court, plenty of shaded areas, and a bike rack to lock up your bikes. I liked that the grass area was very well maintained, but the parking area had several pieces of trash lying around. It is said that people just drop their trash when there are public trash cans in sight. At any rate, this is a very nice community park.

This park is great, there's a large field, playground, tennis courts, basketball courts, and table…read morearea. A few years back I rented out the table spaces for a baby shower. There's also a little creek area. This park is great to visit on the weekends and during the week as well.

This trail is relatively easy. Paved road all the way through with little to no incline. The dam…read morewas absolutely gorgeous Wish I had been here earlier in the fall season when the leaves started changing colors. Would definitely do it again for a nice stroll/ leisure exercise

This is one of my favorite places to hike in San Diego because, I truly enjoy seeing and hearing…read morewater . It has such a relaxed feel about it . Different level of trails here from easy family friendly to more challenging with incline . It's a great place to view nature with an easy nature stroll if you want to take it easy . Some benches are set up for taking a rest near the dam or down the paved path. Bicyclist , runners, walkers and hikers can come out to play and go home happy . I did notice also a few picnic benches setting near the damn parking lot as well a water fountain is available . Porta potty's available there as well . The visitor center has regular bathrooms and maps for the trails .

At 1,369 ft, Pyles Peak is located near Cowles Mountain…read more There are a couple of ways to get to this hike, but I went through Cowles. I believe the other way is going to less trafficked route, the Barker Trail. At Cowles summit, if you follow the path near the antenna, it will lead you to Pyles Peak--a quieter 1.5+ mile out-and-back hike from Cowles summit. To get to Cowles summit you can either take the scenic route, which is a 1.5 mile hike to the summit or the service road, which is a 1 mile hike. There is a parking lot you can park in or street parking. There's restrooms at the entrance near the scenic side. There is not much shade so be aware of that. This hike is kept very clean. I just find it to be a little more on the boring side. This was the last hike I did for the five peak challenge! That could have influenced my feelings towards this hike.

Instead of following the traditional route of hiking up the front (south) side of Cowles Mountain,…read moreI started my trek from the end of the Mesa Service Road on the east side of Mission Trials Regional Park. The Mesa Trail actually had more shade to protect you from the heat and sunlight than if you started from the main trail head at the corner of Golfcrest Drive and Navajo Road. The tough part began when you ascended west on the Cowles Service Road towards the summit of Cowles Mountain. It was nearly a mile stretch in which the incline became rather steep in a couple of spots. As soon as you pass the top of Cowles Mountain, you keep going west for a few hundred more yards before you see a sign that directs you to a trail towards Pyles Peak. From that point, it was another 1.5 miles of decline and incline before you reached the summit of Pyles Peak. About halfway into this part of the trek, there was a view point (i.e. Pyles View Peak) where you could branch off back east for maybe a 1/4 mile until the path ended in a cul de sac. At that location, you get a wonderful view looking back towards the top of Cowles Mountain. It's a nice rest stop and photo opportunity. There was about 3/4 mile left to hike before reaching Pyles Peak. A sign posted 1/4 mile from the summit warned hikers that this was a difficult climb. I actually didn't find it any worse than the ascent up the Cowles Service Road. The sign at the Pyles Peak summit indicated you were 1379 feet above sea level. After taking several pictures and eating some snacks, I started my journey back to where my vehicle was. In total, this hike took approximately 3.5 hours with breaks to cover about 6.5 miles.

This is a great place to go for a walk or run. I started on the east side of Lakeside. The trail…read moreleads all the way to Santee and past The Lakeside Base Ball Park. What I really liked about the trail was that it was well maintained and the scenery was very nice. It's a great place to walk and talk. On the trail there are sections where there are small lakes and ponds with wild life to check out along the San Diego River. I observed a few benches a long the the trail. There's dirt parking on both ends and a lot more at the base ball field that I mentioned. Oh yes! I did spot a coyote on the trail, so be on alert if you bring a small pet or child.

Such a beautiful trail to walk in the early morning! The trail is well kept for bikes and bringing…read moreyour pets. You can look out to the lake as you walk along the trail. Although being right next to the lake there aren't many mosquitoes. Along the trail they have benches, informational signs, and dog poop bags!

I looked up spots to fly drones in town and this one popped up. It's a nice reservoir. If you…read morehave boats and water toys this is your jam. I believe there are entrance and other fees for using them. Since I was not using any of those I got a free pass in to look around. Definitely a nice back drop to just chill and observe even if you do not have any water toys. I hear drone enthusiasts dig this spot. I can see why.

Everything was pretty much fun in the sun at San V. Always have a fun time with families and…read morefriends. And the locals. San Diego native. Born and raised. Love the backyard lake we have here.

Lake Murray is so beautiful and I enjoy coming here! I've been here a few times to walk the trail…read moreand also sit by the lake and read on a nice sunny morning. The birds can be a bit annoying, but guess that comes with the great outdoors. Definitely a nice spot to chill, take a walk and get those steps in. This area feels safe and well maintained. When I went, there weren't too many people, so it was pretty peaceful. The trail can get busy and there are bathrooms along the way (I didn't use them though) There's plenty of parking here, but just be sure you leave on time for closing. I've heard they lock up and it can be an issue with getting out. (not sure how true this is but I won't chance it) There is more parking elsewhere with trail access too, I just personally haven't found it.

Lake Murray Service road walking trail is one of my go-to workouts--about 5.5 miles to the locked…read moregate and back. After entering the main entrance, follow the road and turn right where you will see a yellow locked gate. This is the beginning of the paved walking trail. There's plenty of parking at the main entrance, and the paved trail is perfect for walkers, runners, bikers, and even kids tagging along. It's basically a choose-your-own-adventure: bird watching, fishing (permit required), or just a casual picnic. Bonus perks: lots of porta potties and benches when you need a breather. If you're holding out for a real restroom, there's one just past the second baseball field--plan accordingly. Photo is attached to show where to locate this. Heads up: the main gate is closed every 2nd Tuesday of the month, but don't panic--you can still access the trail through the neighborhood entrance off Baltimore Drive. Hope you enjoy this walking trail as much as I do.