3 San Diego Hikes Off the Beaten Path

San Diego Day Hikers is one of the region’s most popular hiking groups on the social gathering website Meetup.com. But it has a pretty interesting past.

“The group started in the 1980s as a monthly hike, usually on the last Saturday, led by a professor from SDSU, and loosely affiliated with the Libertarian Party of San Diego,” says Philip Erdelsky, the group’s current leader. “Announcements were printed in the Libertarian Party newsletter, and also emailed to those who had email.”

Subscribers were mostly students and staff at SDSU, but Erdelsky took over the group in 1993. “I used email for the hike announcements, and in the late 1990s started posting the announcements on the Caltech Alumni server, which appeared on the then-new World Wide Web,” he says.

Fast forward to 2012, and Erdelsky decided to add the group to Meetup.com, calling it San Diego Day Hikers. Today, the group has nearly 22,000 members who join up for multiple hikes across the county every month. 

Typically around five to 25 people show up for hikes which are free to join. Erdelsky guides many of the hikes himself, using resources such as Schad’s Afoot & Afield in San Diego county.

Joining a local hiking group is a great way to get to know other people who share similar interests and can even help with finding new routes. Thankfully, there are plenty of hiking groups like San Diego Day Hikers to check out—most of which don’t require any membership or fees.

If you’re looking for a new crew to join, here are more San Diego hiking groups to check out:

San Diego Day Hikers

This group gathers for hikes throughout the San Diego region with easy to moderate routes. The group usually hikes on the last Saturday of each month, but also has weekday evening excursions occasionally. Recent hikes include a Mission Bay five-mile walk, an urban four-mile hike through Marian Bear Park, and the five-mile Engelmann Oak Loop at Daley Ranch in Escondido.

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UCSD Hiking

This group for the UCSD community has a discord channel where users plan hikes and other outings. To join, you must be a member of UCSD, either a student or staff. The group has around 2,850 members, and usually about 20 people turn out for hikes.

Recent hikes include the Santa Margarita River trail, Cowles Mountain, San Clemente Trail and the Potato Chip rock.

San Diego Happy Feet

This group on Facebook has around 2,000 members and plans monthly hikes, including big challenges such as El Cajon Mountain. Organizers say the group is very active with regular events. They mostly focus on hiking, but also organize backpacking, camping, snowboarding, skiing, running, cycling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and road trips events. Members can also create their own events and post them to the group.

Recent hikes include El Cajon Mountain, Mt McGinty, and Black Mountain via Nighthawk Trail. Hikes are usually organized on Saturdays and Sundays early morning at 6 a.m., but also weekday shorter evening hikes at 6 pm.

San Diego Sloth Hiking Team

This Facebook group is great for those worried about being too slow for a regular hiking group. They have nearly 7,000 members and plan regular outings on easier routes. They’ll also organize more challenging adventures such as hiking Mt. Baldy. 

“San Diego Sloth Hiking Team at Mt. Baldy. Started [the] hike at 3:30 a.m. and finished at 3 p.m.! Long day of hiking, laughs, a few curse words and a ton of beautiful views,” one user wrote on TikTok. Other hikes include Kitchen Creek Falls, Cedar Creek Falls in Ramona and Devils Backbone.

Canyoneer Hikes

For a guided experience, the San Diego Natural History Museum offers free guided hikes throughout the county led by volunteers. Hikes are organized every weekend, but are capped in size, so you need to sign up in advance. Priority registration is given to museum members, but if there’s still space then anyone can sign up.

People often join to explore the canyons near their homes that they’ve always been curious about but were hesitant to explore on their own, according to organizers. They also take treks into the desert to explore in groups.

“I sought the Canyoneers out because I was looking to do more desert hiking, but I didn’t feel comfortable going alone,” said Daniel, one of the Canyoneer leaders, on the group’s website. “It’s easy to get lost, there’s spotty cell phone coverage, I’d think ‘what if I got a flat tire?’ The Canyoneers offered the opportunity to explore new trails that I wouldn’t hike on my own.”

Wilderness Basics Course

If you want more than just a regular hike to join, and are looking to boost your wilderness skills, you can check out the San Diego Sierra Club’s 10-week wilderness basics course. The course covers hiking, camping, and backpacking through 10 in-class lectures with four weekend outings.

Skills training includes selecting clothing, gear, and equipment; how to use a map and compass; physical conditioning; first aid and safety; food selection and preparation and water filtration; animal encounters; and sanitation. During the overnight outings, participants will have to supply their own equipment.

The course is offered each year from January to May with lectures at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights in Escondido at San Pasqual High School and in San Diego at the First United Methodist Church – Linder Hall in Mission Valley.

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It may feel a bit cold and cloudy right now thanks to May grey, but warmer weather is fast approaching. And summer is the best time to head to the coast for all your hiking and walking. But don’t let our regularly temperate weather fool you, it can quickly get very hot as you get just 10 miles off the coast. 

So if you’re looking for hikes that beat the heat, we put together a list of our favorite coastal treks to enjoy as the weather starts to spike. With options that range from easy-peasy to more challenging, and all with breathtaking views, here are five of our top summer hikes in San Diego.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

This trail along the cliffs in Point Loma is perfect for an easy hike with kids or pets or if you just want a relaxed outing that isn’t too challenging. You can explore Sunset Cliffs’ wandering trails throughout the park and get beautiful ocean views all along the way. Be sure to pay attention to the signs that show where the ocean walls are degrading, to avoid any accidental slips.

• Distance: ~1.5 miles (out and back)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs: Allowed
• Details: Look for free parking along Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and then start the hike from there.

Cabrillo National Monument & Bayside Trail

For a slightly more challenging (read: hilly) trek, head to Point Loma’s Cabrillo National Monument which commemorates the landing of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo at San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542. Located here is Bayside Trail which  leads down to the beach before climbing back up. It sits on the southernmost point of San Diego, and makes you feel like you are at the end of the world as you look out to the far-reaching ocean beyond you. When you reach the bottom, there are cool tide pools you can check out as well.

• Distance: 2.5 miles (out and back)
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs: Only allowed on Coastal Trail
• Details: You need a pass to enter, which costs $20.

Annie’s Canyon Trail

The Annie’s Canyon hike isn’t quite on the coast, but it’s close enough that you still get the cool breezes and beautiful views at the top. Plus, the climb to the top is exciting as you make your way up through a white slot canyon, with very narrow walls and ladders. Then you pop out on the top and can see the ocean.

• Distance: 1.2 miles out and back
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs: Allowed, but don’t try to bring them up the ladders in the canyon
• Details: Parking is free. Park at 150 Solana Point Cir, Solana Beach, CA 92075 and follow the trail east to get to Annie’s Canyon. Don’t use Google Maps! You’ll avoid climbing a very steep hill along the highway

La Jolla Coast Walk Trail

The La Jolla Coast walk is is a pretty hike to take around La Jolla Village right along the ocean, with chances to take in the seals and sea lions along the way. You can explore the wandering paths all the way to La Jolla Shores Beach if you want to dip your toes in the ocean, or turn back at any point along the way.

• Distance: ~0.6 miles (one way)
• Difficulty: Easy
• Dogs: Allowed
• Details: Find street parking anywhere in La Jolla Village and then head to the trail.

Broken Hill Trail

This is one of the more challenging treks in Torrey Pines State Reserve and has beautiful cliffside views at the end. You can add to the distance to the Broken Hill Trail by taking many of the other offshoot trails—honestly, you can spend an entire day wandering through the reserve if you want to.

• Distance: ~2.5 miles round trip
• Difficulty: Moderate
• Dogs: Not allowed
• Details: It costs $25 to park at the reserve, but you can pick up a state adventure pass from any local library and then park for free.

It’s the new year, and if the path up Cowles Mountain is any indication, people are eager to get out there and get hiking. Plus, it’s a beautiful way to take advantage of the San Diego region, get free exercise and spend time outside. I already do plenty of hiking, so this year I’m adding a family camping trip to my goals for the year (my husband and son go plenty but I haven’t gone with them yet). 

It’s not required to get new gear to embark on a goal of hiking or camping or spending more time outside this year, but it can make getting out there easier and more fun. And there are some really cool new pieces of gear to try. Here are a few of my favorites.

Hiking Backpacks

I kept getting neck and shoulder pain from hiking with a normal backpack, so I switched to a daypack that has more support. I really like Osprey’s Tempest Velocity 20 for women, which has a running-vest-inspired harness, plus a hip belt for more support. And tons of pockets for your phone, water, snacks to bribe your kids with, and a pole-holder and emergency whistle. For kids, the Osprey Daylite Jr. is the perfect size to get your kids used to carrying a pack.

Hiking GPS Watches

There are a lot of fancy watches out there, and most recreational runners and hikers don’t need the top of the line models. Something with a simple GPS feature has been my go-to. I use a Garmin watch that allows me to create a hiking course on their website, and then I send the course to my watch so I can stay on the trail as I hike. It also counts steps, tracks sleep, and all the other health metrics. But if you want the newest model, Garmin’s Instinct 3 is great for rugged wear, including hiking and camping. It has a metal-reinforced bezel and scratch-resistant display, a built-in flashlight, including variable intensities and an alternate red light, and 18 days of battery life.

Hiking & Camping Blankets

If you’re thinking about backpacking and don’t want the extra weight of a sleeping bag, or if you’re car camping and want to be extra cozy, there are some great new camping blankets on the market that make a big difference. Rumpl recently released the Backcountry Puffy, an upgraded version of the Down Puffy. It has an inner liner for weather-resistance on the inside, a poly shell on the outside to resist stains, and upgraded insulation. It packs down to a tube that’s 5.9 x 14.2 in for one person and less than two pounds. The company also sells even smaller travel blankets–I have one stashed in my car for emergencies.

Hiking Shoes and Socks

For day hiking, I really prefer trail shoes that are lighter and more versatile. I’m in love with my Salomon Ultra Glide 2 trail running shoes, which are easy to cinch up and provide the right amount of support. I also always wear SmartWool crew socks, though ankle socks are also great. And my son hikes in Speedcross Trail-Running Shoes.

Hiking Attire

I usually just hike in running shorts or maybe hiking shorts if I want a little extra coverage. But when it’s on the slightly cold side on a San Diego morning, having something slightly warm is very helpful. I really like SmartWool’s women’s active long sleeve, which is a wool blend outer layer that’s warm but breathable. The company also just released the Women’s Smartloft vest, which has a little extra warmth but not the sweat-inducing insulation of a full puffy vest.

Outdoors Jump Starter

I recently also found out about the company Weego, which sells travel jump starters. I didn’t know I needed one of these, but now that I know, it’s hard to imagine not having it. The Weego N70 is great for hiking–basically, you charge it and then can store it in your car or hiking pack for a year. It’s small and lightweight, so you can carry it with you or leave it in the car for car camping, and it can jump start large gas and smaller diesel engines. You can also use it to charge your devices and it has a 400-lumen LED flashlight.

Sure, San Diego has its picturesque hikes. Its beautiful scenic hikes where you can contemplate the exquisiteness of our surroundings and remind yourself that this is why your rent or mortgage is so high. It also has fun hikes, social hikes, hikes where you can bring your parents, your kids, and your friends who don’t usually exercise.

But sometimes you just really want a challenge. A butt-busting workout that will leave you panting and make your wearable device very happy with your step count and heart rate.

Luckily, the San Diego region has plenty of these hikes, too. But there are some cautions. Before attempting any of them, make sure you are ready—that you’ve done some easier hikes in the region and have a good base of fitness. Also bring plenty of water, food, sun protection, and go early in the morning on days that will not be as hot.

El Cajon Mountain Trail – 11.6 Miles

For most hikers, the El Cajon Mountain Trail is really the epitome of challenging hikes in the region. Some like to call it El Capitain, or El Cap, not to be confused with the far taller mountain in Yosemite. But this hike still has lots of steep climbs, and it’s not just a steady uphill, but times where you climb down and then up again to make it to the summit. The trail is rocky at times as well, with big boulders to cover. But if you make it to the top, you’ll feel like you really accomplished something significant. And on a clear day, you can see all the way to the ocean.

Even if you don’t make it all the way, you can stop at any of the saddles on the trail and take in the panoramic views. But be prepared, you will definitely feel sore the next day.

• Directions: Start at the parking lot on Wildcat Canyon Road.
• Distance: 11.6 miles roundtrip
• Dogs: Allowed
• Details: The parking lot is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The trail is closed in August due to the heat.

Mt Gower Open Space Preserve – 9.8 Miles

Mount Gower Open Space Preserve is a massive space in Ramona, and has a few trails that are very challenging but with seriously stunning views. The open space covers 1,574 acres, and has the trail to Mount Gower summit. The summit itself does not actually fall in the preserve—that’s in Cleveland National Forest. But you can reach it on the trail that goes through the preserve. And the viewpoints along the way make the long journey worth it.

There are multiple routes to take to the top. If you follow the southern trail, you get the best views of the San Vicente Valley below.

• Directions: Start at the parking lot at the end of Gunn Stage Road. 
• Distance: 9.8 miles roundtrip
• Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed
• Details: The parking lot doesn’t open until 9 a.m., but if you want to start earlier, you can park outside the gate. That adds an extra 0.25 miles to your hike. Also, be on the lookout for poison oak, which is sometimes found along the trail.

Black Mountain in Ramona – 14.5 Miles

Another very challenging but rewarding hike in Ramona is Black Mountain. This is not to be confused with the smaller Black Mountain near Rancho Peñasquitos, which is a far easier hike. Sometimes it’s called Big Black Mountain to make the distinction. The trail takes you past a variety of trees and plant life, including oak groves and chaparral, as well one of the biggest growths of Engelmann Oak, a threatened species.

You can start the climb from the Santa Ysabel Truck Trail, which is also open to off-road vehicles, but is always open for hiking. In the rainy months, this road can get very muddy, so be warned.

• Directions: From downtown Ramona, follow Pamo Road to the gated Forest Service Road entrance. Park along Pamo Road.
• Distance: 14.5 miles roundtrip
• Dogs: Leashed dogs allowed
• Details: Be prepared for mud in the winter and spring. There are no bathrooms at the parking lot or on the trail.

Ashley Lee had pretty much sworn off dating when a guy she was sort of interested in asked her to go on a hike. “Strictly as friends—because dating is a miserable, awful thing,” she recalls. “I was down because I had not hiked in ages; was more of a yoga girl back then. [I figured I’d] try something new.”

They decided to hike Cowles Mountain in the middle of the day, and, for some reason, Ashley elected not to wear sunscreen. “Long story short, I darn near died on the way up, because yoga shape is not hiking shape,” she says. “He busted out almond Champagne at the top, which was delicious, but I also [almost] died on the way down. I’m a lightweight and dehydration kicked in… I got an epic sunburn… He still gives me a hard time about [it].”

Ashley’s hiking partner, Seung, can still rib her about her sunburn because, well, he’s now her husband. They have three kids together, and Ashley says that, despite the near-death experience, hiking made for a great first date.

“You skip all that formality of sitting at a table interviewing each other and sifting through who this person really is versus what they want you to think,” she reflects. “He seemed like a vaguely responsible and spontaneous guy who was very bright and motivated and spoke his mind.”

She says relationships and marriage are hard, and hiking gives you a better glimpse into how someone handles challenges. “You can kick the tires at the coffee shop and think it’s all great, but you are better served on a hike, where the rubber meets the road,” she emphasizes.

I may be biased, given my love for hiking, running, and generally being outside, but if I were dating now, I’d make all my first dates outdoor treks. I said yes to a first date run back when I lived in Berkeley (I thought I was a good runner, but I still got completely winded when my date took me on a jog up the Fire Trail), and I went on hikes and runs early in my relationship with my now-husband.

They really are good ways to get to know people—and can push you to ramble farther than you would otherwise.

Data from the running app Strava seems to support this notion. Its 2022 Year In Sport report found athletes in pairs went longer in both time and distance than when they were solo.

The company also analyzed all the running and hiking done on Valentine’s Day and found that a good chunk of people celebrated the holiday by exercising as a duo. A fifth of winter activities (skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and snowshoeing) were done in pairs on February 14 over the last four years, while 14% of walks and hikes and 13% of bike rides were two-person trips.

According to Strava, these are the most popular hiking routes for pairs in San Diego County:

• Top Part to Rockhouse (Bonita)
• Get to the Flag (Chula Vista)
• New Trail to Rockhouse (Chula Vista)
• South Fortuna Steps (San Diego)
• Top of Steps to Fortuna Saddle (San Diego)
• Father Junipero Serra Trail Climb (San Diego)
• Top of MTRP (San Diego)
• Quail Mountain Road Climb (Poway)

If you want something with romantic views, try Sunset Cliffs, Torrey Pines, or Kwaay Paay in Mission Trails (which, bonus, is rarely crowded). Meanwhile, local James Hauser says that when he was dating as a student at UCSD, he had a go-to third date: the La Jolla trail.

“[For] the initial first date, you go somewhere on campus. [The] second date might be sushi or somewhere near campus,” he says. “Then I would do this hike around sunset time where you get to see the beautiful ocean. If I did get the opportunity of having a third date, it’s a good way to get to know someone a little bit more than [I would at] a casual dinner.”

Plus, hiking takes a little longer than a typical dinner and can introduce more physical contact, he adds. “‘I need you to hold my hand, I need you to hold on to me,’” he jokes. “And it’s also just very beautiful. I think it’s one of the prettiest places in San Diego overlooking the cliffs. You have the gliders there going back and forth, and then you end up on the beach, and then you can walk back to campus.”

Hauser would tell his dates to wear comfortable shoes, and says he never had bad experiences. “I would be very encouraging [and say] that the hike wasn’t too difficult and any able-bodied person could do it,” he shares.

But one of these third-date hikes became his last—that’s because Hauser took the stroll with a woman who eventually became his wife.

“Maybe two percent of the reason why we’re married is because of the success of that third date,” he says. “She was skeptical at first. She was an L.A. girl who wasn’t into hiking, and I think I sold her on the fact that it was very pretty and I was bringing her somewhere that she hasn’t been before. It’s a little bit sketchy at times when you have to kind of hold on to someone or hold their hand, and so I got to [give] that additional reassurance—’I’m going to be here for you and support you’—and it went very well.”