Explore the best trails near San Diego with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you.
walking
hiking
trail running
views
kid friendly
birding
dogs on leash
nature trips
wild flowers
mountain biking
wildlife
beach
road biking
river
dog friendly
lake
wheelchair friendly
forest
waterfall
city walk
Really crowded trail. Good exercise but not too difficult, I see why some people go up and back more than once.
Loved this hike. So many different paths to choose from. I ended up working my way up South Fortuna Summit, where there were awesome views of the nearby hills.
Great hike and just long enough for an evening outing
Go early before the sun shines and it gets hot!
Went the long way, from Big Rock Park on the Santee side. This route brings you up the back side of the mountain, about 8 miles in total out-and-back. Definitely the way to go if you're looking for a challenge. I never much liked going up Cowles on the obvious south approach because of the pedestrian atmosphere and not challenging enough, but this route is a whole different experience. It's definitely the road less traveled, and it's enjoyably savage. After reaching Pyles summit, you head back up to Cowles summit on your way back, where you'll log in another decent bout of elevation gain. A good training exercise to prepare you for the up-down-up-down brutality of nearby El Cajon Mountain. About 3.5 hours in total, and I'd recommend 2 liters of water on a 75F degree day.
Great place for an evening walk, run, or bike ride!