Explore Parks and Reserves
Stretch your legs, expand your vision, listen to the lively natural sounds, and experience the great outdoors of many wonderful San Diego parks. Activities include hiking, bicycling, horse back riding, birding, boating, fishing, rock climbing, camping, photography, and astronomy.
There are many urban parks within the San Diego city and other community city limits, with conveniences like rest rooms, paved paths, and visitor centers. Here you can find boats for rent, fishing centers, and easy walking paths.
Many other parks and reserves are in rural or outlying areas with rugged trails more for the exploratory adventurer. These are usually in large canyon, mountain, forest, or dessert areas and are somewhat secluded. Most have major roads for easy access to trail heads and camp grounds; however convenience services are sparse due to the rugged nature of the parks. Several of these types of parks require day passes to ensure hikers and campers safety.
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 Cuyamaca State Park – A large wilderness area with hiking trails, streams, and lakes. Located 60 minutes east of San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains.
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Anza Borrego State Park – A large dessert area with hiking trails, palm canyons, and spring time streams. Located 1.5 hours northeast of San Diego in the Anza Borrego Dessert. |
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Cabrillo National Monument / State Park – A historic monument and scenic park located high on the Point Loma peninsula overlooking San Diego harbor with panoramic views of San Diego and the ocean. Located 15 minutes northwest of downtown San Diego. |
Mount Helix Park – A mountaintop park with panoramic views of the ocean, mountains, San Diego, and East County. A historic cross and outdoor amphitheatre are at the top of mountain. Located 20 minutes east of San Diego in La Mesa.
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Mission Trails Regional Park – A protected park with many hiking trails that stretch across and wind through several areas including east San Diego, La Mesa, and Santee. Located on the east side of San Diego. |
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Palomar State Park – A protected park with many trails that span Palomar Mountain where the world famous Palomar telescope resides. Located 1 hour northeast of San Diego in Escondido. |
Point Loma Tide Pools – A shoreline area exposed during low tides that can be explored on foot – it contains fascinating sea creatures and plants that remain in crevices, caves, and on rocks. Located 15 minutes northwest of downtown San Diego on the western side of Point Loma peninsula.
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Wright’s Field Nature Preserve – A protected conservancy park for hiking, birding, horseback riding, and bicycling. Located 45 minutes east of San Diego in Alpine. |
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