Part of Streams and Fishing Guides, our guide to San Diego County creeks, rivers and stream-side parks, with fishing rules and flood safety.
Los Penasquitos Canyon is a 3,700-acre preserve with about 12 miles of trails on either side of a creek. The County and City of San Diego manage it jointly. It is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily, with parking at the Black Mountain Road staging area. Stay on designated paths.Checked October 23, 2026.
What It Is
The county says the trails “sit on either side of a bubbling creek feeding a dense grove of riparian plants.” In spring a flowing waterfall at the west end may be seen, per the page. Source: San Diego County Parks, read 2026-10-23.
Fishing
The county page does not give fishing rules, so fishing here is unconfirmed. See our stream fishing rules.
What We Could Not Verify
- Fishing rules were not stated. San Diego County Parks can confirm.
- Waterfall timing is only described as “may” be seen in spring; no dates. San Diego County Parks can confirm.
- Parking fee, dog rules and accessibility were not stated.
- Map coordinates were not obtained.
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FAQ
Who manages Los Penasquitos Canyon?
The County and the City of San Diego, jointly.
Is there a waterfall?
The county says a flowing waterfall at the west end may be seen in spring. No dates are given.
Sources
Checked October 23, 2026 by It’s San Diego. Cite this page: It’s San Diego (itssandiego.com), checked October 23, 2026. Free to quote with a link to this page; tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.