Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is closed to all visitors from September 22, 2026. This guide covers 22 trail pages from agency sources, from Cowles Mountain to Anza-Borrego, with permits, fees, dog rules and heat warnings. Statuses were read 2026-10-23 and can change.Checked October 23, 2026.
Places in Hiking Trails
Hiking Safety, Fees and Permits Guide
Read first: Torrey Pines closure, Cedar Creek permit, fire danger, heat, snakes, dogs and parking passes.
Closed State ReserveTorrey Pines State Natural Reserve Trails (Closed)
CLOSED to all visitors from Sept. 22, 2026 per State Parks. No reopening date posted.
Waterfall Hike, PermitCedar Creek Falls (San Diego River Gorge Trail)
Permit required: $6.00 for up to 5, reserved on Recreation.gov. 5.5 miles round trip.
Summit TrailsCowles Mountain Summit
Highest point in Mission Trails and the City of San Diego at 1,591 feet.
Regional Park TrailsMission Trails Regional Park Trail System
8,000 acres and about 60 to 65 miles of trails for hikers and mountain bikers.
Short Canyon TrailAnnie's Canyon Trail at San Elijo Lagoon
Quarter-mile trail described as a bit harder, plus 7 miles of easy lagoon trails.
State Park TrailsPalomar Mountain State Park Trails
Forested mountain trails, $10 per vehicle (cash or check), no dogs on trails.
Summit TrailGarnet Peak Trail
Short, steep, rocky climb to a viewpoint near 6,000 feet. Hikers only.
Forest TrailSunset Trail, Laguna Mountains
Easy forest and meadow trail the Forest Service calls great for families, kids and couples.
Forest LoopBig Laguna Trail
10-mile moderate-to-difficult loop through oak and pine woodland and meadows. Pets allowed.
Forest TrailNoble Canyon Trail
Strenuous canyon trail of nearly 10 miles one way, shared with mountain bikers.
County PreserveVolcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve
About 2,900 acres above Julian; summit hike roughly 5 miles round trip, steep.
County PreservesSanta Ysabel County Preserves Trail Guide
Combined 4,600 acres with more than 15 miles of trails and a nature center.
County and City PreserveLos Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Trails
About 12 miles of creekside trails in a 3,700-acre preserve; spring waterfall chance.
County PreserveSycamore Canyon and Goodan Ranch County Preserve
2,272 acres, more than 10 miles of trails, permit-only Stowe Trail.
Recreational ReserveElfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Chaparral and oak trails near Escondido. Leashed dogs welcome. Strict gate times.
State Ecological ReserveCrestridge Ecological Reserve
About 2,800 acres east of El Cajon; no facilities. Open sunrise to sunset.
National Monument TrailBayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument
2.5 miles round trip, about 340 feet of gain, closes at 4 PM. No pets.
River Park TrailsSan Dieguito River Park Trails at Lake Hodges and Clevenger Canyon
Bernardo Mountain, Piedras Pintadas, Bernardo Bay and Clevenger Canyon trails, with posted lengths and ratings.
Desert State Park TrailsHellhole Canyon and The Slot, Anza-Borrego
Two trailheads with day-use parking, $10 day use. Distances not confirmed.
Desert Nature TrailsAnza-Borrego Self-Guided Nature Trails
Five short trails with State Parks lengths: Cactus Loop, Yaqui Well, Narrows Earth, Elephant Tree and Ehmuu-Morteros.
Long-Distance TrailPacific Crest Trail, Anza-Borrego
No permit required in the park segment. Dogs prohibited. Coyote Canyon closed June 1 to Sept. 30.
Map of Hiking Trails
Not pinned (no confirmed location yet): Hiking Safety, Fees and Permits Guide, Cowles Mountain Summit, Mission Trails Regional Park Trail System, Annie's Canyon Trail at San Elijo Lagoon, Palomar Mountain State Park Trails, Garnet Peak Trail, Sunset Trail, Laguna Mountains, Big Laguna Trail, Noble Canyon Trail, Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, Santa Ysabel County Preserves Trail Guide, Sycamore Canyon and Goodan Ranch County Preserve, Crestridge Ecological Reserve, Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument, San Dieguito River Park Trails at Lake Hodges and Clevenger Canyon, Hellhole Canyon and The Slot, Anza-Borrego, Anza-Borrego Self-Guided Nature Trails, Pacific Crest Trail, Anza-Borrego.
Torrey Pines Is Closed
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve is closed to all visitors from September 22, 2026, including all trails, per California State Parks (page read 2026-10-23). No reopening date was posted. See the Torrey Pines trails page.
More Trails on Our Site
Already covered: Mount Woodson and Potato Chip Rock, Daley Ranch, Stonewall and Cuyamaca Peak Trails, Borrego Palm Canyon Trail, El Capitan County Preserve, Louis A. Stelzer County Park, Walker Preserve, Ramona Grasslands County Preserve and Blue Sky Ecological Reserve.
Events in Hiking Trails
0 confirmed dates are on the Hiking Trails events page, from the organizers’ own pages.
What We Could Not Verify
- Many trail lengths, gains, fees and dog rules are not confirmed on agency pages; each page lists what is missing.
- Torrey Pines reopening date is not posted. California State Parks can confirm.
- Cleveland National Forest parking fee wording conflicts between pages. The Forest Service can confirm.
FAQ
Is Torrey Pines open?
No. California State Parks says the Reserve is closed to all visitors from September 22, 2026 (page read 2026-10-23).
Which hike needs a permit?
Cedar Creek Falls: $6.00 for up to 5 people, reserved on Recreation.gov.
Where do I start?
Read the safety, fees and permits guide.
Sources
- California State Parks
- Cleveland National Forest
- County Parks
- Mission Trails
- National Park Service: Cabrillo
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.