No dated hiking events are listed on this site yet. A County Hike-A-Thon in October 2026 and Hawktober raptor events at Santa Ysabel on October 25, 2026 appeared in search results only; their pages were not read, so we do not list them as confirmed.Checked October 23, 2026.
What We Could Not Verify
- The County Hike-A-Thon (October 2026) and Hawktober events (for example Santa Ysabel Nature Center, October 25, 2026) were seen in search results only and are not confirmed. County Parks can confirm.
Places to Visit 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
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.
FAQ
Are there hiking events?
None are confirmed here. Check County Parks for the Hike-A-Thon and ranger programs.
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.