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Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve

Part of Parks in San Diego, our guide to county, city and state parks and preserves across San Diego.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve covers about 4,000 acres, roughly 7 miles from the I-5/805 merge to just east of I-15. The county staging area at 12020 Black Mountain Road is open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. The city warns trails may close for flooding or damage.Checked October 23, 2026.

~4,000acres
~7miles long
8 to sunsetcounty hours
c. 1823adobe
Wide dry grass valley with hills and a faint trail under a blue sky.
The canyon floor at Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve. RightCowLeftCoast, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Who it suitsHikers, cyclists, riders; kids for the creek and adobe
County staging area12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129
Hours8 a.m. to sunset daily; pedestrian access sunrise to sunset; none December 25
Trail closuresCity page: “Trails may be closed due to flooding or damage.” Ranger office 858-538-8066
FeesSee the official page; a city fee schedule link was not read
Official pagesCounty page and City page

What You Will Find

A creek, a waterfall in spring and the historic Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos Adobe (about 1823), which the county runs with tours for school groups and the public. Hikers, cyclists and riders use the trails.

Before You Go

Call the ranger office at 858-538-8066 after rain; the city page says trails may be closed due to flooding or damage. This was read 2026-10-23.

Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Open the map. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

What We Could Not Verify

  • Adobe public tour days and the fee schedule are not confirmed. The ranger office or County Parks can confirm. Dog rules are not confirmed. Closures change; read the city page on the day.

More in Parks in San Diego

FAQ

Can trails close?

Yes. The city page says trails may be closed due to flooding or damage.

Sources

  1. County Parks: Los Peñasquitos
  2. City of San Diego: Los Peñasquitos

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.