Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Walking San Diego

“It’s a bit of a mountain getaway feeling if you ignore the freeway noise.”

“Yes, this is our New Year’s resolution,” said my husband Patrick, looking up from his book.

“Let’s hear it,” I answered, half listening as I Instagrammed.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings./ Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees./ The winds will blow their own freshness into you,/ and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

“It’s from John Muir, and he is spot-on,” Patrick said. “Work your magic, Evie, and find some beautiful walks in San Diego. Some place where nature’s peace will flow into us as sunshine flows into trees.

Place

Harry Griffen Regional Park

9550 Milden Street, La Mesa

“Every morning we walk,” offered Lissa, “and our favorite walk is our Thursday route — through Harry Griffen Park from the Blackthorne Avenue entrance, past the dog park, and then down along one of the nature trails. Beautiful lemony smell in the air in the early mornings, hawks wheeling, sometimes a great blue heron standing in the middle of the grass. We meander the trails and then leave the park via the Poppy Street gate.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

“San Clemente Canyon, Marian Bear Memorial Park,” said Katie. “At the intersection of Genesee and the 52 freeway for parking, the walk is a rustic dirt path which goes almost all the way from the 805 to the 5 along the 52. During the winter months, the creek is running. It’s a bit of a mountain-getaway feeling if you ignore the freeway noise.”

Place

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Sunset Cliffs Boulevard at Ladera Street, San Diego

“I love walking and running at Sunset Cliffs [Ocean Front Street and Sunset Boulevard] because it is a very peaceful and happy setting,” said Jeannie. “I am not a huge lover of sand, so the running trail is awesome, and the views are amazing.”

Place

Coronado City Beach

Ocean Boulevard and Marina Avenue, San Diego

“I love driving over the Coronado Bridge to walk in Coronado,” explained Kathleen. “I park in the beautiful neighborhoods a mile or so from the Hotel Del; the houses are gorgeous and of various architectural styles. I walk to Coronado Beach, where the sand is very fine.”

Lita also loves walking in Coronado. “The grounds and flower beds in front of the ocean at the Hotel Del,” she recommended. Lita also loves a stroll through Old Town, ending up at La Casa de Estudillo, an adobe house, one of the oldest examples of Spanish architecture in California as well as a free museum. “It gives one a real feeling for the days of the Spanish dons,” she added.

Place

Santee Lakes

9040 Carlton Oaks Drive, Santee

Place

Lake Murray Reservoir

5540 Kiowa Drive, San Diego

“I love walking by the water,” said Julie. “Lake Murray, Santee Lakes, the lovely sounds, the pure scents, surrounded by nature. I take deep breaths and drink in the views.” (Fees for entry to Santee Lake: $3 per vehicle on weekdays; $5 per vehicle on weekends and holidays.)

Place

Tamarack Beach

Carlsbad Boulevard at Tamarack Avenue, San Diego

Cherie walks Carlsbad beach from Harbor Fish Café south to the end of the path. “I also enjoy the walk from San Diego Maritime Museum to Seaport Village. And walking by Lake Hodges or the trails on Black Mountain.”

Place

Cowles Mountain

Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive, San Diego

“Our teens like going over Cowles Mountain from Big Rock Park in Santee to the San Carlos side,” answered Peter. “Something about going up and over a mountain is exhilarating.”

Place

Miramar Lake

Scripps Lake Drive at Scripps Ranch Boulevard, San Diego

“I love hiking around Miramar Lake,” said Mariana. “It’s a five-mile loop, so the scenery is not repetitive. The road winds and has light hills, so it keeps it interesting as opposed to a boring straight road.”

“I used to think that Balboa Park was only about the architecture and the museums,” added Mariana. “But on the northwest corner of the park, I discovered a map of all the trails around the park. Flat, nice leisurely hiking trails with different hill difficulties. I’ve been doing them for a year, and I have yet to discover all of them! Plus it’s great people-watching as well.”

Place

Mount Helix Park

4901 Mount Helix Drive, La Mesa

“I don’t take nice walks,” said Bernice, “when I want a real butt workout, and I don’t mean that in a dirty way, then I’m walking the Mount Nebo stairs in La Mesa. I call them the Endless Stairs of Moria. I go up and down twice, and it really gets my heart pumping. Or I head up to the amphitheater on the top of Mount Helix and tread up and down those stairs. There are always nice views and a breeze at the top.”

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Didja know I did the first American feature on Jimi Hendrix?

Richard Meltzer goes through the Germs, Blue Oyster Cult, Ray Charles, Elvis, Lavender Hill Mob

“Yes, this is our New Year’s resolution,” said my husband Patrick, looking up from his book.

“Let’s hear it,” I answered, half listening as I Instagrammed.

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings./ Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees./ The winds will blow their own freshness into you,/ and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”

“It’s from John Muir, and he is spot-on,” Patrick said. “Work your magic, Evie, and find some beautiful walks in San Diego. Some place where nature’s peace will flow into us as sunshine flows into trees.

Place

Harry Griffen Regional Park

9550 Milden Street, La Mesa

“Every morning we walk,” offered Lissa, “and our favorite walk is our Thursday route — through Harry Griffen Park from the Blackthorne Avenue entrance, past the dog park, and then down along one of the nature trails. Beautiful lemony smell in the air in the early mornings, hawks wheeling, sometimes a great blue heron standing in the middle of the grass. We meander the trails and then leave the park via the Poppy Street gate.”

Sponsored
Sponsored

“San Clemente Canyon, Marian Bear Memorial Park,” said Katie. “At the intersection of Genesee and the 52 freeway for parking, the walk is a rustic dirt path which goes almost all the way from the 805 to the 5 along the 52. During the winter months, the creek is running. It’s a bit of a mountain-getaway feeling if you ignore the freeway noise.”

Place

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park

Sunset Cliffs Boulevard at Ladera Street, San Diego

“I love walking and running at Sunset Cliffs [Ocean Front Street and Sunset Boulevard] because it is a very peaceful and happy setting,” said Jeannie. “I am not a huge lover of sand, so the running trail is awesome, and the views are amazing.”

Place

Coronado City Beach

Ocean Boulevard and Marina Avenue, San Diego

“I love driving over the Coronado Bridge to walk in Coronado,” explained Kathleen. “I park in the beautiful neighborhoods a mile or so from the Hotel Del; the houses are gorgeous and of various architectural styles. I walk to Coronado Beach, where the sand is very fine.”

Lita also loves walking in Coronado. “The grounds and flower beds in front of the ocean at the Hotel Del,” she recommended. Lita also loves a stroll through Old Town, ending up at La Casa de Estudillo, an adobe house, one of the oldest examples of Spanish architecture in California as well as a free museum. “It gives one a real feeling for the days of the Spanish dons,” she added.

Place

Santee Lakes

9040 Carlton Oaks Drive, Santee

Place

Lake Murray Reservoir

5540 Kiowa Drive, San Diego

“I love walking by the water,” said Julie. “Lake Murray, Santee Lakes, the lovely sounds, the pure scents, surrounded by nature. I take deep breaths and drink in the views.” (Fees for entry to Santee Lake: $3 per vehicle on weekdays; $5 per vehicle on weekends and holidays.)

Place

Tamarack Beach

Carlsbad Boulevard at Tamarack Avenue, San Diego

Cherie walks Carlsbad beach from Harbor Fish Café south to the end of the path. “I also enjoy the walk from San Diego Maritime Museum to Seaport Village. And walking by Lake Hodges or the trails on Black Mountain.”

Place

Cowles Mountain

Navajo Road and Golfcrest Drive, San Diego

“Our teens like going over Cowles Mountain from Big Rock Park in Santee to the San Carlos side,” answered Peter. “Something about going up and over a mountain is exhilarating.”

Place

Miramar Lake

Scripps Lake Drive at Scripps Ranch Boulevard, San Diego

“I love hiking around Miramar Lake,” said Mariana. “It’s a five-mile loop, so the scenery is not repetitive. The road winds and has light hills, so it keeps it interesting as opposed to a boring straight road.”

“I used to think that Balboa Park was only about the architecture and the museums,” added Mariana. “But on the northwest corner of the park, I discovered a map of all the trails around the park. Flat, nice leisurely hiking trails with different hill difficulties. I’ve been doing them for a year, and I have yet to discover all of them! Plus it’s great people-watching as well.”

Place

Mount Helix Park

4901 Mount Helix Drive, La Mesa

“I don’t take nice walks,” said Bernice, “when I want a real butt workout, and I don’t mean that in a dirty way, then I’m walking the Mount Nebo stairs in La Mesa. I call them the Endless Stairs of Moria. I go up and down twice, and it really gets my heart pumping. Or I head up to the amphitheater on the top of Mount Helix and tread up and down those stairs. There are always nice views and a breeze at the top.”

Comments
Sponsored
Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

SDSU pres gets highest pay raise in state over last 15 years

Union-Tribune still stiffing downtown San Diego landlord?
Next Article

Summit Fellowship wants to be a home of belonging

Unitarian Universalism allows you to be exactly who you are in the moment
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.