Kid-Friendly Hiking Trails & Nature Walks
Explore the best kid-friendly hiking trails & nature walks options for kids and families in San Diego
Maple Canyon Open Space
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Cabrillo Canyon
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Pennsylvania Canyon
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Switzer Open Space
River canyon natural park & trail. Natural park with a hiking trail following a picturesque, plant-covered river canyon.
Juniper Canyon
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Cedar Ridge Park Canyon
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Mission Valley Preserve
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Gardena Loop Trailhead
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Tecolote Canyon Natural Park and Nature Center
Coastal park with a visitors center. This park running along the coast & up to the mouth of Tecolote Canyon includes a visitors center.
Tecolote Canyon Trailhead
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
Rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean. Natural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean offer views of the coast & the occasional cliff diver.
Ruffin Canyon Open Space
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Sunset Cliffs Coastal Trail (Linear Park)
Oceanside hiking path & sunset spot. Hiking trail atop the Pacific Ocean bluffs offering sunset views & seasonal gray whale watching.
Rohr Park
Outdoor spot for sports & free-play. Green space with a playground & fields plus a walking trail, model train rides & an equestrian ring.
Tecolote Canyon Hiking Area
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lake Murray Trail Head
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lake Murray
Fishing, boating & a waterside path. Small boat rentals, fishing & many picnic areas, plus a walking & biking path along the reservoir.
West Shepherd Canyon
Wildlife & scenic views in the suburbs. Vast canyon with trails for biking, jogging or just viewing greenery & wildlife by Dishwater Pond.
Shepherd Canyon
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Mission Trails Regional Park
Expansive recreational area with trails. 8,000-acre recreational park featuring 60 miles of trails, along with a lake for boating & camping.
Cowles Mountain Trailhead
Hiking spot with panoramic views. Picturesque uphill hiking trail known for its panoramic views at the summit.
Dictionary Hill Hiking Trail
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Cowles Mountain
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Dictionary Hill Open Space Preserve
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Mt. Helix Park
Peak with an amphitheater & city views. High point offering views of San Diego, with a large amphitheater hosting plays, lectures & events.
Oak Canyon Waterfall
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Mission Trails-Kwaay Paay Peak
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Mother Miguel Mountain Trailhead
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Big Rock Trailhead
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Sweetwater River Trail
Scenic treks in a wildlife refuge. Hiking & biking route in the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge crossing bridges & scrubby terrain.
Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead
Canyon preserve trailhead with parking. Starting point for moderate hiking & biking trail across rugged canyon landscape with a parking lot.
Proctor Valley Natural Resource Area
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lake Miramar
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Penasquitos Creek Waterfall
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Rattlesnake Mountain Preserve
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Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
Trails, beaches, lagoons & wildlife. Acres of oceanside trails for exploring or exercising while spotting occasional dolphins or bobcats.
Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve
Trails through canyons, forests, streams. Preserve (name means "little cliffs") with trails across 3,500+ acres of Peñasquitos & Lopez canyons.
Carmel Mountain Preserve
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Extension
State park with rare trees & trails. Beachside park features sandstone bluffs, a visitor's center, rare pine trees & nature trails.
Del Mar Mesa Preserve
Multiuse trails & stunning canyon views. 900-acre preserve offering hiking & mountain biking trails, seasonal wetlands & scenic canyon views.
Sea Cliff Coastal Bluff Trail in Del Mar
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Crest Canyon Open Space Park
Scenic open space with a hiking trail. This tract of chaparral features hills, canyons & a day-use-only trail loop for hikers.
San Dieguito River Park
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Crestridge Ecological Reserve
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Miner's Ridge Loop Trail
Hiking & biking trail on Black Mountain. This hiking & biking trail ascends the mountain in Black Mountain Open Space Park.
Harbaugh Seaside Trails
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Annie's Canyon Trail
Hiking area in an ecological reserve. Rugged wilderness hiking paths in an ecological reserve with sweeping ocean & lagoon views.
Gemma Parks Interpretive Trail
Visit this great place for kids and families!
San Elijo Lagoon and Ecological Reserve
Wildlife-watching & visitor center. Nature reserve with 7 miles of trails plus a visitor center with exhibits overlooking the lagoon.
Manchester Preserve Hiking Trails
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Del Dios Highlands County Preserve
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Spacious park for hiking & picnics. Large park featuring native plants, picnic areas & hiking, biking & equestrian trails.
Ridgeline Trailhead
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Double Peak Park
Hiking trails with panoramic vistas. Rugged, 200-acre park featuring a play area & hiking trails that lead to a summit with ocean views.
Lagoon Trail At Pelican Road
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Batiquos Lagoon
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Batiquitos Lagoon Foundation
Coastal wetland & nature reserve. Protected wetland habitat with on-site parking & wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff Trail Windrose Circle Trailhead
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Batiquitos Lagoon North Bluff Trail Avenida Encinas Trailhead
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Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (Discovery Center)
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Buena Vista Park Loop Trailhead
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Buena Vista Park
A duck pond, ball fields & hiking too. Large park offering a tranquil duck pond, ball fields, a hiking trail & other features.
Agua Hedionda Lagoon Garfield Street Trailhead
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Agua Hedionda Lagoon Carlsbad Blvd Trailhead
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Carlsbad Highlands Ecological Reserve
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Lake Calavera Hiking Trail
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Calavera Nature Preserve
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Calavera Lake
Scenic hiking area on a dormant volcano. A warren of trails on a dormant volcano draws hikers & cyclists to this serene locale with a view.
Lake Calavera Trail Head
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Lake Calavera Preserve
Visit this great place for kids and families!
Oak Riparian Park
Playground with a field & picnic spots. Scenic neighborhood green space next to trails with a playground, grassy field & picnic areas.
Daley Ranch Park
Nature reserve with hiking trails. Conservation area featuring 20+ miles of trails for hiking, biking & horseback riding, plus views.
Hosp Grove Park
Unpaved nature trail with ocean views. Winding through a eucalyptus tree grove, this trail with elevations of 100 feet offers ocean vistas.
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