5 Best Hikes in San Diego for the New Year
San Diego has some of the best hikes in California. With phenomenal year-round weather and a unique geographical landscape that combines beaches, canyons, deserts, and mountains, San Diego offers excellent hiking opportunities for all levels of hikers.
Here is our list of best hikes in San Diego that we think should be on everyone’s list.
1. Tahquitz Peak via Devil’s Slide
Tahquitz Peak via Devil’s Slide is in the San Jacinto Mountains and close to Idyllwild, CA. This hike is technically in Riverside County and is about a two hour drive from San Diego.
To do this hike, you will need a National Forest Adventure Pass, which you can get a day pass for $5 at your local Big 5 Sporting Goods or REI store. You will also need to obtain a permit from the Idyllwild ranger station, and these can be found in a convenient self-serve location at their office 24 hours a day.
When you arrive at Tahquitz Peak, you will immediately forget that you are in Southern California. The trail starts with a steep incline for the first 2.5 miles and wanders through a stunningly beautiful evergreen forest. If you are coming in from sea level, the lungs take a bit of time to catch up.
The terrain is composed of gorgeous Mesozoic granite – look for the lightly shaded grey rocks that sparkle in the sun – and the closer you get to the peak, the more technical and steep the trail becomes.
The first two and a half miles are moderately trafficked but quickly thins out as you climb the peak. We’ve been here several times and never felt like it was overcrowded. At the top of the Tahquitz Peak, a historic fire tower offers 360-degree views of the magnificent mountain ranges.
If you are hiking in the summer months, we highly recommend starting early in the morning to beat the heat. Since the San Jacinto Mountains are much higher elevation than San Diego, it stays significantly cooler, with about a 15-degree difference between the trailhead and the peak. The trail starts at 6,348 elevation, and the climb to the peak takes you up to over 8,000+ feet.
This trail is usually not accessible from November to March due to heavy snowfall.
Click here to view up-to-date information about the Tahquitz Peak via Devil’s Slide trail on Alltrails.
Side Note: Directions to get the trailhead and information about closures are accurate. We’ve hiked it twice and found that the mileage was inaccurate. The first time we clocked 9.5 miles, but the second time we took the Caramba trail on the way back to add on a bit more mileage, and we did just over 13 miles.
2. Monument Peak and Foster Point
Located an hour east of San Diego, this 6-mile out-and-back is a great hike to explore a segment of the famous Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). In addition to being fantastic hiking, this trail is much less crowded than Mount Laguna, which allows both hiking and mountain biking.
The trailhead’s location is on the backside of the Mount Laguna Recreation area on the east side of Sunrise Highway. We love this hike because it covers a section of Mount Laguna that overlooks a sweeping desert basin.
There is very little shade on this hike, and during the summer months, this trail is brutally hot. So if you do this hike in summer, start early, bring lots of water and remember to leave your dog(s) at home if the weather forecast is 75 degrees or more.
Click here for the Monument Peak and Foster Point trail information on All Trails.
If you happen to do this hike in late April-June, we recommend making it an 8.5-mile loop with 1,050 feet elevation gain by crossing over Sunrise Highway and hiking Sunset Trail to Big Laguna Trail after you leave Foster Point.
Click here for the Sunset Trail to Big Laguna Trail information on All Trails.
We recommend that you start on the PCT side of the loop and start with the views of the desert. Then, cross Sunrise Highway and take in the experience of the forest and a small lake.
Our favorite time to hike is in late spring when everything is lush green, and wildflowers are in full bloom. You don’t want to miss this one!
3. Eagle Rock via the Pacific Crest Trail
About a 1.5-hour drive from San Diego, you will find a stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail that features a varied and gorgeous landscape. You start this 6.5 mile out alongside a lovely rambling oak-lined creek. This area is thickly wooded and lush with vegetation and ascends through an exposed chaparral forest before encountering rolling hills with beautiful silky grass.
Local ranchers will often let their cattle roam and graze in this vast open terrain. Not to worry, they are not aggressive, but you may have a few of them follow behind you for a while.
The pinnacle of this hike is arriving at a large rock formation that the wind has carved over time to resemble a large raptor with outstretched wings that appears to be on the verge of taking flight.
The Eagle Rock via PCT is considered a year-round hike but be aware, it does get frigidly cold in the winter months and extremely hot in the summer.
Our favorite time to hike here is in the spring or fall. However, in late April through May, you can expect to see a fantastic variety of wildflowers in bloom.
Click here for more information about the Eagle Rock to Pacific Crest Trail on All Trails.
We have found directions to the trail, mileage, and information about trail closures to be up-to-date and accurate on All Trails.
4. Cuyamaca Peak via Azalea Glenn Loop
Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is home to lots of great hiking and mountain biking opportunities, and this is one of our favorite spots for a hike. It also is accessible year-round!
This 7.7-mile trail loop is about an hour’s drive from San Diego and features a total of 1,834 feet elevation gain. The initial ascent is 1.5 miles long and climbs through a gorgeous dense forest surrounding a mountain creek.
Keep an eye out for wild azaleas blooming alongside the creek in this area. If you do this hike in the fall, you can expect to see the leaves change too!
After that initial climb, you come to a lightly used and challenging 2.5-mile technical segment that winds along a ridge. Next, you will make your way around fallen trees and climb over chunky granite rocks. Get ready for a workout, and be aware that there is very little shade in this segment.
As you make your way across this ridge, you will be rewarded with epic views to the east and west of the trail and will come upon an extensive wall trail with a steep drop-off! Another bonus, this section is very lightly used; we saw almost no one along the ridge.
On the portion of the trail that loops back down and around to the trailhead, you will return through an area of grassy meadows, trees, and springtime wildflowers.
Click here for more information on the Cuyamaca Peak via Azalea Glenn Loop on All Trails.
We have found that directions, mileage, and trail closures are accurate. Bring $10 cash for the parking area. Unfortunately, the National Forest Pass is not accepted here.
5. Hollenbeck Canyon in Jamul
This area is hands down one of our favorite places to hike in San Diego. The Hollenbeck Canyon Recreation Area is mixed-use, and you will see an equal amount of hikers and mountain bikers enjoying these beautiful views.
You will need to purchase a California Department of Fish and Wildlife Pass ($5) for the day, and you can buy one online here. Click here to buy a Wildlife Pass on online.
We have been to this location more than any other on this list, as it is one of our favorite mountain bike spots. There is plenty of room for everyone to share these trails, and it is one of the best-kept secrets in Southern California.
You can put together several different routes, and we will share our two favorites with you.
The first is a 6.2-mile loop that starts across a sizeable rolling meadow and then down to a creek flanked with oak trees.
Depending on how much rain this area gets over the winter, you might get wet crossing at this spot. It is also the first of many creeks on the trail.
Shortly after crossing the creek, you will climb up to an abandoned water tank. We like to stop here to catch our breath, plus it’s a fun spot to take pictures!
During the next 2.5 miles, this is where you get most of the 823 feet of elevation gain before coming to a short, steep, and rocky descent. Following this, you turn onto a single-track trail with a deep plunge into the canyon below. Again, the scenery is incredible, and there is always a breeze in this section.
Click here for more information on AllTrails. We have found the information to be accurate regarding directions, mileage, and trail closures.
To turn this hike/bike ride into a 12.2-mile figure 8 shaped loop, click here for more information from AllTrails. Adding on 6 miles to your journey, you will also get 1,100 feet more of elevation gain and more spectacular views. Epic hike guaranteed!
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We published this blog in December 2021. Last updated: January 12, 2022.