/ San Diego / Places to Visit / Mission Trails Regional Park
Located along the San Diego River between San Diego and Santee, this massive park is a hidden jewel among the city's park system.
Located along the San Diego River between San Diego and Santee, this massive park is a hidden jewel among the city's park system. Consisting mostly of rugged, hilly scrubland, Mission Trails offers an excellent diversion from the hustle and bustle of the city. Numerous trails criss cross through the park, and there's an excellent visitor center with exhibits on the flora, fauna, and the human history in the area. You can also see the Old Mission Dam, which once provided water to the original mission community of San Diego just to the west in Mission Valley. Cowles Mountain, the tallest point in the city (1,591 feet above sea level), offers a lovely view of the surrounding area clear out to the ocean and is popular with runners and hikers, with several challenging trails ranging from three to five miles (round trip) featuring steep climbs, wooden steps, and rock crossings. Mission Gorge is one of the most popular rock climbing spots in the area, with over 150 routes from 5.0 to 5.12 grades, and suitable for the novice and the experienced climber. In the summers the gorge can be extremely hot in the direct sun, but the crag stays cool and shaded in the until around noon or 1PM. The rest of the year you can climb all day. Also within the park is Lake Murray Reservoir, which is open to boating and fishing.
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1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego, CA, United States
+1 619-668-3281
College basketball enthusiasts will recognize a familiar face coaching this team, National Champion Steve Fisher
The first of the California missions, today Mission San Diego is an active Catholic Parish and a museum dedicated to the history of the mission
Home to the NFL San Diego Chargers and the college SDSU Aztecs football teams
Kensington, centered along Adams Avenue east of CA-15, is a small community with much charm
Watch an independent or classic film in this old style theater here
Over 150 stores and restaurants, including a movie theater and the large Seau's sports restaurant
Much smaller than the big centers in the valley, but with a nice assortment of shops nevertheless
Located in the neighborhood of Clairemont, Tecolote Canyon is a narrow coastal valley which offers miles of trails open to hiking and biking
Located in the San Clemente Canyon along SR-52 from I-5 to I-805, this large park contains some very scenic trails