Mission Trails Regional Park

Mission Trails Regional Park is such a nice and relaxing place to visit. It has a very nice stream that my doggie likes to play in and some wondering trails to hike through. We visit this place at least once a month!

Incredibly beautiful. I passed the gate and drove to the end. There is plenty parking. Once you passed the gate you can’t reverse. You would need to exit from other side of the mountain. There is man made lake, amazing variety of trees and herbs. I could smell bay leaves and Rosemary. Although I was little scared to hike by myself. There was hardly anyone around. I heard major noise in bushes, thought could be a snake. I really enjoyed the oak trail. Trails split constantly and there is not always trail sign.

One thing I learned about this place after bringing my class on a study trip, is that it’s not only a great educational place for students learning about the ecosystem and southern Californians indigenous plant life and people, but it’s also a great place to get some cardiovascular exercise on its many trails.
Our classes were greeted by park rangers and docents. We were taken on a trail to learn about the natural habit, including plant, animal life, and how the climate of the area affects and sustains life in the area. We also learned about the Kumeyaay Native Americans and how they used the natural resources in the area to survive.
The park has a museum and an educational movie theater which we took advantage of. There is also and outside amphitheater were presentations or dances are performed. We took had out outside lunch there.
The trails are are in good conditions. Some of the trails are designated for walking and running only and others are designed for mountain biking or hiking. We we pleased with the natural scenery, including walking along the San Diego River.
The staff members were polite, helpful, and quite knowledgeable about the area.

Mission Trials is a great place to hike. It was my first hike, so I was exhausted, but I loved it. there many different terrains and views. I heard rattles and saw rabbits. It was amazing. There are signs everywhere with arrows, so you won’t get lost. There was this lake where I sat for a few, so breathe-​taking, was the view.
If you like hikes and you haven’t been in awhile, Mission Trails will be the one for you. Great for families.

As long as the weather isn’t too hot, this park is better than hassling with going to the beach! I love the tranquil nature center, and the herbalist in me goes crazy for all the PLANTS everywhere! Wonderful for out-​of-​town guests too since it is off the beaten path. So many trails to enjoy for every level of fitness. I also learned from family about Geocache which several locations are here. Lovely way to spend a few hours in the day! :-)

I LOVE hiking here! but I had my window smashed in at the JACKSON parking area so be careful! Or Park in the visitors center where they have all the security and cameras! If you see someone looking into the cars – take a picture or report them.

Mission Trails is my jam. Whether you’re going to a easy walk down the road, walking the trails, or climbing the mountain to rock climb you’re surrounded by San Diego’s natural beauty. Cell reception is kinda spotty which is great so you’re really enjoying your environment. I’m a huge rock climber and it is very easy to find a place to throw down. The top ridge is riddled with bolts you can top rope off of, and easily accessible. The people who climb here are very chill. Over the last year I’ve had zero issues, in fact met a couple new friends. My only tips for this rock climbing location is pay attention to weather, it gets direct sunlight and it HOT. Also if you really want something easy to warm up on you need to get there early. 7 – 9 is the best time to get up the hill. I will be back! Happy trails all!

Can’t believe I’ve never been here until today! What a gorgeous place!
Tons of trails with different terrain and views. We parked in the small lot half way down the the road through the park. I heard water and was determined to find a way to it. Just down the road we found some stone steps that led to the river. The water was moving pretty fast and the sounds of the water and the wind in the trees made for a peaceful short hike.
Lots of families and dogs and well traveled clean paths.
Looking forward to visiting when we have more time to explore! Lots of great places to stop for a picnic while hiking!

This is a great park to hike on with multiple trails to choose from!
If you’re not jogging or biking along the paved street on Father Juniper Rd, it can be dusty, Rocky, or steep depending on the trail of your choice… Don’t forget sunscreen because the sun is relentless, just like most other desert-​like hiking trails in San Diego. So put on your hiking shoes with good grip, grab your water and snacks, so you can be prepared to tackle any trail of your choice! I spent longer here than expected, because the trails can really vary. It’s a whole scenic ecosystem filled with an abundance of plants, wildflowers, cacti, bugs… And snakes! I saw a snake hiking along one of the trails. I also sometimes see doggy poo as owners walk with their dogs, so be sure pay attention. At the start of most trails, specific distances and difficulty is marked, but pay attention so you don’t get lost.
Stop by the visitor center for a map, and advice, as they’re very friendly there, and offer great advice. They also offer free nature walks Wed, Sat Sun, which I plan to return for! Check out their 5 peak challenge if you’re up for it. You can park here, as well as other designated areas on the map or along father juniper rd. Park closes at 5 or 7 depending on the season, so don’t get locked in.
I will most definitely keep coming back… Can’t wait actually. Good for easy or more advanced hikers. People are super friendly on the trails. It doesn’t seem to get super busy like it would en route to potatoe chip rock or Cowles mountain. Fun workout! Worth checking out for sure.

As I’ve been exploring my mountain biking options within a reasonable driving distance from center city San Diego, I decided to come to Mission Trails. I’d been here once before, but only for a short period of time and didn’t get to go through much of the trails.
The park closes it’s gates at 5pm during the winter, I guess they up it to 7pm during spring. Not sure of the summer hours yet.
There are a lot of very scenic, very pretty places in mission trails. And this place is so huge! With 60 miles of trails, It’s probably one of the bigger parks out here for hiking.
I came here on a Sunday morning to enjoy some nature and get a good ride in.
If it’s your first time, it’s a little easy to get lost and not know where you’re going. The drive through the park is one way. So if you’re trying to drive all the way to the end to see what you’d like to do and then loop back, you can’t. You have to drive a pretty long distance to get back to the entrance. This is if you’re using the Unilocal address and GPS. There are a couple parking lots outside of the main road but Unilocal doesn’t take you to those. They’re also on the extreme ends of the park.
There were a lot of entrances to hiking trails off the main road, from what I found, but only one or two for biking.
They have designated signs before you go in so you know what’s permissible after entering (hiking only or biking and hiking). Also, from the main road, the more scenic areas don’t allow bikes. You can walk in with them but you can’t ride through. Which sucks if that’s what you’re trying to do.
They have maps so you know where to go or where you might be. Once you enter the actual trials, and not just go off the main road, this place is enormous! However, a lot of the parts I went through were just open space. I didn’t get to go up any of the hills/​mountains, but it would’ve also been difficult on a bike. For me anyway.
Much of the greener area is protected habitat so you also can’t enter through there. Trails go just outside of it. So if you have fare skin or plan on being here a while, make sure you pack sun block, water, and a hat. It was breezy, partly cloudy and cool when I came but I doubt I’d try it during summer. No shade.
I want to come back after trying out some of the trails but from my first experience, it was hard to navigate without really knowing where you are or where you’re going. I also wished that the nicer parts I went through allowed bikes. Still, it was a fun enough ride through the parts I went through, and I’ll most likely be coming back to explore some more!

This review is for the visitor center and the Visitor Center Loop
The loop is a 1.5 mile loop that goes around the visitor center and is rated «Easiest.»
We started the trail from the visitor center which has a small parking lot right next to it and some overflow parking and street parking near by. The trail starts nice plenty of trees, plants, and flowers there are some stairs you have to go down but nothing crazy. The trail continues along the river but you can’t really see it, you can hear the water runny (it would be nice if you could actually see it). As you continue there are some parts of loose greave and others of well kept dirt. Before you go up somewhat of a hill you have the option (on the right) to take the San Diego River Crossing Trail. We went left continuing on the Visitor Center Loop. The hill is not hard but I definitely felt a burn on the back of my legs so be prepare for that. Once you reach the top you come up to the Jackson Drive parking area from here to the end of the loop you walk parallel with Mission Gorge Road then Father Junipero Serra road and you end back at the Visitor Center (this part of the trail is not very exiting.)
The Visitor Center is nice they have a lot of exhibits and things kids can interact with. There is a nice deck with great views and perfect for pictures. The bathrooms are clean and nice even though the toilets are metal «park toilets» :P
If you have never been to Mission Trails this is a great place to start they have maps of the different trails and the staff can help you find a right one for what you are looking to do.

There seems to be an infinite number of hikes in this park. Aside from my initial review, I’m currently trying to do the 5 peak challenge. I’ve been to Kwaay Paay, Cowels, Pyles Peak, North Fortuna, and South Fortuna. You’re supposed to take photos of yourself in front of each summit sign when you’ve reached the top. I’ve gotten every single one except… South Fortuna — even though I’ve been to the top twice already. First time, I didn’t know about the challenge till after the fact, and second time I overlooked the sign and went too far back down till I realized I must’ve missed it! I.WILL.GET.THAT.PIC.
South Fortuna, I’ll be back!!!
&What do you get with this challenge? Why, nothing but a fancy certificate and a pin. Still want it though. Incentives really do work. Aside from those trails, there are innumerable other trails to hike! Plus there’s even the Old Mission Dam, I spoke about in my first review.
When the sun starts setting though, be aware that there are NO street lights, so when it gets dark… It gets advanced dark. I got caught up in the darkness ones and that sure did scar me. I ran for prolly a mile and a half back to my car that was outside the gates. And I hate running. So you’ve been warned.
Aside from that, great place to take the fam or friends or even by yourself. Hike till your hearts content.
EDIT: I do have one minor discrepancy and it involves updating the trail signs! Many of them are faded and not informative on certain trails leaving new hikers of this park lost and lead astray. My hubby and I were «lost at land» for most of the day yesterday which put a little damper on our day. More updated signs please!

Great set of trails, but the close in inclement weather which to me is really silly.
There are lots of places to go and lots of hiking to be done here.

This info is specific to those who are completing all 5 peaks in one day, also known as #5PeakChallenge. Just completed it so wanted to share with you my insight. While there is no specific order that you need to summit these 5 peaks, here is the order I found to be most efficient:
i) Park at the «Old Mission Dam» parking lot (or if it’s full because it’s a small parking lot and fills up fast, park a little further EAST on «Father Junipero Serra Trail (just watch for signs where can and cannot park). Once you park, there are 3 peaks you can knock out from that spot in any order (KWAAY PAAY or NORTH FORTUNA or SOUTH FORTUNA).
ii) I personally turned SOUTH from parking lot to a trail that leads to KWAAY PAAY Peak (1^st out of 5).
iii) Return back to the «Old Mission Dam» parking lot and follow the trail WEST to do NORTH FORTUNA Peak (2^nd out of 5). This one will take awhile because it’s so far away.
iv) Then from the NORTH FORTUNATA return back to the Saddle (mid-​point) and go SOUTH to SOUTH FORTUNA Peak (3^rd out of 5). That one is extremely easy to miss because it’s NOT labeled on the trail AT ALL!!! So my advice is, once you get to the top of SOUTH FORTUNA Peak, keep walking on the trail but keep looking LEFT and you’ll see the sign on one of those tiny side trails.
v) Retrace your steps back to the «Old Mission Dam» parking lot, get in the car and drive to another parking lot (either «Cowles Staging Area» or «Barker Way Trailhead»). Either one is fine because they are about same mileage and both take you to the exactly same spot. I took the «Barker Way» trail so I parked on the «Barker Way» side street (watch for signs where to park and not to park!). From there, climb to «COWLES MOUNTAIN» Peak (4^th out of 5) then continue from there to the only trail that’s available (see steps going down) to your LAST PYLES Peak (5 out of 5). Then retrace your steps back to Cowles Mt, then back to the parking lot (either to «Cowles Staging Area» or to «Barker Way») and you are DONE.
As far as prep goes: It’s an open desert out there with no shade so it’s extremely HOT!!! Bring TONS of Gatorade/​water (I drank 8 bottles!!!), plus shoes with good traction since you’ll be sliding a lot on loose rock, sunscreen (a must!!!), knee pads for those steep descents, lots of snacks like yogurt, and a towel to wipe yourself off. Also, highly recommend to print out a map because you’ll be referring to it quite a bit!
Finally, I highly recommend to get to the trail by 8am (so leave your house early especially if you are live in LA like me) because trails open by 8am and you want to start as soon as possible to finish by 5pm. Once you are done, stop by the Visitor Center, show your 5 selfies (one photo next to each Peak sign) and you’ll get a cool pin and a Certificate of Your Awesomeness! Good luck! It’s a tough workout so take it nice and steady.
Here are my stats:
— Elevation gain: 6,500 feet
— Total distance: 11.5 miles
— Total time to complete all 5 peaks: 5 hours 20 minutes

There is one paved trail that runs through the center of the park. Multiple trails wind through the brush and around hills. This place is a mountain biker’s dream. If you are hiking on foot, you will have to put up with lots of cyclists.

I’m here every other day for my Morning runs and I’m always looking for new trails and mission trails never fails.

Mission trails is a great spot for trail running! It’s a great nature experience and it’s really only a 5 min drive from the city or less lol! I’ve been running here for years and finally thought to review it. It’s always clean, it’s not too packed, and sometimes you hit the jackpot and spot wildlife! Today I saw a cute little bunny, careful though there are rattlers, mostly out on hot days. This trail is a great work out it! The constant changing grounding activates many different muscles and the dirt path is gentle on the joints! If running isn’t your thing then hiking/​walking is also nice! There are several different trails to try according to level of intensity. Also there are some really awesome picnic spots hidden inside of the trail! I totally recommend this trail!

We have gone to Mission Trails for many years– up Cowles (fireworks on the 4^th are great from here and it’s crowded), the Kwaay Paay peak hike, and just wandering around the one off Father Juniper — the North Fortuna Mt summit trail.
This time we went to the area off the 52 at Mast. (Get off at Mast and go south then enter the trail parking area at the Equestrian Circle.)
This not only is for walking around, but they have a few equestrian ring areas too.
The parking is in a lot or on the road. Most mountain bikers seem to park on the road outside the gates (the park closes at 5pm.)
We brought the dog. He loved it. The paths are very wide, so when we encountered other dogs (on-​leash), there were no forced dog meetings. This was great. There were more dogs than we had expected.
There is a take-​with-​you map at the info area entrance to this trail showing all of the trails in the Mission Trails area. I think the part we were on was called Little Sycamore Canyon on Google maps.
With our dog sniffing, we didn’t get very far, but we plan to come back and explore this huge park over the years. It is really nice and open area.
Trash cans at the beginning, by the parking and info area, not many on the trails. There may have been restroom facilities, not sure, there was a building by the horse area, but no idea what it was.

Much bigger than I thought. There are several trails of varying difficulty mostly based on incline. The Camp Elliot trails near the old dam are very very flat and easy — enough that my 1 year old daughter walks most of the 2 mile trek herself. The scenery is desert scrub, but in a beautiful old west kind of way. The mountains, the air, the trees and scrub all combine to give that «away from it all» feeling many city dwellers yearn for. Enjoy a great day here!

I loved hiking back home. I got stationed out in Cali in November. I went a couple weeks ago and the place is beautiful! At the start where the visitor center there’s a nice little «trail» with plaques telling you what’s out here and what to look out for. I did two trails on I want to say the north face area (plan on doing south) and a couple of the smaller trails and they were all phenomenal. I got there at 6 for the gates to open at 7 (make sure I had all my stuff) gates actually opened early and I took off. Saw a couple snakes so look out its rare right now but becareful I did see deer (?) off in the distance but no trail to get closer! Overall great experience!

This place is definitely a good place to go if you’re up for a walk, jog, bike, or nature hike. Beautiful scenary.
Be aware that there are TWO entrances.
The South entrance is a few miles away from the old dam.
There is a large dirt parking lot and street parking.
The North entrance is only a few yards away.
There is a very small parking lot and street parking.
There are tons of plants, birds, and animals on reserve.
If you know what you’re looking for then you’ll definitely learn alot!
NOTE: There ARE poison ivy plants on this trail. BE CAREFUL!
If the bush plant has three leaves on each stem, don’t touch it!

Many different trail options to enjoy and definitely a nice place to have so close to central San Diego. It is dog friendly and can be dangerous for your furry friend on really hot days, so bring extra water (not to mention, rattle snakes are spotted in trails all the time)! Just as an FYI. Some hikes can be more intense and more crowded than others.

One of the best places to hike in all of San Diego. This place is gorgeous! Many different trail options that range from different difficulties. I love going here all the time.

Sublime place. Beautiful scenery and so much of what Mother SD Nature has to offer. So many different birds, vegetation species and trails. This nature preserve is one of San Diego’s finest places to enjoy a peaceful hike surrounded by a feast for the eyes and ears. We absolutely loved our visit and will return again & again… and just to think, millions and millions and many millions of years in the making.

One of best hiking trails in San Diego. There’s several different trails depending on your mood. Personally I enjoy the paved road so that I can go jog in with my dog and it’s not too rough on his paws.
The infamous cowles mountain is also part of the mission trails park but I tend to stay away from it now due to the fact so many hikers enjoy that trail now and it’s just too congested unless ur there by 7AM

Love this place to run, hike, and explore. I often take my dog here and he enjoys being in nature too! There’s plenty of trails for biking, hiking, and running.
Please remember to have your dogs on a leash though. It’s the law and it’s not safe to have them off leash.
While you’re at mission trails, enjoy the great outdoors!

Mission Trails Regional Park or MTRP as it is often referred to by hikers and park managers alike, is one of San Diego’s best treasures. The MTRP is one of three large urban parks that San Diego is fortunate to have. The other two being Balboa Park and Mission Bay Park.
Mission Trails represents what the region used to look like before the missionaries, settlers, ranchers, etc. moved in and developed the land in the name of progress and a hike on any of its nearly 40 miles of trails is a trip back in time.
The potential hikes found within its boarders cover all of the mountain peaks in the area as well as trails along the San Diego river and through oak groves of Coast Live Oak and some of the only examples of the rare and beautiful bluish-​grey leaf Engelmann Oak. However, the largest habitat type in the park is the Chaparral. This uniquely Californian habitat exists almost no where else in the world. Most folks — residents and visitors alike, don’t realize that it is the largest and most diverse habitat in the state.
No visit though to the park is complete without a stop at the Visitor Center. This interactive museum has displays that cover all of the habitats represented in the park and the natural history of those who called it home. The Visitor Center also has a library which is open to the public with titles on every topic anyone would want to know about. The topics include: Native Americans, settlers, geology, weather, mammals, reptiles, plants, insects … and on and on.
In my mind only one word could sum up the gift that is Mission Trails Regional Park — Amazing.

I love this park! :-)
Whenever I feel like doing a easy walk, or I want to go for a hike, and even a serious hike, this is definitely the park to do all that in.
Plenty of places to pull your car over in order to get out and enjoy the scenery, and there are plenty of Porta potty’s.
Great for cycling jogging running walking. But there are no places to actually just camp and less you’re at the far east of the park.

We went camping at Lake Kumeyaay for the first this summer 2015. The campground is close together, but distance enough that we wouldn’t hear our neighbors’ snors, They only have running water in the bathroom and outside of the bathroom building. There’s a fire ring if you want to have a bonfire. You cannot bring in your own firewood and no alcohols.
The sites are kids friendly and there are plenty of hiking trails for you and the family to explore. Did I tell you that the reservation for this place is very inexpensive? The price is $ 20 per night and they only allow for Friday and Saturday night campers only.

I did the Oak Canyon trail today. I went through the old mission dam first and parked nearby. It wasn’t a difficult hike but I’m glad I went. I only did a little over a mile and a half and jogged back. The San Diego river was supposed to be right next to the trail but it was dried up. Not sure if it’s like this year round or if there’s only certain seasons it’s supposed to have water. Either I was a lil disappointed that it was dried up. It would’ve made everything more aesthetically pleasing. Overall, good hike. Check it out!

This place is amazing!
I decided I wanted to try trail running yesterday and dragged my husband out to Mission Trails to try it out.
If it’s your first time, I highly recommend going to the visitors center first. The people working there know a lot about the trails and with a complicated interconnecting web of trails, it’s important to get good directions. Even with their help, we got lost a few times.
The trails are well maintained, and there is water and restrooms throughout the park. We just touched the surface of the park, staying close to the visitor center, but next time we are going to explore more.
Note: Typical hiking precautions apply. Bring water, sunscreen, and a cell phone at a minimum. Read signs and stay on the marked trails.

Mission Trails is a fun place for hiking, climbing, and lots of other fun outdoorsy activities. I went on a hike/​climb here with the REI team and we had lots of fun. It’s definitely important to get their early because as the day went on there were many other hikers and climbers that came, however it is a pretty spacious park. Be careful to watch out for snakes. I almost stepped on one, but it was just a king snake, however our guide did say she almost kicked a rattlesnake the week before when hiking so be mindful when bringing children and dogs.
All in all, this was a fun place to learn to climb outdoors and I would definitely come back for climb club REI!

I love this hike! This is probably the best hike in San Diego… so far. Why? Because there’s not a shit load of people… Like effing ants going up a mountain.
I’m afraid to even write a review about this because people will discover it… But I couldn’t help myself because this hike is so rad. There’s nobody on his hike. Literally we saw like 10 people. We probably stay at the top for an hour sun bathing and nobody passed us or anything. The view was amazing! It was so high up and you can see the city, ocean, and east, even cowles from afar.
Downside of this hike we saw 2 rattlesnakes. We googled it and they are highly poisonous. Watch out because they just block the trail or on the side. Other than that it was amazing!

The scenery and hiking are great! I’m giving 3 stars because the trails are all kind of linked together it seems and it gets very confusing! My friend went by herself once and got lost. This was my first time going and I went with someone who is familiar with the trails or else I probably would have gotten lost too. We couldn’t find the same way back as we went and we ended up having to take our shoes off and cross some water in order to get back to the road where we parked the car. The labeling of the trails is not the clearest and it can get confusing.
The plus side is since there are so many trails there is a variety of difficulty to choose from. We went on an intermediate/​difficult hike and it did get very steep the closer we got to the peak. Once at the peak the view is amazing and peaceful. Even though you are close to civilization it feels like you are so far away from reality up there. Went during the week and only passed about 2 people while hiking. Makes for a nice day, just really pay attention to where you went so you don’t get lost!

Reclaimed from developers and a quarry operation in the ‘70s, this park is a treasure. Chose a paved 3.5 k road or walk well marked trails. It’s chapparel lowlands that reach to the riparian habitat along the San Diego River, then up the north side of Mount Fortuna.
Docents LuAnn Wright and Tom Fagan led a wonderful tour. Their talents as botany teacher and birder, respectively, kept our small group riveted. 90 — 120 min tours happen Wed, Sat & Sun mornings, and there’s no fee.
The Visitor Center ‘s architecture blends into the hillside of what’s dubbed Father Junipera Serra Trail. It’s modern and complete with well organized museum exhibits
Stay on trail because the rocky terrain is home for rattlesnakes. You really don’t want your visit’s highlight to be a $ 25k bill for an emergency airlift or an up close & personal meeting with the herp doc while in intensive care.

Photography: Once a year we get a guided tour for our photo group of the wild flowers, edible and medicinal plants. Very interesting and good macro photography subjects. There are some scenic views from the tops of North and South Fortuna Mountains. I also like Oak Canyon with the old tree trunks jammed in it. More accessible is the Old Mission Dam and there are some other photo ops along the easy trails in that area. Birding is not as good as Lake Murray, there are more to find along the course of the San Diego River between the ford and the flat rocks along Father Junipero Trail.
Hiking: Great variety of trails from the easy Father Junipero Trial or the Visitors Center Loop to more challenging, for example up South Fortuna Mountain. My suggestion is to look at the trail map on line or to get a map at the Visitors Center. If you hike there bring lots of water and be mindful of rattlesnakes and other wildlife.
Parking: DO NOT leave anything of value within sight in your car. In conversations I have had with the Executive Director of MRTP, almost every car that gets broken into items such as laptops and phones have been left out in plain view. Personally I feel uneasy parking in the parking lot by the Visitors Center, and so I try to park along Father Junipero Trail. I think surveillance cameras should be installed in the parking lot, even though I am no friend of them.
Visitors Center: Do go there. It’s one of the nicest I’ve seen and there’s a reference library and many interesting displays to see.