10 Best Hikes to Take Kids On in San Diego

Hiking the trails at Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is an excellent way to keep active and take in the scenery. Encompassing the Lopez and Peñasquitos Canyons, this preserve is filled with unique features that accentuate its natural beauty and make it one of San Diego’s best hiking spots.

There are about 12 miles of trails in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, with the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Trail providing the best hike for families. While the trail stretches 7.5 miles, it’s a fairly flat and easy trail that winds through many of the best sites in the preserve, including the stunning Peñasquitos Creek Waterfall that flows over volcanic rock.

The preserve is filled with gardens and farmland, with a museum on the property detailing the history of the area. Kids can learn about San Diego’s Native American tribe, the Kumeyaay.

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is also a habitat for many species of animals, with a stream and freshwater marshes that are the nesting grounds for more than 175 species of birds. You might spot raccoons, bobcats, mule deer, or coyotes around the preserve. There are also 500 different plant species, including a sycamore tree grove and California oaks.

Step back in time to California’s earliest days with a trip to Cabrillo National Monument at the southern end of Point Loma.

A visit to Point Loma easily makes our list of the Best Things to Do with Kids in San Diego thanks to its unique monuments and the many opportunities for education around Cabrillo National Monument. This is a great way to get kids interested in history, as Point Loma is considered “California’s Birthplace” since it was where the first European explorers landed their ships on the West Coast.

Head to the Visitor Center for information about tours and a chance to learn about the role Point Loma played in World War I and II. Make sure to visit the Old Point Loma Lighthouse as well!

Hiking paths include the Bayside Trail and the Point Loma Tide Pools and Bluffs Trail. Both trails are filled with a charming mix of wildlife and history. End your journey with a visit to Point Loma’s tide pools along the beach.

Families looking to get outdoors in San Diego can’t go wrong with Mission Bay Park. One great area to take the kids to is Bonita Cove, a stretch of shoreline along Mission Beach. On top of being an ideal spot for a beach day with plenty of space to go for a swim or have a picnic, Bonita Cove also boasts excellent walking trails.

Hiking in Mission Bay Park, also referred to as Mission Bay Playground, is fun for all ages. The pathways are flat and easily manageable for kids. This also makes them well suited to biking, as there are few bumps or uphill sections to worry about, and the path is paved. There are public restrooms located throughout the park.

If you’re also planning to spend some time on the beach while at Bonita Cove, make sure to grab a Go City San Diego pass with our discount code, GVSD5OFF. This pass nets you discounts on beach gear rentals so you can save on surfboards, kayaks, bikes and other equipment. An all-inclusive pass also grants access to SeaWorld which is right nearby!

Southern California is filled with desert landscapes and well-preserved ecosystems. One of the most appealing options for exploring San Diegan wildlife is walking the trails at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.

Torrey Pines State Reserve is filled with practically untouched nature ranging from sandy paths lined with desert shrubs to sandstone canyons. The park is named after the Torrey Pine tree that can be found along the trails. Local laws have protected the natural beauty of this area, making it a top-tier hiking spot in San Diego.

While there are a few challenging trails in the reserve, there are also plenty of paths that are suitable for younger kids, making a trip to Torrey Pines one of the Best Things to Do with Kids in San Diego overall. In particular, the Guy Fleming Trail is a short and easy hike that provides incredible views of the landscape, including its native cacti and wildflowers.

Families can also take the Beach Trail to Torrey Pines State Beach. While this hiking trail is a little steeper, being able to visit a fairly secluded beach is well worth the trip, especially if you rent beach gear with the Go City San Diego pass beforehand.

Many people choose to stay along the shore when vacationing in San Diego, but for active families, there’s lots to enjoy once you move away from the coastal regions too. Iron Mountain is a natural landmark in Poway, which is just a few miles inland of Del Mar.

Iron Mountain features a 6-mile trail that winds its way up the mountain. On the trail, you’ll pass rolling fields, shrubbery, and distant mountains, all of which make for incredible scenic views.

Iron Mountain can be a little challenging for younger kids, so it’s recommended for older kids and families who are used to hiking off the beaten path. However, the sights are well worth it for those who choose to embark on this moderately challenging hike.

The view from the summit is among the best in San Diego, with an uninterrupted line of sight that stretches miles in every direction. This is an excellent hike to take just before sunset, as the view of the sun sinking past the horizon is incredible from the summit. Just remember to bring flashlights or headlamps so you can safely climb back down the trail.

Families who love animals are right at home in San Diego. Grabbing a Go City San Diego pass and visiting the San Diego Zoo is always fun for kids and parents, but it can be even more rewarding to see animals in their natural habitats. Visit Carlsbad’s own protected nature reserve at Batiquitos Lagoon, which is situated on a unique wetland habitat.

The hiking trails through Batiquitos Lagoon are easy and only take about an hour to complete, which makes them ideal for families. Batiquitos Lagoon Trail is about 1.6 miles long and surrounded by gorgeous views of the lagoon and surrounding wetlands. Leashed dogs are welcome to walk the trail as well, so feel free to bring the whole family!

Keep an eye out for wildlife as you walk. Many species of birds make their nests in the trees of the wetlands, including a few endangered species. There are also over 60 different species of fish in the lagoon, as well as roaming wildlife like deer, coyotes, and the occasional bobcat.

Hiking a kid-friendly trail and seeing spectacular views aren’t mutually exclusive in San Diego. You can be completely surrounded by nature and soak up the incredible sites at the trails around Doane Valley. Drive over to Palomar Mountain State Park for an exciting trip down the Doane Valley Nature Trail.

This trail travels through the heart of a forest, passing by Doane Creek and bordered by a dense woodland filled with pine and cedar trees. After walking through the woods, the trail emerges into a sun-soaked meadow, then loops back around to the forest. The trail is about 1 mile long with few hills and valleys, so even the youngest family members should have little trouble on this hike.

Palomar Mountain State Park is a natural habitat for all kinds of animals, many of which are commonly spotted on the wilderness trail. Look out for deer hiding among the trees and birds flying past overhead. This is a great trail to bring a camera and a pair of binoculars to get a closer look at the wildlife.

Lake Hodges in Escondido is a man-made reservoir originally constructed in 1918. Today, it’s an outdoor-lover’s paradise boasting beautiful natural landscapes and a wide variety of walking and biking trails.

If you’re looking to hike with kids in tow, the Bernardo Bay Trail is an excellent choice. This 2-mile trail follows Lake Hodges’ southern shoreline, so hikers get great views of both the hills and lake. Attached trails like the Kumeyaay Way and Hodges Cut Over are a bit steeper but still manageable if you’re looking to head deeper into the wooded area.

Lake Hodges also has many trails that are commonly used for mountain biking. Cross-country trails might be a little challenging on foot, but it’s a breeze to traverse this natural playground on a bike. Rent a few for the family with a Go City San Diego pass discount and watch the scenery as you cruise through the trails.

Just past the Torrey Pines Nature Preserve in Del Mar lies the San Dieguito River Park, a series of trails and sprawling nature in the San Dieguito River Valley. Visiting the San Dieguito Lagoon and doing some bird watching is a great way to introduce younger kids to the charms of San Diego’s natural beauty, and it’s also an excellent family-friendly hiking destination.

The real highlight of the San Dieguito River Park is Crest Canyon, which is filled with sagebrush native to the coast along its easy to walk dirt paths. Follow the gentle incline to the rim of the canyon, where you’ll want to snap a few pictures of the view looking down into the canyon and out across the landscape.

The trail is a little over 2.5 miles from start to finish, but there are many connecting trails that allow you to shorten the hike if desired. Crest Canyon’s trails are also dog-friendly as long as pets remain on-leash.

See one of the biggest coastal wetlands San Diego has to offer at San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve and Nature Center. This reserve is a must-see stop for nature lovers, with multiple types of habitats around the park, each home to its own ecosystem. Salt marsh, freshwater marsh, coastal strand, sage scrub, and chapparal all make San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve one of the most biologically diverse locations in San Diego.

There are 7 miles of trails in the 979-acre park, with difficulties ranging from easy to moderate. There is an ADA-accessible trail looping around the Nature Center, ensuring that everyone can enjoy San Elijo.

The Nature Center also houses interactive exhibits that are a great way for kids to learn about nature inside the park. Additionally, San Elijo Reserve has a scavenger hunt kids can complete during their hike through TRACK Trails, and those who finish their hunts can even win prizes.