It’s no secret that San Diego has some of the best hikes…but North County San Diego lies claim to some of the best of the best! If you’re looking for hikes in North County San Diego, then take a look at these options to find your new favorite place to hike!
Looking for more things to do in San Diego and San Diego County? Check out this awesome San Diego bucket list!
Where is North County San Diego?
North County San Diego consists of coastal and inland regions. Coastal North County consists of cities such as Oceanside, Carlsbad, Solana Beach, Encinitas, and Del Mar. Meanwhile inland North County includes cities such as Escondido, San Marcos, Poway, Visa, Valley Center, and Fallbrook.
Within these regions, there are a lot of amazing hikes to explore! It can be hard to choose favorites, but when it comes down to it there are some hikes that just stand out a cut above the rest. So if you’re looking for the best hikes in these cities and regions, then let’s dive in and discover the best hikes North County has to offer!
The Best North County San Diego Hikes
Here are the best hikes you’ll find in North County San Diego!
1. Lake Calavera Preserve
There are many amazing hiking trails at Lake Calavera! The Lake Loop Trail takes you on a 1.9 mile journey around the lake and up to the now-extinct volcano that is Mount Calavera. This hike is perfect for those who love beautiful views and for those who love taking their dogs on hikes with them.
There are many trails here, but they all sort of blend in with one another so you can easily find yourself on a trail you didn’t intend to take. But this also means it’s a fun choose-your-own-adventure hike, in that you can explore any of the main trails while still easily finding your way back. Want to know more about hiking Lake Calavera? Check out this post before you go!
2. Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Elfin Forest is a beautiful reserve in Escondido, with around 11 miles of hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian trails. With beautiful mountain views and plenty of native plants, this is the perfect place to hike in North County San Diego. Signs dot the trails telling you about the different types of plants and plant communities including oak riparian, oak woodland, chaparral, and coastal sage scrub…or you can simply enjoy the views and the bubbling of the creek (which you do have to hop across to complete the loop trail). It’s a reserve filled with wonder, and well worth checking out!
3. Potato Chip Rock
The hike to Potato Chip Rock is one of the most well-known hikes in North County San Diego. And for good reason! This natural rock structure is so thin that it looks like a potato chip–but people can stand, sit, or even jump on it and it holds up! It’s the perfect place to take some fun photos after a great hike up Mt. Woodson.
4. Double Peak Trail
Double Peak Trail takes you up to Double Peak Park in San Marcos for some spectacular views over the city. The trail actually starts from the nearby Discovery Lake, but you can “cheat” too as it is possible to drive all the way to the top of the hill and simply park there instead of hiking. But whether you drive or hike, this is a great spot to enjoy spending an afternoon or watching the sun set.
5. Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve
Hellhole Canyon is an enjoyable area to hike with 13.5 miles of multi-use trails from moderate to advanced. Just recently, this preserve added almost 600 acres to its already impressive size, so there is even more to explore! You can enjoy walking through the riparian zone along the creek, or pass into the chaparral environment as you continue up the mountain to areas where there is not much shade. Either way, you get gorgeous views and get to experience some of the native plant environments in North County San Diego. Check out the Hellhole Canyon website to learn more!
6. Annie’s Canyon Trail
Annie’s Canyon Trail is a really special hike that takes you through a slot canyon in Solana Beach (it was previously known as the mushroom caves and was off limits to the public for many years, but after a generous donation by someone named Annie and the hard work of many volunteers it is now open again). Currently, because of construction on the freeway, you cannot do the entire hike…but you can still take Annie’s Canyon Loop from the North Rios trailhead which will take you through the slot canyon.
What to Bring With You for North County San Diego Hikes
If you plan to hike any of these trails or trails in other places, it’s a good idea to come prepared. Most of these are urban and fairly short hikes (though not all) but there are a few things you will still want.
- Plenty of water: This should be at the top of your list for any hike, no matter how short or long. This is the reusable water bottle I use most frequently on my hikes, although I have friends and family who swear by these for keeping your water cold all day while hiking. Of course, if you plan to do a lot of hiking you might already have (or might want to invest in) a hydration pack to keep you hydrated on the go.
- Snacks & food: If you’re going on a longer hike (or going hiking over lunch time) then you may want to make sure you pack some food. If you want to take a full picnic for a lunch on your hike then that can be fun, or you can just bring some good snacks like trail mix, granola bars (these are amazing!), or even some easy-to-eat vegetables like carrots. Regardless of your choice, it’s no fun to go hungry while hiking or to run out of energy and not have anything on hand as a quick pick-me-up.
- Good shoes: While some of these North County San Diego trails are shorter and more urban than trails in other places, that doesn’t mean you should try to hike them in sandals or heels or any of the other atrocities like this that I’ve occasionally seen. You’ll want at least a comfortable pair of tennis shoes/athletic shoes like these, although I hike enough that usually I opt for my favorite pair of hiking boots).
- Sun protection: It is sunny San Diego, after all, so you’ll want to be prepared to protect your skin and keep yourself from burning! Always bring sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat if possible.
- A map: Although you won’t be trekking off into a wilderness where you would likely get lost, it can be handy to at least have a copy of a trail map downloaded to your phone in case you want to reference it while you’re hiking. Many of the hiking areas in North County San Diego have multiple trails running through them, so it’s fun to be able to explore but also know a little bit about where you’re going.
- First aid: It’s a good idea to have a few things on hand in case of an emergency–whether that be simply a blister or something more unexpected and dangerous. Also any sort of medicines you may need, especially if you are prone to allergic reactions.
- Hiking backpack: It’s nice to have something comfortable to put all of the above items into, whether that be something lightweight that packs down into a bag that fits in your hand or a more sturdy option that you can also use on longer day hikes.
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