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Bayside Trail
4.8 ★★★★★ 45 Google reviews · Running trail in San Diego, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Bayside Trail's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Easy, short walk (to and from) overlooking the harbor and the bay , plus some city views.
What runners say about Bayside Trail
“A short hike with gorgeous views of North Island (Coronado), the bay, and downtown San Diego!”
“Easy walk; a steady incline on the way back.”
Hiking trail located inside Cabrillo National Monument. You have to pay the park entrance fee ($20 per car, $10 per person walk in) but it is 100% worth every penny. Trail is relatively easy and well maintained. Patrolled by Naval Police. One of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.
Absolutely love this hike! One of my favorites in San Diego. Great even for my toddler, who hiked it every day with me at 2 and a half. Remember to bring water, though, as it gets hot quickly.
Beautiful trail. We luckily had a free park access day so didn’t have to pay the fee- not sure how often they do this. The park centre has washrooms and covered seating areas. The hike itself was excellent, lots of unique vegetation and wildlife were visible.
The ocean's vast expanse was breathtaking. The winding trail on this hike was an adventure in itself. The city, bay, and ocean stretched out before me, with planes taking off in the distance. I saw plenty of lizards along the way. I thought the trail would lead me to somewhere special, but it ended in a dead end.
Trail conditions & character
“We ran down this trail to see the Vista that overlooked San Diego Bay, downtown, Coronado, the base, the submarine base, and all the ships coming in and out of the harbor.”
“Easy walk; a steady incline on the way back.”
“I originally thought it would be a loop but the trail stops at the bottom and then you turn around make your way back up the trail.”
“Part of it was on the side of a paved road which had cars zooming up and down.”
Plan your run at Bayside Trail
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(619) 523-4285
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Tuesday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Wednesday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Thursday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Friday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Saturday | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Sunday | 9 AM–4 PM |
Running trails near San Diego
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Sunset Cliffs Natural Park
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Natural cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean offer views of the coast & the occasional cliff diver.
Coronado Rail-Trail
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Seawall Running Trail (Start)
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Glorietta Bay Park
4.7 ★★★★★ 823 reviews
Bayside playground with a boat ramp & picnic area, plus views of downtown San Diego.
Bayview Park
4.8 ★★★★★ 675 reviews
This small bayside park with shade trees & benches offers views of the San Diego skyline.