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Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead
4.6 ★★★★★ 262 Google reviews · Running trail in San Diego, California · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Natural surface
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead'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.
Starting point for moderate hiking & biking trail across rugged canyon landscape with a parking lot.
What runners say about Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead
“The trails are well maintained and the waterfall area is nice to sit on the rocks and enjoy.”
“Along the way there is a small waterfall and the scenery is beautiful throughout.”
“Parking can be a bit tight, but the trails are great for walking or running (possibly bike riding, although I didn't see any cyclists when I was there).”
“There are areas of shade, some with river rocks, some with soft sand but you can walk on the sand easily.”
“Some days I’ve found that there aren’t very many people out and it makes it that much more peaceful to just be.”
The trail is amazing! It winds through lush forests, open fields, and finally ends at a refreshing river surrounded by rocky cliffs. It's the perfect place to cool off after a hike. There's a convenient parking area at the trailhead and a picnic area to relax before or after your adventure.
Beautiful and peaceful place. I started at the Sorrento Valley parking lot and started my trek from there. There are areas of shade, some with river rocks, some with soft sand but you can walk on the sand easily. There were some inclines that I would grade as a moderate climb but so doable.
Amazing trail both for mountain biking Or hiking. You can start from either way north or south. The trail is medium for mountain biking and easy for trekking. You can’t believe that you are in the wilderness in the middle of the city. Done this hike and biking more than 10 times.
Multiple trails in this area. Some are easy some are hard. It’s a great place to either run and workout or take a leisure walk and vibe with nature. Great place. Safe. Good neighborhood area.
Trail conditions & character
“The trails are well maintained and the waterfall area is nice to sit on the rocks and enjoy.”
“Parking can be a bit tight, but the trails are great for walking or running (possibly bike riding, although I didn't see any cyclists when I was there).”
“I also highly recommend the Camino Ruiz Trail Entrance on the south east side, which is a more steep entrance at first to get into the canyon, but well worth the adventure.”
“We checked our dog multiple times and didn't see any on him thankfully.”
“There are areas of shade, some with river rocks, some with soft sand but you can walk on the sand easily.”
“You can cross the stream at multiple points, depending on water level.”
“Some days I’ve found that there aren’t very many people out and it makes it that much more peaceful to just be.”
“It winds through lush forests, open fields, and finally ends at a refreshing river surrounded by rocky cliffs.”
Plan your run at Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Phone+1 858-538-8066
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
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