HomeCaliforniaEscondido › San Dieguito River Park

San Dieguito River Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 27 Google reviews · Running trail in Escondido, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Mixed
Loop distance
65 mi
Shape
Loop
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from San Dieguito River Park'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.

Mixed65 miLoopFlat & fastTrailhead parking

What runners say about San Dieguito River Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (27 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

Extremely mixed feelings about this place, unsure if it's because I didn't see the waterfall? Or? I hiked through one of the entrances to the trail (close to the storage unit place) And for about 3-5 miles I didn't really see anything but desert foliage and dust.

★★★★☆ — Da , Jul 2019

Very nice place for beginers. Almost flat walk or ride. Only a couple up and down small hills. Not even 100ft tall. Again great for beginers, little kids and seniors. Nice historic spots marked along trail. Well maintained and marked trails. No shade anyware. If hot weather bring pleanty of water.

★★★★☆ — Cesar , May 2018

Beautiful wide Trail just off the 15 and Via Rancho Parkway through historic territory where people fought in the Mexican-American War.

★★★★☆ — Rae , Apr 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 27 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

Flat & fast 2 mentions

“Great flat walking trails 👍”

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🏃 Long-run distance (5mi+)

“I hiked through one of the entrances to the trail (close to the storage unit place) And for about 3-5 miles I didn't really see anything but desert foliage and dust.”

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🛣️ Paved surface

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🪵 Boardwalk

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🔁 Loop trail

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🅿️ Trailhead parking

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Plan your run at San Dieguito River Park

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
  • Loop distance65 mi back to where you parked. Long enough for a real long run.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • Trail mapOfficial trail map
  • Websitesdrp.org
  • Phone+1 858-674-2270
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–7:30 pm
Tuesday 6 am–7 pm
Wednesday 6 am–7 pm
Thursday 6 am–7 pm
Friday 6 am–7 pm
Saturday 6 am–7 pm
Sunday 6 am–7 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find San Dieguito River Park

12655 Sunset Dr, Escondido, CA 92025

Get directions

Running trails near Escondido

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Piedras Pintadas Trailhead

4.6 ★★★★★ 513 reviews

San Diego, CA

65 miLoopMixedShaded

Mostly flat, kid-friendly hiking area with a stone/gravel trailhead and some hills.

1.2 miles away

San Dieguito River Trail

4.9 ★★★★★ 34 reviews

Escondido, CA

Scenic

1.2 miles away

Bernardo Mountain Peak

4.8 ★★★★★ 129 reviews

Escondido, CA

Natural surfaceScenic

Hikers can ascend to this high point via the Bernardo Summit Trail for panoramic views.

1.2 miles away

Felicita County Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 1,355 reviews

Escondido, CA

Scenic

Expansive area offers various sports fields, two playgrounds, walking paths & a disc golf course.

1.5 miles away

San Dieguito River Park

4.6 ★★★★★ 40 reviews

Escondido, CA

65 miBoardwalkScenicDog-friendly

Nature & wildlife preserve with waterways, biking & hiking (dogs permitted) & a historic farmhouse.

2.2 miles away

Lomas Verde Trail

4.4 ★★★★☆ 14 reviews

Poway, CA

2.7 miles away

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.