San Marcos, California
Looking for the best hiking in San Marcos? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around San Marcos. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.
Top Hiking Spots in and near San Marcos
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Julian, California
Cuyamaca Peak
4.55.79 mi / 1627 ft gainThis peak is one of the tallest in the county. Reaching the summit of the peak takes you to an elevation of 6500'. Although this peak isn't as challenging as others nearby, it's located in the center of San Diego, which offers up amazing views, which is the main reason to take this hike. The best...Read more -
Jamul, California
Hollenbeck Canyon Trail
4.65 mi / 709 ft gainThe trail is wide and well maintained. The first mile of the trail is well shaded by oak trees. You'll see stunning rocky peaks and rolling green hills as the trail continues. There are three creek crossings to be aware of. Cleveland National Forest is dog friendly, but bring a leash! Hunting is ...Read more -
Dana Point, California
Walk the Dana Point Preserve Trail
5.00.5 miOcean views the whole time, plenty of wildlife and different species of native plants make this short hike beautiful. With the hike being short enough to complete in the afternoon after a day at the beach you can see a beautiful view of the coastline north and south. There is plenty of parking in...Read more -
Jamul, California
Hiking Otay Mountain
5.015.3 mi / 2903 ft gainThe trek begins on the Otay Mountain Truck Trail at Pio Pico Resort & Campground. You can either park and hike the entire trail, or drive up to a point a couple miles and park before the road becomes steep and rough. The distance on here is if you hiked the whole way. If you have a 4-wheel dr...Read more -
Laguna Niguel, California
Colinas Ridge Trail
2.01 mi / 131 ft gainFirst, you'll be parking in the parking lot for the dog park. It's free parking and there are roughly 40 spaces, so there is plenty of parking. I've never seen more than 20 cars here at any one time. Once parked you'll find the trail head/ start on the northwest side of the lot (opposite the dog ...Read more -
Dana Point, California
Salt Creek Trail
5.01.6 mi / 95 ft gainStarting from the Salt Creek Beach parking lot (a paid lot that takes cash and credit cards and charges by the hour with pay stations at a few points in the parking lots), you head west towards the ocean...through a tunnel and down the hill towards the beach. Once you get to the basketball court ...Read more -
Canyon Lake, California
Kabian Memorial Park Loop
5.03.48 mi / 335 ft gainKabian Memorial Park Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Quail Valley, California.Read more -
San Diego, California
Hike to the beach at Border Field State Park
2 mi / 26 ft gainThe beach at Border Field State Park is southernmost beach in California. This beach begins (on US Maps) at the Mexican border and continues north to the mouth of the Tijuana River. The State Park shares its land with the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve which are both operated b...Read more -
Laguna Beach, California
Aliso Peak via the Valido Trail
5.01.14 mi / 325 ft gainThe Valido Trail trailhead can be found just off West street off the Pacific Coast Highway, just south of Aliso Beach. Park on West Street past the trailhead. The trail proceeds approximate .5 miles till it intersects with the Aliso Peak Trail. Go left .4 miles to the obvious summit and wooden p...Read more -
Corona, California
Santiago Peak via Holy Jim (Temporary Closure)
5.016.25 mi / 4423 ft gainThis trail may still be closed due to trail maintenance. Please contact Trabuco Ranger at 951-736-1811 before heading out. This a long day hike of 16 miles roundtrip, so it's best to get an early start (before sunrise). Get amazing views of Mt. San Antonio, San Jacinto, and San Gorgonio, and Ca...Read more -
Corona, California
Holy Jim Falls
3.53.06 mi / 633 ft gainTo start, directions on how to get to the trail there are two different ways, the most common , which I will explain, being through Rancho Santa Margarita you will head east on Santa Margarita Parkway, turn left at the dead end (into a parking lot for a shopping center) on Plano Trabuco Road, thi...Read more -
Trabuco Canyon, California
Hike the Bellview to Dove Lake Trail
2.5 mi / 75 ft gainThis hike will be about going from the Bellview Trailhead to Dove Lake and back. Note that once you get to Dove Lake there are numerous offshoots that can take you in different directions (you can follow the road into the Dove Canyon housing community, take a paved road back to the Bellview parki...Read more -
Laguna Niguel, California
Kick Back at Laguna Niguel Regional Park
This is an awesome tucked away little adventure that will have you occupied all day! With plenty of picnic tables you can be sure to have your own privacy tucked into a corner free from other people. Grab a lake side picnic table or even the numerous ones around the grass fields, they are all won...Read more -
San Diego County, California
Hike Sheep Canyon
5.02.71 mi / 732 ft gainSheep Canyon is probably the most remote palm canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in California. While Palm Canyon is easily accessed from the State Park campground, Sheep Canyon is on a dirt road that requires stream crossings and potentially a high-clearance 4WD vehicle. The canyon is na...Read more -
Laguna Niguel, California
Dripping Cave in the Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness
4.47.68 mi / 889 ft gainDripping Cave sits tucked away in a corner of Wood Canyon, part of the Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, and the trail to the cave, while short, requires *at least* a 2.25 mile hike in from the nearest trailhead (West Ridge Trail to Mathis Canyon), though this is less than ideal as that rou...Read more -
Lake Elsinore, California
Explore Walker Canyon
4.3Walker canyon is within easy driving distance from most places in Orange County and San Diego which makes for a great day trip. While there is no official parking lot for the trail you will be able to find parking all along Lake Street and Walker Canyon Road. The trail begins at the corner of L...Read more