Supposedly the oldest park in San Diego, and it is a nice little park…read more There are picnic tables in the shade and plenty in the sun. There is a public bathroom, which was clean and nice, only 2 of the 4 doors seemed to be unlocked but short wait. There is a concrete walking trail, where you can tour around and look at all the different flora including plants and cacti. It looked like a tennis court or pickle-ball court was there too.

Fine park to walk. There's a covered playground for kids. A small climbing bounded with padding…read moreground. Great plants and garden section with a native plants section. Great place to walk the dog. Bathroom was clean enough.

Wonderful campground with lots of trees. Enjoyed a partial hookup that included electrical and…read morewater. Each site has a picnic bench and fire ring. Some have benches as well. Only one bathroom area but the family bathroom is spacious. The bathroom area also has huge wash tubs for cleaning pots and pans. Same area has the RV dump. Small pond about 0.1 mile from the east end of the park, can catch and release blue gill. Have to buy firewood at the ranger station. Only complaint was the noise. There were lots of kids screaming, crying and being unruly with parents doing nothing about it.

We have stayed at Dos Picos many times since it's literally a few miles from home…read more During the week camping is nicer because there are fewer people, on the other hand part of the fun of camping is socializing and making new friends, so weekends aren't terrible. The camp sites are relatively generous, with some larger and more secluded than others. There's also an area ideal for group camping. Surprisingly WiFi reception here is great, although I'm told I should be enjoying nature instead of being on the internet. Dos Picos has a small lake that's a nice 15 minute walk away from the camping area. When you're there it feels like you're far away from civilization. Overall, I recommend Dos Picos with the only negative being some sites are a little close together.

If you are a San Diego hiker and haven't done this hike- WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???…read more And for those of you who see these photos and think damn I need to go do that, please be aware of the temperature because it is dangerously hot down there at lower temperatures than in other areas. The hike goes down into a canyon and the heat settles down there. Even if it's not as hot as you think coming up can be extremely dangerous. Every year I hear about somebody dying from heat stroke on that hike so don't take it lightly. I always check the weather on the actual trail using the AllTrails app. I saw that the weather out there was max 65° that day and I was like hell yeah. The hike really isn't that difficult, 3 miles down and then 3 miles back up. Lots of nice switchbacks, and there are a few sun shelters for shade. The views are gorgeous all along the trail. I've done this hike, probably 20 times over the years. It's the best in the spring and in the fall. In the winter it's way too cold. The reward for this hike is the gorgeous rock bowl and waterfall that the locals call Devils Punchbowl. This past Thursday when we did this hike, there were a lot of young folks at the Punchbowl when we got there. Some of the guys were climbing up and jumping into the water. I would not recommend it, even if the waterfall is still flowing that water is not safe to swim in. In the fall, the waterfall doesn't flow anymore after being dried out over the brutal summer, but the trees at the bottom of the canyon turn a beautiful gold color. One of the few places in San Diego you can actually experience fall.

Having lived in San Diego for so long, I honestly don't know why it took me this long to do this…read morehike. I finally got the permit online (definitely download it before you arrive since service can be spotty) and decided to go for it. I went in early May and started the trail around 8am, which turned out to be a great decision. The trail was practically empty at that time, and the downhill views were absolutely beautiful. I even saw two rattlesnakes before 9am, so definitely stay alert while hiking. At several points I had to remind myself I was still in San Diego and not somewhere in a huge national park. Once I got near the bottom, I did lose track of the trail a little and it was SOS, so having the AllTrails map downloaded beforehand was really helpful. It took me a little over an hour to reach the waterfall, and there were only two other people there at the time, which made it feel really peaceful and private. The water felt AMAZING after the hike down. There were so many fish in the water, and the whole area was honestly so pretty. By the time I started heading back around 10am, I noticed a lot more people arriving at the falls. The hike back up wasn't terrible, but the sun definitely makes it much harder on the return. I was very happy to make it back to the parking lot by around 11:30am. I would definitely bring lots of water, sunscreen, and some snacks.

I had always wanted to check this out and was not disappointed. There are ample walking trails that…read moretake you through oak woodland, and open grasslands. Lots of Raptors and great for birdwatching.

Fun little place to go for a hike or take pictures…read more There are plenty of trails, loop trails, signs. Some are shorter, some longer. Some easier, some harder. Only about 35 - 40 minutes E of Oceanside, so not too bad. There are plenty of animals to see the 3 or 4 times that I have been there. Including ground squirrels, rabbits, snakes, cows, coyotes, birds of all kinds such as woodpeckers, meadow larks, hawks, vulture or condors, etc. Pretty much dirt, so if it rains, mud. During the spring bloom there are some pretty flowers. There is 1 trail that leads to a pond, with some ducks, etc. There may be people riding horses, make sure you yield to them, whether walking, walking your dog, riding a bike, etc. There is a porta-potty at the beginning of the trail in the parking lot. Make sure you lock the gate when you enter the trails.

I was here recently for a soccer tournament. The play structures looked fun and kept the sideline…read moresiblings occupied. The fields were in nice enough condition. The bathrooms were limited, but I never saw a huge line, unlike other parks. The reason they're not getting five stars is because the parking lot is incredibly small! Most attendees were forced to park in the surrounding neighborhood.

We come to this park often, I never thought it would have a yelp page…read more We moved to cmr about 7 months ago now and this is a park across the road from our house. It's very clean, open and has friendly families with young children. There's restrooms that are always kept clean and the park is well maintained. I was just there today and it's always active and Not too crowded. Perfect place to relax on a Sunday and let the kids release some energy before dinner and bedtime for the week ahead.

I came here awhile back to hike up to Potato Chip Rock as everyone was telling me I should do this…read morehike, so I did. Hike took me a few hours and definitely got a nice workout. Everybody and their grandma knows about Potato Chip Rock so lots of people wanting their photo on the Rock, but I was too impatient and didnt feel like waiting or socialize, so I just hiked there, saw it and came back down. I love this park, the lake is very pretty and soothing to see waterfowl and people enjoying the water. I decided to bike here today and its close to 7 miles away, 15 min by car, and about 40 min by bike. The bike ride is a workout as there are hills both ways, so be prepared for that. I havent biked in awhile but planning to get back into it, so took my MTB out for a spin and it def needs a tune up. I stopped by the lake and sat at some picnic tables that were shaded and had a nice view of the lake and the Lookout Restaurant and got to see a lot of birds too. Was so nice to be able to spend a weekend afternoon here, it was exactly what my soul & body was yearning for! On the weekends, there is a $10 parking fee, and free for Poway residents. I think on the weekdays there is no parking fee. I don't recall paying when I hiked Potato Chip Rock and it was a weekday during the holidays. I was on bike so no fee either. Ill keep this place in mind if I wanna do a 10K run and back next time, people on foot also free. A really nice local lake to get a bit of nature in! I will be back over & over again!

My mistake for not checking the times..we only walked for 15 minutes since they were closing up,…read morebut it was such a beautiful spot! I'd definitely come back for a walk with friends/family (: There's also playground if you're going with kids, and lots of tables and grassy areas for a nice picnic.

When I knew I'd be spending a few days in Escondido, I started looking into all that this San Diego…read moresuburb comes to offer. After checking out TripAdvisor, Queen Califia's Magical Circle Garden stood out. I'm all about art, especially when the scale is impressive like it is here. We stopped by on a Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m. Make sure to check out their website to see when they're open because their hours are quite limited (Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. when I was there and every fourth Saturday from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.). It's located inside Kit Carson Park. I didn't have any trouble parking in their lot and then walking to the sculpture garden. Once you arrive, take in all the artist, Niki de Saint Phalle, created. It's weird, it's cool, and it's trippy all in one. There's some information you can read to learn more and while we were there, there were some members of the non-profit that is involved with the art installation there that told us more about it. Walk around and take it all in. You can easily do it in 10-15 minutes and it's a free attraction. Saint Phalle has other artwork in San Diego, but the Magical Circle Garden, is by far the most expansive one in terms of scope. And the most interesting in my book.

Truly what a hidden gem! Absolutely breathtakingly beautiful art instillation Queen Califia's…read moreinside of Kit Carson Park is wonderful. I was equally as in awe as my 2 year old was! Free to visit, but heads up the gates are only open to public Tues & Thurs 9-12! - You enter and follow the signs that lead you way back into Kit Carson to a little parking lot then it is a very short walk to get in, when you exit if you turn left (as opposed to right which would go back the parking lot) There is a very nice duck pond with a sitting bench!

This was a fantastic hike! I went on a Sunday afternoon around 4 PM. The trail was 4.7 miles and…read moretook just under two hours to complete. It's mostly uphill, and since the trail markers are no longer in place, I used my Apple Watch to track the distance. At the very end, there's a fun challenge -- two chairs with ropes attached that you can use to pull yourself up. It's a unique touch that makes for great photos, especially with the stunning view at the top. We only came across one hiking group and two solo hikers, so it was very quiet -- possibly due to the overcast weather and occasional drizzle. There was plenty of parking available at the trailhead. Overall, it was a quick, scenic, and enjoyable hike.

Only reason for 1 star to have greater visibility. South Trail 09/14/2025 7:45am Less than a mile…read moreinto the tail, where the stream is, we heard a loud mountain lion growl. I think we were close to it because of how near it sounded. We immediately turned back around and made it to the car safely. We noticed quite a few poops (all but one fresh looking) on the trail and not following our instinct decided to ignore. Lesson learned: know how mountain lion poop looks like & don't ignore your gut!

I was out in the east end of Poway and became intrigued by a directional sign for Sycamore Canyon…read morePark. What I discovered is a delightful neighborhood park with a great family feel. It was quiet and peaceful the day I visited.

Fairly quiet, neighborhood park…read more Most of those who visit comprise two groups: those who live in the neighborhood and those who come in to play organized soccer, baseball, and softball. The split is about 75-25% in favor of neighborhood playing versus organized ball. The park is relatively new and it is very clean. The people who visit reflect the demographics of the neighborhood. The houses range in price from $800,000 to $2 million. The adults are mostly white collar. Many stay-at-home moms. All and all, very safe park. Good networking opportunities for small biz owners. :)

Everything was pretty much fun in the sun at San V. Always have a fun time with families and…read morefriends. And the locals. San Diego native. Born and raised. Love the backyard lake we have here.

I looked up spots to fly drones in town and this one popped up. It's a nice reservoir. If you…read morehave boats and water toys this is your jam. I believe there are entrance and other fees for using them. Since I was not using any of those I got a free pass in to look around. Definitely a nice back drop to just chill and observe even if you do not have any water toys. I hear drone enthusiasts dig this spot. I can see why.