1. Cowles Mountain

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San Diego, CA

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Cowles Mountain

4.3 (1k reviews)

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Vivian T.

A classic hike that I like to walk every once in awhile! It has the right amount of incline, flat ground, and beautiful views for all ages. Parking is plentiful and can be found in their lot or on the street. It is a very popular hike to do in San Diego, so I would come at an off hour when the weather is not too warm for less crowds. It's nice once you reach the top and see the sign! Definitely makes me feel motivated to go all the way up.

Josh B.

Cowles Mountain offers a startling amount of scenery for something located within a major city. Pro/con of the main trail: you won't ever be the subject of a gruesome "hiker goes missing" saga as it's well-populated. But the non-isolation combined with the zig-zag means you may learn more about your fellow hikers than you might expect. On my recent visit three young gents described their dating conquests, with one in particular noting a successful visit that nonetheless remained within the guidelines of his religion. Another fellow provided an overview of Gaza to a geopolitical novice. I also got in trouble for attempting to talk to a dog. The trail is rated "difficult". It wasn't bad overall except for the few parts where there wasn't really a trail, just rocks. Years ago I made it to the summit. This time I had to settle for a "Rocky ending" where I didn't win but I endured. I got a mile up. In my defense, there was still a chance of rain, plus I was hoping for food, waterfront sunset and then more food. As a consolation prize for not getting to the summit, I briefly checked out the Barker Way trail. This diversion offers excellent mountain views but I didn't go the whole way as I wanted to keep an eye on the ocean. Geography note: you can get here by public transit but it won't be quick. The 115 bus goes a few blocks away.

Jeff L.

I'm going to update my review since it's been about 12 years. This is my absolute favorite hike in San Diego. It's intense so come early in the morning or later in the evening, unless it's cool out. It's about 30 minutes up and 30 minutes back down if you hike without stopping. About 10 minutes in, the intensity ramps up and then about 15 minutes in is about the most difficult. The last 7-10 minutes is all switchbacks, which are manageable until you get to the final switchback that takes you to the top. That last little bit is intense but you can see the top so it's maybe easier to keep going. The views from the top are amazing. You can see all of San Diego from there. I mean, down town, Point Loma, UTC, east county, even the ocean on a clear day. The way down is obviously much easier. Watch your footing though because it's super easy to turn an ankle on the uneven footing. If you "bound" down then you'll feel it in your knees the next day. Bonus points if you get to see sunrises and sunsets from here because they are amazing!!!

We made it!
Stephanie G.

Top notch trail! If you start at the Big Rock park the inclines are killer. A little bit ok scrambling but the trail is very well maintained and very busy. Bring more water than you Think you'll need and wear shoes with good grip and support. There are bathrooms before you start up, in the park, and parking may or may not be limited. The views are to die for but the trail is steep!! Highly recommended !

It's a beautiful and blessed day!
Shay M.

Still one of my favorite hikes in San Diego. It's a really versatile hike that's done by the young, the aged, the extremely fit, the fit, the getting-fit, pets, and kids. If you're on the fitter side, you might add a weighted pack, or work on your speed. If you're getting fit, it's still doable, just take your time. Plenty of parking. I recommend getting here early, 6am-6:30am, to beat the sun. I recommend at least 16.9 oz. of water, but carrying a 32 oz. thermos with ice cold water would be great. Staying at a steady pace, and not spending time at the summit, you can make it up and down in 75-80 minutes. Wear good shoes, with solid traction, as it can be slippery when coming down. I believe the roundtrip is a little under 3 miles. Most of the people are friendly, and will often exchange pleasantries when passing by. It's one of my favorite things about this mountain. Have fun, get your sweat on, and most importantly, stay safe. If you are bringing a pooch, make sure to bring them some water as well. Stay Hydrated!

Panoramic
TJ C.

Great spot for a fun hike. It is all uphill (except on the way back obviously). It is hard packed dirt, rocks, and boulders. You are in nature. There is a very clear path. But it can be a workout. And the harder (faster) you go the better it is. But you can turn around and go back down whenever you want. Lots of people from different backgrounds enjoy this hike, so be cool and friendly. Some people do bring their dogs on leash. Some kids and older folks do the hike too. Go for a slow walk, a quick hike, or a strong run. Just have good shoes, the right clothes, some water, maybe a snack, and positive vibes. Enjoy!

Sunset from on top
Cameron Z.

Tranquil trail at sunset. Easy for new hikers and mostly pleasant during the cool of the day. I do not recommend hiking at night unless you're in a group and have a headlamp. There are rattles on this trail so be aware if you bring a dog. The trail is clean, well kept, and popular amongst San Diegans. I don't hike much and I thought it was easy.

Luis C.

Cowles Mountain has always been one of my favorite hikes in San Diego, beautiful views, a solid workout, and usually a safe, enjoyable trail. However, I'm sharing my recent experience as a warning for others to stay alert, especially around dogs. On July 22, 2025, around 8:AM, I was bitten by a dog while hiking. The incident was completely unprovoked and happened without any warning, the dog lunged and bit me near my left ankle. I've attached a photo to this review showing of what the dog's owner looks like. To make matters worse, the owner gave me a fake name and phone number. It was a painful and upsetting experience, and I want to make others aware that not all dog owners are responsible or honest. Please use caution around dogs on the trail, even in popular spots like Cowles Mountain. Despite this incident, it's still a great place to hike. Just be mindful, stay alert, and hike safely.

Marcie L.

At 1,592 ft, Cowles Mountain is the highest peak in San Diego. There are two main routes to the summit: 1. A paved service road with a steady incline 2. A scenic trail (which adds about a mile) Since I had hiked Cowles many times before, I chose the scenic route. This route always stays very busy since it is rather touristy. It's a 3 mile hike to the Summit and back. The paved road is a 2 mile hike to the summit and back. This is more uphill and less crowded. Be careful because all the loose gravel can make the footing tricky. There were actually firefighters helping someone that had injured themselves when I arrived. At the summit, if you follow the path near the antenna, it will lead you to Pyles Peak--a quieter 1.5+ mile out-and-back hike from Cowles summit. There is a parking lot you can park in or street parking. There's restrooms at the entrance near the scenic side. There is not much shade so be aware of that. This hike is kept very clean. I just find it to be a little more on the boring side. If you do the five peak challenge, I recommend doing this hike last because you'll be exhausted, and there's a lot of people that you can follow or chat with to help with the motivation. It's also less steep too despite it being the highest peak.

Tykeshia J.

Beautiful day for a quick hike. Busy on the trail but people are usually nice to led you move through. Usually when I'm short on time or need a quick pick me up, this one of the spots I like to go to.

Amanda J.

This is a hard but good hike! It was just under 5 miles and approximately 1,200 elevation gain. We started early on a Saturday morning and it took us about 2.5 hours to finish the hike. This includes the time we spent hanging out at the top of the mountain, enjoying the views and catching our breath. The hike is an out and back. There are a few different trails to get to the top of Cowles Mountain. Shade is limited and the trail was well kept.

Olivia B.

Beautiful trail that's well worth the trip to the top! Luckily when we went it wasn't busy so we were able to easily get parking when we arrived in the afternoon. Definitely bring good footwear and water with you when you go. The 360 view at the top is incredible and you will get an awesome view of the surrounding San Diego area.

One of the many flowers
Anthony A.

This is a great place to get your cardio up. Being a mountain, everything is up hill. There are no flat paths. I recommend hiking boots, but running shoes works too. You have to keep in mind, the smooth rocks and sand. This makes some areas slippery. Today I saw 3 people fall. All going down hill. The views are breathtaking. This includes the Rattlesnakes. Oh yes, there are rattlesnakes. You can see it in one of my pictures. Now me and my family are just starting our mountain hikes. So we made it only half way up. This mountain is great for novice and experienced hikers. One con, is that some people do not pick up after their dogs. So you got to watch out for poop. Some people also pick up after their dogs, but leave the poop filled bag on the trail. I will put an update, when I make it to the top.

Fields of cotton. Early hiking by dawn

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2 years ago

Nice hike with beautiful views! Friendly people! Centrally located. Heavily populated. A bucket list hike for San Diego.

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Cowles Mountain Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Cowles Mountain

Is this hike good for small dogs (less than 12lbs)?

Yes, in all honesty. However, it's a very high traffic trail with families young children runners and hikers and we would really appreciate it if pets remained at home because many pet owners leave bags and poop behind.

Is the trail now re open for hiking?

No it is not. It's a city park and they still have it shut down. Until they open parking for the rest of the parks, I'm sure it will stay closed.

Is cowles mountain closed due to the corona virus or is it still open?

Its closed indefinitely. Won't be open until at least Apr 30 most likely, probably longer. Check the San Diego City parks website

What time does the bathrooms open on Sundays?

Hi Joanne - there are restrooms at the base of Cowles Mountain on Golf Course Dr. These are open at all times and are similar to what you might see in most parks or natural areas (Read: No Frills)

Is this trail open past sunset for night hiking?

You should be fine .. I've gone early morning before sunrise& sunset .. it's a pretty easy hike a little steep for some ppl. But overall the view is just absolutely beautiful.

Are there signs posted for street parking regarding turning your wheels?

There are signs at the Golf Links and Navajo Road location.

Hi,I don't want to come back on the same path,so i am thinking of starting from Big Rock Trail-Cowel Mountain-Barker way Trailhead.Will that be easy-moderate or strenuous to complete?Any other suggenstions are highly appreciated.

I personally considerate it moderate, it isn't some crazy path or anything but there certainly is lots of incline. Definitely more incline taking this route versus the standard golfcrust trailhead. Especially towards the end where it's a steep… 

Approximately how long does it take to complete the trail, going up and coming back down?

It depends on your pace it's about 1.5 miles each way. So whatever your pace is at a 3 mile hike. It's a little over 900 feet elevation.

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Review Highlights - Cowles Mountain

“Definitely bring water on hot sunny days, even if it's a short hike, heat will get to you.”

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La Jolla Trail - Along the hiking path.

La Jolla Trail

4.1(214 reviews)
13.6 mi•La Jolla Shores

Tried this hike a couple of times. Short and sweet with some scrambling/ mildly challenging areas…read more Beautiful views and ends in blacks beach. Lots of paragliders that glide off glider port nearby.

I had heard a lot about the "Ho Chi Minh Trail" and finally tried it over a recent weekend. I am…read morenot sure who discovered or developed this hike, but it felt like, "Hey, let's follow the natural erosion of the land and create a shortcut to Black's Beach from the residences in La Jolla Farms." The number of people who were either barefooted or were wearing flip flops to make this trek really surprised me. I was wearing hiking shoes and was fortunate to only pick up a couple of minor scrapes along the way. The views of the canyons, the bluffs, and the hang gliders overhead were very beautiful so there were plenty of photo opportunities. I felt the hassle to descend towards the beach was not worth the short journey. The path was only about 3/4 mile in distance one way which I completed in about 20 minutes. Trekking poles were not at all useful, and they became a hindrance in a few areas. This was a hike in which you should NOT bring children or dogs. If you have a fear of heights, then you may also want to think twice before trying this trail. There were at least two or three very treacherous spots in which a slip could lead to a nasty fall with a concussion, sprain, fracture, or even death as an outcome. There are many other hiking locations in San Diego County that are more rewarding than the La Jolla Trail.

Photos
La Jolla Trail - Beach shore at the end of the hike

Beach shore at the end of the hike

La Jolla Trail - A doable hike with some challenging spots

A doable hike with some challenging spots

La Jolla Trail

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Lake Murray - Always gorgeous

Lake Murray

4.4(336 reviews)
2.0 mi

SINGLE FEMALE WITH DOG.. not advertising that BUT telling all others I feel so safe here. We go…read moreBEFORE IT GETS HOT (yes your dog can't walk on hot turf) and I end up carrying my dachshund most of the route but it's busy without feeling over crowded. It's safe without feeling like I can't pass have space. As a woman it's so hard finding a trail I can have both headphones in doing. I see men and women on bikes, walking, running and it's been the perfect spot to park easily, walk (you do have to turn around it isn't a full circle) and get my steps in. Also a Starbucks near the entrance

Lake Murray is so beautiful and I enjoy coming here! I've been here a few times to walk the trail…read moreand also sit by the lake and read on a nice sunny morning. The birds can be a bit annoying, but guess that comes with the great outdoors. Definitely a nice spot to chill, take a walk and get those steps in. This area feels safe and well maintained. When I went, there weren't too many people, so it was pretty peaceful. The trail can get busy and there are bathrooms along the way (I didn't use them though) There's plenty of parking here, but just be sure you leave on time for closing. I've heard they lock up and it can be an issue with getting out. (not sure how true this is but I won't chance it) There is more parking elsewhere with trail access too, I just personally haven't found it.

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Lake Murray - Bench for a picnic. Be careful it maybe too hot out!

Bench for a picnic. Be careful it maybe too hot out!

Lake Murray - Read signs and be careful when wondering off the paved road.

Read signs and be careful when wondering off the paved road.

Lake Murray

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Cowles Mountain - hiking - Updated October 2026

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