A trail that isn't meant for sight seeing and fun. This trail is definitely meant for sport. 12…read moremiles out & back you get little downtime as you will be engaged on your hike to the peak, as well as your hike back to the parking lot. The Lot does open at 8am but many hikers park on the side of the road. Start early, definitely before sunrise, the sun will definitely become a factor. Pack more water than expected. Temperature's do rise fast and there is little shade. Please wear proper hiking shoes as there are parts of the trail have a lot of loose rocks. Hiking poles are definitely a plus. I recommend using the weather app to know what kind of weather you will be in the day of your hike and so you could wear proper attire. The earlier you start your hike the better, stay safe!!

Completed the Memorial Day Warrior challenge and this mountain continues to be one of my favorite…read more It's is like a roller coaster ride with many ups and downs. I didn't take a lot of picture, but it was an absolutely gorgeous day... 73 degrees high. The rangers were out but I came too late to collect my badges. maybe next year. What a great event and it really brings together the local hiking community. Much thanks to the county of San Diego Parks! Please come and create your own adventure.

Hubby and I hiking spot Cowels mountain beautiful place to…read morevisit Bring your hiking boots and night light for evening trails after sunset

A local and tourist fav!…read more Cowles Mountain is a San Diego classic and the highest point in the city (~1,593 ft.), which means this short hike hits HARD! The main trail is about 3 miles round-trip with a steady, rocky incline. Be prepared to have your heart pumping fast with some heavy breathing. Who needs a warm up? Just come here! There are other trails in the surrounding areas and the popular 5-Peak Challenge. It's on my bucket list for sure! Cowles is one of the most popular hikes in San Diego, so the timing matters. Early weekday mornings are ideal unless you enjoy crowds. Parking is usually easy with street spots and a small lot if you're lucky. There's a restroom, but not fully stocked or well-maintained. So use if absolutely necessary. Bring enough water (especially on a hot day), wear good shoes with grip since it can get rocky along the trail. Don't forget to stop a few times to admire the view on the way up! The payoff is worth it. You get a 360 degree view of San Diego from the oceans to the mountains. Short, steep, sweaty, and effective! 4 stars on a good day and still one of my favorite quick workouts to get the adrenaline pumping!

Good birding on Chaparral near the docent cabin b/c there is water. Flickers, titmouse, nuthatch,…read moreetc Note: Circuit Trail and upper Chaparral trail have very steep (no switchbacks) long sections up and down. But at 10:30 am Nov 8th still lots of shade. Great hikes.

**May 2023: Sunday Morning Visit**…read more Hiking is not one of the first activities I'd choose to participate in however, I found Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary near my airbnb and with all the positive Yelp reviews I figure I should check it out. At the time of my visit, it was only open on Sundays (9am-4pm from October - July; Closed August - September) and guests need to register online (https://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/what-we-do/silverwood.html). Signup is easy and it's a free experience. On my visit my friend and I came around 10am and were greeted by a volunteer at the entrance. We were told to write our name in the check in so that they could track all visitors. No dogs allowed (unless it's a guide dog) as I recalled the volunteer informing another guest about the rule as my friend and I started the trial. There were definitely a lot of bugs, but the trial was clear and within 8 minutes or so we made it to the bird watching observation area, which included a couple of seats and bird feeders. It was extremely peaceful and I loved seeing the quails chase each other and the different colored birds visiting the feeders. I noticed in the back area a table so it would a cool place to enjoy a picnic with family. I really liked seeing all the beautiful flowers and while I did not hike the other trails I think if you're looking to get away and be one with nature this is a really cool free activity to enjoy

We had a great time with Emil on a 1 hr ride through rain and snow flurries. The ride was safe,…read morewell paced and super fun. I would recommend wearing some waterproof pants/jacket if you are going during such weather. This is my new favorite activity! Can't wait to do it again.

I booked this adventure for 2 reasons: (1) to FINALLY get out of the house during this pandemic…read moreespecially since all we have been doing is working and we have been working more than ever since our job is considered 'essential', and (2) celebrate my boyfriends 30th birthday. This was my first time on a quad/ATV and my boyfriend has been riding dirt bikes since he was like 6yrs old. I love being outdoors & going on new adventures, and he loves riding ... so the mixture of those things i came upon this place. For birthdays I love and prefer creating memories instead of giving materialistic gifts. Example: For his 28th birthday I booked us a little personal speed boat in San Diego. Upon arrival check-in was easy, quick, and they gave us hand sanitizer so we felt assured. They had helmets and other PPE lined up and available for us to use, however we had brought our own (riding gloves, riding jerseys, riding DOT certified helmets, and googles) which they allow. Our guide Jorge was funny and very easy going. The ride overall was really fun!! During our ride our guide also took pictures of us and he took some awesome ones with amazing backdrops! The only complaint I have was that I only booked us the 1 hour ride. Next time we are doing the 2 hour ride for sure! And maybe the Big Bear location as well.

This is a great place to trail run and mountain bike! There is the main fire road that goes all the…read moreway up to Crest. There are hiking trails that branch off from the fire road. I see rock climbers, but I'm not sure where they are climbing. This isn't as steep as Cowles mountain, but it's much more peaceful! The goal for trail runners is to make it all the way up to Crest. Don't forget to try and sprint Mike's hill!

This hiking trail starts near Santee Lakes and ends in Sycamore Canyon/Goodan Ranch County Preserve…read morein Poway. Some sections run through MCAS Miramar / private properties. Park rangers at Sycamore Canyon told me that' a permit from MCAS is required for bikers but not for hikers on foot. Still a lot of flowers yesterday (6-11-23)

This place is connected to the Mission Trails system. It appears to connect to all the trails on…read moreMission Trails. I saw plenty of trails for bikes and hikers. Obviously based on the name horses are allowed on certain parts of the trails. Lots of pretty sites on the trail and the water system here connects to the Old Misson Trail dam. I enjoyed this hike.

Great place ! Even when a lot of cars! Weekends! Week day! So nice! Lots of open back areas space…read moreto enjoy, without all the hoopla ! Nice little camp ground at entrance! Very laid back. Walk! Bike! Hike . Climb.

I am generally happy to have any time outdoors, and I will preface this review to say, that I think…read moreit simply wasn't the best trail at the best time with my dog. Last weekend, I decided to meet up with a friend and his dog, and we decided to take the trek up the mountain Generally, Cowles Mountain isn't my favorite, as it gets too crowded. Also, I typically hike at night, meaning that I rarely ever see anyone. This was my first time taking my dog on Cowles, which meant that I had to be careful about other dogs on the trail, to ensure her safety. I generally choose Barker Way when I hike Cowles, as there is ample street parking, and it is slightly less crowded than the other side of the mountain. However, the trail still got crowded and quite narrow on the top. Despite my efforts, a random dog snapped at mine, which made me wary of the crowded, narrow trail. Luckily, my scared dog did not get injured. I then pulled off into the brush each time I saw another dog in order to keep some distance. On the way down, we decided to take the other route back to the trailhead, as it was wider, and less traveled, It was an extremely steep dirt road. Unfortunately, there was very little traction, as most of it was dirt and loose gravel, which doesn't bode well with an excited spaniel who wants to pull off into the bushes to chase lizards. So, I took a little tumble. Luckily, I was fine, however, I went extra slow after that. All in all, I prefer less crowded trails, and the trails that have loose gravel are not best with dogs. I still enjoyed being outside and getting some exercise with a friend, but will choose another mountain next time for hiking with my dog.

Less incline and traffic on this trail which made it more enjoyable as we didn't feel like we were…read morerushing or over exerting ourselves. Plenty of dogs and regular hikers on the trail here and there, and a handful of areas to stop off and take a break. Took 2hrs round trip from the base of the trail to the top of the trail, but not including to the top of Cowles Mtn.