Annie's Canyon Trail Guide

1.8 miles - Easy Effort
Or: 2.5 With Lagoon Loop
1 Hour (Total)
470 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 270 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Annie's Canyon Trail is about as unique as they come. On this short hike, you'll be able to experience a sandstone slot canyon, complete with narrow walls and ladders. And on the way to the canyon, you'll get beautiful views of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, a critical migrating waterfowl habitat. Another bonus on this hike is that it's only minutes off of Interstate 5, making it an excellent leg-stretcher hike stop if you're driving past.

In this Guide:

Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions for Annie's Canyon Trail
Parking for Annie's Canyon Trail
Insider Tips and Recommendations for the Hike

Quick Links: San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve - NOAA Weather Report - Top Gear Picks (Sep 2023)

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

Locals also know Annie's Canyon Trail as the "ACT" or "mushroom caves."

Where is Annies Canyon Trail?

There are a half-dozen trailheads and ways to get to Annie's Canyon Trail; in this guide I'll show you how to get there from free and abundant street parking, just off of the I-5. Use this trailhead address:
Solana Hills Trailhead, 498-450 Solana Hills Dr, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 1 — When you get to the destination, you'll see a dead end. The trail starts at the end of the street. Just make a u-turn and...

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 6 — Park along the side of the street. It's mainly open parking, but double check for no-parking areas and driveways.

There are no restrooms at the trailhead or on the hike.

Gear For the Hike

This is a short and easy hike, and you don't need anything special to do it. Expect to get sandy, and if you have a backpack, it will be hard to get through the slot canyon. If you simply carry a small water bottle and wear casual fitness clothes and sneakers, you'll be great.

My Latest Gear Picks

Garmin inReach Mini 2 ( Amazon | REI )
HOKA Speedgoat 5 ( Men | Women )
Zpacks Sub-Nero Ultra ( Zpacks | Review )
Alpine Carbon Cork Poles ( REI | Amazon )

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Annies Canyon Trail Maps

The hike from the trailhead through Annies Canyon is 1.8 miles. I've added an optional and short loop extension that lets you take in more of the shores of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, which adds another 0.7 miles to the total.

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

3D Map

Trail Notes

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 4 — It's crucial that you stay on the trail and don't venture off into sensitive habitats or deadly parts of the slot canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 5 — I wish I could say this is common sense, but I need to say it. Don't scratch or scrawl onto the soft cave walls like these knuckleheads did.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 3 — There are green signs located along the trail to point you in the right direction.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 2 — There are also a liberal amount of benches located along the trail if you want to take a break and soak up the views.

If you bring a dog or toddler, you'll probably have to carry them up some of the ladders in the slot canyons.
The canyon gets narrow and you may have to walk sideways. If you are claustrophobic, you could have problems in the narrow section.
The canyon trail is one-way (up), so you don't have to worry about passing people in the other direction.
This is a popular hike. Arrive early or visit on a weekday to beat the crowds.

The Annies Canyon Trail Story

Annies Canyon Graifti — Today Annie's Canyon Trail is a well-marked, clean and beautiful trail. However, it used by covered in graffiti and a hangout for those looking "to party." Photo Jerome Lucido

Millions of years ago, this whole area was underwater.
When the area here became land, runoff from the surrounding area eroded the sandstone, which deepened them over the years into the canyons that you see today.
Up until 2015, this area was all private property, but often trespassed on. Vandals would spray paint the walls. People used the area to get high and party.
In 2014 a popular website, Hidden San Diego, published a story about the canyon, and visitation to the closed area skyrocketed. The local conservation community knew they had to address the issue.
A long-time San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy supporter named Annie made a generous donation to acquire the land. Several volunteer groups removed the graffiti and built the trail, which officially opened in 2016 as "Annie's Canyon."

Annie's Canyon Trail Hike Directions

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Annies Canyon Trail Directions 7 — Go through the gate at the end of the street.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 8 — You'll see some trail signs when you go through, confirming that you are in the right place.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 9 — Follow the wide trail as it climbs.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 10 — At the top of the hill you'll pass the Canyon Trailhead on the left. Go straight and downihill.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 11 — Follow the trail downhill along I-5. Avoid any unofficial side trails and stay on this main, wide trail along the highway.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 12 — The trail will come close to the highway. Our turnoff comes shortly, once the trail dips below the level of the highway.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 13 — Look for a small side trail on the left, about 0.5 miles into the hike.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 14 — Enjoy the shade of the small trail as you hike away from the highway.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 15 — You'll start to get some views of San Elijo Lagoon.

The Spanish expedition that visited the area in 1769 originally named the area San Alejo Lagoon. Over the years, before there was a strong written record, people mistakenly called it San Eligio (the patron saint of goldsmiths). The bastardization of the word continued into its current form, San Elijo, which is not actually a saint.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 16 — Stay straight on the main trail as a side trail joins from the right.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 17 — And a second after that, another trail joins from the right. Hike straight.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 18 — When you get to the big junction with the trail board, make the hard left to enter Annie's Canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 19 — Go past the big Annie's Canyon Trail sign.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 20 — Make the right at the split to enter the slot canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 21 — Here's the sign at the junction. If you don't want to do the slot canyon, you can hike up the switchbacks to the left. And remember that if you do the slot canyon, it's one-way (going up).

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 22 — Go straight along the wall on the right.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 24 — And then you're in the beginning of the slot canyon!

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 23 — Stay out of the side canyons.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 25 — Make the left to enter the narrower part of the canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 26 — In the beginning you can walk head-on.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 27 — But then it narrows even more; you may have to walk sideways.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 28 — When you get to the split, make the short detour to the grotto of the mushroom cave.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 29 — Here's the mushroom cave. You can still see remnants of the old graffiti on the ceiling.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 30 — After the cave, head back to the trail and continue up the ladders.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 31 — At the top of the ladders you have a little more canyon left.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 32 — And then you arrive at the top and end of the canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 33 — Enjoy the nice views to the Pacific Ocean from the bluff, and then head downhill.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 34 — The steep trail has some small switchbacks to make the descent (and climb) more manageable.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 35 — At the junction at the bottom, make the right to head back to the junction with the big trail board.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 36 — If you want to head back to the start, just make the right and retrace your steps. If you want to do the optional 0.7 mile extension around the lagoon loop, make the left.

Lagoon Loop Extension

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 37 — Keep straight on the main trail, avoiding any small side trails to the left or right.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 38 — Enjoy the nice lagoon views from the higher ground.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 39 — When you get to the big junction with the patch of grass in the middle, make the right.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 40 — Enjoy the lookout shortly after the turn.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 41 — And then continue straight along the side of the lagoon. The tide comes in and out twice a day. When it's high, look fr marine creatures in the shallows. When it's out, look for birds searching for food in the mudflats.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 42 — The trail turns inland when it approaches the highway. As you gently climb, look up and to the right to see the top of Annie's Canyon.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 43 — Stay on the trail as it widens.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 44 — And soon you'll be climbing up along the interstate on the trail you came down. Follow it straight along the highway back to the parking area.

Annies Canyon Trail Directions 45 — And here you are, back at the Solana Hills Trailhead. That's the hike!!

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!).

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