Bernardo Bay Trail – San Dieguito River Park
| In This Guide |
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| Total Distance (?) | 2.5 miles (4 km) |
| Hike Time | 1-2 Hours (Total) |
| Difficulty (?) | Easy |
| Total Ascent (?) | 250 feet (76m) |
| Highest Elevation | 410 feet (125m) |
| Fees & Permits | Free |
| Dogs Allowed | Leashed |
| Alerts & Closures (?) | San Dieguito River Park |
| Park Phone | 858-674-2270 |
| Weather & Forecast | Latest Conditions |
| Stay Safe | Copy this webpage link to the clipobard and share with a friend before you hike. Let them know when to expect you back. |
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The Bernardo Bay Trail in San Dieguito River Park is a natural oasis, just minutes off the I-15 freeway. In this short loop hike on the banks of Lake Hodges, you’ll enjoy great water views, a variety of fauna, and a ton of wildlife. In fact, this whole area is known as a birding hotspot. And while I wouldn’t travel hours to do this hike on its own, its location just off the I-15 makes it a great spot for a quick leg-stretching rest stop.
Where Is the Bernardo Bay Trail?
The Bernardo Bay Trail is located in San Dieguito River Park, next to Lake Hodges, just of I-15 at exit 26. There is an official San Dieguito River Park parking lot by the hike, but it fills up quickly with mountain bikers, locals, and dog walkers. It’s much better to park around the corner at the huge Rancho Bernardo Community Park parking lot. In this guide I’ll start and end the hike from this big lot.
Use this trailhead address:
18448 W Bernardo Drive, San Diego, CA 92127
Gear for the Hike
This is a flat and easy hike, and you can probably get away with doing it in any type of clothing. Light hiking gear or fitness clothes work well. There’s no shade on the hike, so bring sun protection. If you have binoculars or a long camera lens, bring them. There’s a lot of wildlife spotting here.
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Joby GripTight Smartphone Flexible Tripod
Take your selfie stick game to the next level. Part of the fun of a hike is taking pictures, and a flexible JOBY smartphone tripod takes it to the next level. You can use it as a selfie stick, as a regular tripod, but more importantly, as a flexible tripod that can attach to tree branches and other objects. It’s not expensive, and it’s something you can use when not hiking too.
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Black Diamond Cosmo 300 Headlamp
If something goes wrong and you get lost, sprain your ankle, or get delayed, you might be caught out after dark. And one of the top items that search and rescue departments recommend you carry is a light. Smartphones can work as flashlights, but that drains the battery quickly. It’s better to invest in a reasonably priced and high-quality headlamp like this Black Diamond. It takes AAA batteries, can last 200 hours, and has an emergency strobe. Carry it with you off the trail to use in emergencies as well.
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Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated June 2022.
No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.
Bernardo Bay Trail Maps
The trails here are all well-worn and easy to follow. Most trails don’t have signage, but if you follow the directions below, you will be fine.
Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File
If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.
How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
Here’s what I use. If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.
To access this guide when out of cell phone range on the trail, simply save the webpage on your phone ( iPhone – Android ).
Bernardo Bay Trail Hike Directions
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Video Directions
Watch This Video In 360/VR Why 360/VR Is Great
Turn by Turn Directions
Lake Hodges is a man-made lake that is used as a reservoir. It’s also home to its own sea monster, Hodgee.
This guide last updated on September 12, 2021. Did something change on this hike? If so, please contact me and let me know. I'll update the guide.
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