Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail Guide

This mellow hike on the Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail takes you to the highlight of the park, a waterfall plunging through volcanic rock. Along the way you'll encounter a forest of giant California live oaks and sycamores, the grave of European royalty, and a year-round stream that many endangered species call home. Nestled in a valley insulated from surrounding development, Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is not only one of the most bio-diverse areas in SoCal, but it's also one of the largest urban parks in the USA.

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

Los Penasquitos means "little cliffs" and is named after the cliffs that flank the park.

Where is Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail?

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve stretches about 5 miles between I-5 and I-15. For this hike, we're going to start at the main entrance on the east side. Use this trailhead address:
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, 12020 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129

Make sure you check the park website before you leave, trails can be flooded or closed based on conditions.

Gear For the Hike

• This is a straightforward hike that most folks do in fitness or casual clothes.
• Bring at least 1L of water.
• If it's been raining, there can be some big puddles and small stream crossings. I use trail runners and they work great.
• There can be ticks and bugs in the lush growth around the creek. I use insect repellant here.

My Latest Gear Picks

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

Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail Maps

There are over 12 miles of trails at Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, and this hike guide will take you down the main South Side Trail to the waterfall. A few notes on the trails here:

• Overall the trail is flat with a few small bumps.
• If the falls are too far, you can cut it short by taking on of the crossings before that and hiking back on the other side.
• Here's an official trail map for the park.
• We are going to take small parallel side trails between Peñasquitos Creek and the larger South Side Trail. These trails are small, generally shaded, and less busy than the bigger South Side Trail, which is a dirt road.
  

  

• If there's been a lot of rain, the small side trail can be flooded. If this is the case, just head over to the South Side Trail and continue there.
  

  

• This is an out-and-back hike. When you get to the waterfall, just turn around and come back the way you came. If you just want to return quickly, you can take the main dirt South Side Trail back. You can also cross over and take the North Side Trail, crossing back to the south side of the creek wherever you'd like.
  

  

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Hike Brief

• For about 6,000 years native peoples have inhabited this area, taking advantage of the abundance of life, shade, and freshwater.
• Los Penasquitos was the site first Mexican land grant in California, which happened in 1815. The Mexican government gave out land parcels like this to retired soldiers.
• The area was used f0r cattle grazing until residential development started in the 1960s, when the county and city purchased the land using a federal HUD grant to protect it. Eventually it became the park you see today.

Los Penasquitos Canyon Trail Hike Directions

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If you want to do a small side trip, go straight at that last junction to visit the Carson's Crossing boardwalk over Peñasquitos Creek.

From here just go back the way you came, or take the South Side Trail the whole way, or cross over and take the North Side Trail back.

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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