Picture year-round mild weather, miles of multi-purpose trails, one-of-a-kind sights and a mountains-to-coast terrain with small hills, short hills, large hills and long hills—all interspersed with acres of level land. If you see a pattern here—best described “perfect”—you’ve captured San Diego County’s biking and hiking scene.
A county of 4,200 square miles, its open-to-the-public, out-of-doors options are impressive. According to San Diego County Parks and Recreation: “The park system features more than 100 locations across 50,000 acres of land, including 36 local day-use parks, 19 regional parks, a number of open space preserves and several registered historic sites. Some 350 miles of trails take visitors through multiple climates and habitats.”
A well-known magnet for beachgoers, imagine exploring its water-lined perimeter from atop two wheels or on your own two feet—trekking around Mission Bay, alongside San Diego Harbor, around Harbor and Shelter Islands, upon the Silver Strand’s straight stretch that parallels the sea or to the southernmost tip of Point Loma and the Cabrillo National Monument (San Diego downtown and bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other).
Continuing north are such distinctive on-the-sea and along-Pacific-Coast-Highway towns as La Jolla, Del Mar, Encinitas and Carlsbad—all with their own characteristic vibe. From La Jolla’s sophisticated French Riviera-like backdrop complemented by Torrey Pines State Reserve, Del Mar’s old Hollywood history and racetrack scene, Encinitas’ laid-back skateboard and surfboard setting and Carlsbad’s trendy but traditional downtown area, the atmosphere is as attainable as the miles you wish to travel.
Bikers can take the Coaster commuter train from downtown to Encinitas, Carlsbad (either station) or as far as Oceanside and bike back along the Pacific Coast Highway (locals called it PCH) to the Solana Beach train station for the return trip home. Hikers can ride the Coaster from downtown to Solana Beach, head a couple of blocks west to Fletcher Cove Beach, then walk south on the beach as far as La Jolla Shores.
Inland, it’s a different environment with such varied terrain as rugged mountains, off-the-beaten-path canyons, wildlife-laced estuaries and peaceful valleys, including an über-cyclist’s dream—a 13-mile, unrelentingly steep ascent to the world-renowned Palomar Observatory and the Hale Telescope atop a 6,140-foot peak and its harrowing return.
Cycling opportunities abound for road bikes, mountain bikes and beach cruisers. You can rent bikes or bring your own and hop aboard many forms of public transport with your cycle in tow.
Hiking is equally as varied. It can be as relaxing as miles of uninterrupted beach walking or as demanding as traversing high-elevation, landscape-challenged terrain. Though note that in warm weather, mornings are your best inland choices, with coastal options year-round.
Bottom line: Regardless of the time of year, whichever route you select and whatever transport you chose, bring along a healthy dose of go-with-the-flow attitude to best enjoy San Diego—a California Dreamin’ kind of town.
Mission Bay Bike Path
Bayshore Bikeway
La Jolla
Summer really begins at the end of June with the months of July, August and September San Diego’s warmest. Biking and hiking during these months should be early morning to avoid the afternoon heat which can be 90 degrees or more. A prime time to visit this region is between November and April (especially with spring’s flowers) with temperatures typically ranging from 65 to 70 degrees.
While cars still rule in Southern California, public transportation is a good way to get to and from several areas of San Diego. While you can hop on the Coronado Ferry, Coaster (commuter train), city buses and trolleys with a bike at no additional fee, capacity is limited on the buses and trolleys.
San Diego has a bike-share program called Discover Bike. To use one of the bikes, you can become a member of the program, or rent them by the hour. Docking stations to pick up or return the bikes are located throughout the city. For more details, please visit discoverbikesandiego.com. Note that California requires all bicyclists under the age of 18 to wear a helmet.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) is only about 3 miles from the city center. You can ride the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) 992 bus, which takes about 10 minutes to reach downtown. There’s also a complimentary airport shuttle which runs to Middletown Station, where you can pick up MTS’ Green Line Trolley to head downtown. For more information, visit sdmts.com.
Check out these helpful websites for planning your travel in San Diego.
As its name suggests, the Mission Beach-Pacific Beach Boardwalk conveniently links the two oceanfront communities north of downtown San Diego. The...
Overview The Mission Bay Bike Path forms an 11.57-mile, heart-shaped loop around San Diego’s Mission Bay and the incredibly scenic 4,235-acre...
The San Diego River Trail is a network of paths that lead along the San Diego River channel and mud flats and provide access to Mission/Fashion Valley...
Overview Nearly encircling the San Diego Bay, the Bayshore Bikeway offers views of downtown San Diego and the resort town of Coronado while...
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Despite the hills, despite the rain, Seattle is a great city for walking and biking. And, thanks to the city’s infrastructure investments, it’s slowly getting better all the time. In 2016, Bicycling Magazine ranked Seattle the 5th best bike city in the U.S. WalkScore says Seattle is the 8th most walkable city in the country.
The Magic City is a multicultural destination with water, water, everywhere. The greater Miami metropolitan area stretches from the Everglades, the famed River of Grass, in the west to the Atlantic Ocean in the east, so the city’s trails cover a variety of landscapes and settings. From protected natural areas and sandy beaches to historical neighborhoods and urban hot spots, there’s something for...
Whether you prefer pedaling among high-rise buildings of downtown, clocking fast miles on a paved veloway, exploring a gravel trail along the lake or cruising separated bike paths alongside creeks and streams, Austin’s trail system beckons. The city may be best known for its network of single-track mountain biking and off-road running trails along Barton Creek, but it’s quickly making strides with...
To really understand why Bicycling Magazine recently placed Chicago first on their list of the 50 best U.S. cities for cyclists, it takes a look beyond the 100 miles of new protected bike lanes Chicago has added since 2015, the nearly 600 bright blue Divvy Bike Share stations and, of course, the city’s iconic Lakefront Trail.
Water, most notably the Mississippi River, but also Minnehaha Creek and the Chain of Lakes, shaped the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, literally. The river, creeks and lakes provide the defining beauty and character of the landscape. They also attracted people, supported the industries the led to the growth of the cities and encourage the active lifestyle of today’s citizens.
Towering saguaros, 115-degree summer temperatures, Major League Baseball spring-training parks: They are all signature features of Phoenix, Arizona. A bit more under the radar, perhaps, is the well-established network of trails that crisscrosses the massive urban area.
Picture year-round mild weather, miles of multi-purpose trails, one-of-a-kind sights and a mountains-to-coast terrain with small hills, short hills, large hills and long hills—all interspersed with acres of level land. If you see a pattern here—best described “perfect”—you’ve captured San Diego County’s biking and hiking scene.
