Mission Trails Regional Park is a regional park in San Diego, California, recognized as one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It features a diverse landscape of rugged canyons, rolling hills, and mountains, with the San Diego River traversing its expanse. This varied terrain provides opportunities for several sports like hiking, touring cycling, jogging, mountain biking, and more.
Mission Trails Regional Park offers a wide array of outdoor activities across more than 100 routes. Hikers can explore diverse trails ranging from flat paths to challenging ascents, including routes that lead to the highest points in the city or wind through historical landmarks and oak woodlands. Cyclists have access to both paved routes, such as the Father Junipero Serra Trail, and extensive networks of mountain biking trails, including doubletrack and fire roads. For those interested in exploring specific activities, guides like Hiking in Mission Trails Regional Park, Cycling in Mission Trails Regional Park, and Running Trails in Mission Trails Regional Park provide further details. More than 26,000 visitors have shared their experiences in Mission Trails Regional Park, resulting in an average rating of 4.76 out of 5 stars.
125
Routes
4.5
(271)
Average rating
2135
People visited

5.0
(1)
59
hikers
2.40km
00:52
250m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
43
hikers
6.11km
01:41
100m
100m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
32
hikers
11.4km
03:33
430m
410m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
22
hikers
4.59km
01:16
100m
40m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.0
(2)
6
riders
9.45km
00:44
140m
140m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
8.33km
00:59
320m
320m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
31
riders
7.89km
00:29
40m
40m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

21
riders
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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9
runners
10.6km
01:23
250m
250m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

47
runners
3.93km
00:36
210m
210m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

28
runners
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
runners
8.30km
01:05
190m
190m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
81.0km
05:49
700m
700m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
38.6km
02:56
650m
650m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
riders
42.7km
03:27
820m
820m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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1
riders
7.69km
00:52
240m
230m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.3
(4)
43
riders
17.6km
01:45
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(43)
9
riders
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.9
(35)
10
riders
16.4km
01:13
200m
200m
Easy mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(5)
26
riders
34.3km
01:49
490m
490m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

22
riders
8.80km
00:41
50m
60m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

8
riders
59.0km
02:49
650m
650m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

7
riders
63.6km
03:00
680m
680m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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Mission Trails Regional Park offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, touring cycling, jogging, mountain biking, road cycling, and gravel biking. The park features over 60 miles of trails across nearly 7,000 to 8,000 acres. It is recognized as one of the largest urban parks in the United States.
Popular hiking trails include the Cowles Mountain Trail, which leads to the highest point in the City of San Diego at 1,592 feet (485 meters). The Oak Canyon Trail offers a diverse hike through historical landmarks and natural features. For more information, consult the Hiking in Mission Trails Regional Park guide.
Yes, Mission Trails Regional Park offers trails suitable for beginners and those seeking less challenging routes. The park's extensive network includes flat, meandering paths. For specific recommendations, refer to the Easy hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park guide.
Mission Trails Regional Park has specific policies regarding dogs on its trails. It is advisable to check park regulations for designated dog-friendly areas and leash requirements. A dedicated guide, Dog-friendly hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park, provides further details.
Cyclists can enjoy paved routes like the Father Junipero Serra Trail and the Lake Murray Reservoir loop for touring cycling. Mountain bikers have access to over 60 miles of trails, including doubletrack, fire roads, and singletrack. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes are permitted in designated areas. More information is available in the Cycling in Mission Trails Regional Park guide.
The park offers various options suitable for families, including easy hiking trails and paved cycling paths. The Visitor and Interpretive Center provides exhibits on the park's natural history and cultural heritage. For family-specific hiking recommendations, see the Family-friendly hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park guide.
Key natural features include Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, North Fortuna, and South Fortuna, which are part of the 'Five Peak Challenge.' The San Diego River flows through the park, and Lake Murray and Kumeyaay Lake offer additional recreational opportunities. The Old Mission Dam, built between 1809 and 1815, is a significant historical landmark.
Mission Trails Regional Park is a popular destination on komoot, with over 26,000 visitors having shared their experiences. The park features 146 routes across various sports, which have an average rating of 4.76 out of 5 stars.
Mission Trails Regional Park provides numerous jogging opportunities across varied terrain, from paved paths to more challenging routes. Both the Father Junipero Serra Trail and Lake Murray offer suitable surfaces. Detailed information can be found in the Running Trails in Mission Trails Regional Park guide.
The 'Five Peak Challenge' encourages hikers to summit five prominent peaks within the park: Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, North Fortuna, and South Fortuna. Completing this challenge offers a comprehensive experience of the park's diverse terrain and views.
Yes, Mission Trails Regional Park has a 14,000-square-foot Visitor and Interpretive Center. It serves as a starting point for visitors, offering exhibits on the park's natural history and cultural heritage, a library, and an art gallery.
The official website for Mission Trails Regional Park is www.mtrp.org. For general inquiries or to contact the Visitor Center, the phone number is +1-619-668-3275.

