The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park: San Diego's Longest-Running Halloween Haunt

Overview

San Diego's favorite Halloween tradition is back for its 27th year. The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is the county's longest-running professional haunt — and it's outdoor horror too big to fit indoors. Set at historic Marston Point in Balboa Park, it runs two terrifying haunts at one location: a mile-long trail winding through a grove of twisted pines and gnarled oaks, and the unpredictable 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze. It runs select nights from September 25 through November 1, 2026.

This is the real deal — named one of the Top 5 Haunted Attractions in America, with live actors, elaborate sets, and scenes that stay current with the scary movies of the moment (past favorites include a haunted school bus, a zombie barn, and the infamous "HELLno Kitty"). New for recent years is the free Dark Carnival scare zone out front. If you love a genuine scare, this is the San Diego haunt to beat.

What You Actually Need to Know

• Event: The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park (27th year), presented in support of San Diego Goodwill
• Dates: Select nights, September 25 – November 1, 2026
• Where: Corner of Balboa Drive & Juniper Street, Marston Point, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
• What's included: Admission covers both haunts — the eXperiment Maze and the mile-long Haunted Trail
• Free bonus: The Dark Carnival scare zone out front is free to enter
• Tickets: General admission and VIP options; check the ticket page for current pricing
• Info hotline: 619-696-SCARE (7227), active September–October
• Info & tickets: hauntedtrail.net

The Two Haunts (Plus a Free Scare Zone)

The eXperiment Maze. You start here — a 3,500-square-foot indoor maze that's disorienting by design, where the walls (and the scares) keep shifting on you. Make it out, and you've only just begun.

The Haunted Trail. The main event: a mile-long outdoor path through Balboa Park's oak grove, in the dark, with scares coming from every direction. The natural setting — twisted trees, fog, and shadow — makes it genuinely unnerving in a way an indoor haunt can't match. Watch your back; you never know which way the next scare is coming from.

The Dark Carnival. Out front, this expanded scare zone is free to enter — sinister carnival games, interactive characters, and themed photo ops. It's a fun taste of the terror even for anyone not doing the full haunts.

Go VIP (New for 2026)

For the deluxe scare, the new VIP Blood Red Carpet experience adds front-of-line admission to both haunts, flexible arrival timing, a personal greeter, a themed photo op with a professional group photo, and a premium goodie bag (valued over $45) with merch, Dark Carnival passes, a digital photo, and a gift-shop discount. Worth it on busy nights when the lines build.

Good to Know

• Not for young kids — not recommended for children under 10; no pregnant women, infants, or children being carried are allowed entry
• Intense by design — high-impact scares, strobe lights, fog, and water spray; not suitable for those with heart conditions or prone to seizures
• Buy tickets ahead — nights sell out during peak Halloween weekends, and advance purchase saves time
• It's outdoors — if it closes for rain, it's posted on their social media; dress for a cool Balboa Park evening
• Skip the line if you can — front-of-line or VIP is the move on busy nights
• It supports a good cause — the haunt is presented in support of San Diego Goodwill
• Plan for Balboa Park parking — arrive a little early, as park lots fill on weekend nights

However brave you're feeling, the Haunted Trail is San Diego's definitive Halloween scare — outdoor, immersive, and 27 years in the making. For more of the season, don't miss Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld, or browse our full event calendar.