Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve: 7 miles of creek trail between Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos. Free, 8 a.m.–sunset, bikes on designated paths, lots lock at sundown.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon is the long, shaded crease between Mira Mesa and Rancho Peñasquitos — about 7 miles of creek, oaks, and sycamores on ~4,000 acres jointly run by the City and County. It is one of the few San Diego trails where you can actually ride or walk in tree cover for more than twenty minutes. SDMBA calls it the county’s most popular trail area: stay on the main canyon for easy, wide paths; climb north onto Del Mar Mesa when you want real singletrack.
The waterfall everyone photographs sits on volcanic rock in the west half of the canyon. It runs after winter rain and can be a still pool by late summer. If you only want that out-and-back, we already wrote the waterfall walk. This card is the broader preserve: hike, bike, or mix both, including the Carmel Valley / Del Mar Mesa side.
Overview
Bikes: Allowed on designated trails only. SDMBA notes e-bikes Class 1 and 2, a 10 mph speed limit, and closures after rain. Some streamside paths in the main canyon are not open to bikes where horses are frequent — obey the signs. Suggested intro loops from SDMBA: the Penasquitos Canyon Valley Loop (~6 miles, 82 feet of gain) or the longer Los Penasquitos and Del Mar Mesa Intro Tour (~23 miles). “Tunnels” (scrub-oak canopy) is the technical stuff. Wet-weather closures: call the City ranger office at (858) 538-8066.
Feet: County hours at the Black Mountain Road staging area are 8 a.m.–sunset daily (pedestrian access sunrise to sunset). Parking lots lock sunset to 8 a.m. — cars left inside get gated in. Dogs on a max 8-foot leash. No fires, no glass, no camping.
Trailheads (City): east staging at Black Mountain and Mercy Roads; west on Sorrento Valley Boulevard (~1 mile east of Vista Sorrento Parkway); north near Peñasquitos Creek Park (Park Village Road & Camino Del Sur); south at Camino Ruiz; Lopez Canyon staging at Pacific Mesa & Pacific Center in Mira Mesa.
What You Need to Know
- Where: Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, San Diego (east lot 12020 Black Mountain Road, 92129)
- Hours: 8 a.m.–sunset (lots); pedestrians sunrise–sunset
- Cost: Free
- Bikes: designated trails only; 10 mph; Class 1–2 e-bikes per SDMBA; some creek trails are no-bike
- After rain: assume closed until rangers reopen — (858) 538-8066
- County ranch house / adobe tours: east end off Black Mountain Road on Canyonside Park Driveway — (858) 484-7504
- Maps: City PDF trail map and SDMBA’s PQ page
Stay on signed trails. Access here took years; closures get used.
