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Walk the river

Stroll through tree-shaded walkways in Mission Valley

Walk along the San Diego River
Walk along the San Diego River
A great place to observe waterfowl

Although located in the midst of metropolitan San Diego, this trail segment meanders along a lush wooded watercourse that winds its way to the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the San Diego River Park network of paths found along the San Diego River channel that extends from Volcan Mountain until the river flows into the ocean at Mission Bay for a distance of 52 miles. This river was used by the Kumeyaay, then later as a water source for Mission San Diego de Alcalá, 19th-century European settlers, and currently serves the City of San Diego through San Vicente and El Capitan reservoirs.

Mile markers measure your progress along the trail

There is a kiosk that gives a brief overview of the area, including a map and a description of plants and animals found along the trail. Toyon, also called Christmas berry due to its bright red winter berries, lemonade berry with pink buds, and elderberry with its bluish-black berries, provide food for wildlife. The river in this area shows a history of flooding since record-keeping began in 1914. The biggest recorded flood occurred in January of 1916, when the river grew to be a mile wide with a flow rate of 70,200 cubic feet of water per second, damaging roads, tracks, and telephone/telegraph lines that took over a month to repair.

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The walk begins at North Marker 4 at the entrance of the parking lot. Look for American coots, ducks, and gulls that splash and feed down the banks and islands in the river. Along the path are native plants, such as rushes, mule fat, coyote bush, white patchy sycamore trees, and coast live oaks.

At North Marker 5, the river view opens looking south. Native pink roses (Rosa californica) and sunflowers (Encelia californica) line the river pathway. Their blooms foretell the approach of spring. Hidden is the wrentit, a tiny native brown bird with the “call of the chaparral.” Other birds to be seen include black phoebes, bushtits, and white-crowned sparrows, peeking out from the bushes. Laurel sumac, an indicator plant of a frost-free area, provides shelter.

Along the trail, near North Marker 6, is an overlook for observing the river life. Note the arroyo willow nearby. It was revered by the Kumeyaay for its medicinal properties as a pain reliever, source of basket material, and used for making clothing. Benches near the kiosk welcome weary travelers.

San Diego River Trail

To continue east along the river, turn north on Camino del Estes for a short distance to a crosswalk, carefully cross the street, then immediately turn south back down to the river and turn east on the path until Qualcomm Way. The path turns south and crosses over the San Diego River at Qualcomm Way. Looking westward, the river eventually empties into the ocean between Mission Beach and Ocean Beach via an estuary.

Turning west, the path runs parallel to the trolley tracks. Passengers on the trolley have a fabulous view of the river as they speed along the line. There are benches and picnic tables along the trail. Native sugar bush (not usually found at this low of an elevation) is a reminder that banks of the river have been replanted after the channel was straightened. Following the path west to the end, turn north and return to your car or trolley station.


Distance from downtown San Diego: 5 miles. Allow 15 minutes driving time (Mission Valley). From SR-163, exit east on Friars Rd. Turn south on Frazee Rd. then west on Hazard Center Dr. and park in the lot. Or, take the Green Line Trolley to Hazard Station, walk 0.2 mile east to the parking lot at Mission Center Dr. and Hazard Center Dr., taking care when crossing the road.

Hiking length: 2-mile loop.

Difficulty: Easy. Pavement is flat and wide with leashed dogs, bicyclists, and joggers common. No facilities at the parking lot, with stores and restaurants on the south side of the River Walk.

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Walk along the San Diego River
Walk along the San Diego River
A great place to observe waterfowl

Although located in the midst of metropolitan San Diego, this trail segment meanders along a lush wooded watercourse that winds its way to the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the San Diego River Park network of paths found along the San Diego River channel that extends from Volcan Mountain until the river flows into the ocean at Mission Bay for a distance of 52 miles. This river was used by the Kumeyaay, then later as a water source for Mission San Diego de Alcalá, 19th-century European settlers, and currently serves the City of San Diego through San Vicente and El Capitan reservoirs.

Mile markers measure your progress along the trail

There is a kiosk that gives a brief overview of the area, including a map and a description of plants and animals found along the trail. Toyon, also called Christmas berry due to its bright red winter berries, lemonade berry with pink buds, and elderberry with its bluish-black berries, provide food for wildlife. The river in this area shows a history of flooding since record-keeping began in 1914. The biggest recorded flood occurred in January of 1916, when the river grew to be a mile wide with a flow rate of 70,200 cubic feet of water per second, damaging roads, tracks, and telephone/telegraph lines that took over a month to repair.

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The walk begins at North Marker 4 at the entrance of the parking lot. Look for American coots, ducks, and gulls that splash and feed down the banks and islands in the river. Along the path are native plants, such as rushes, mule fat, coyote bush, white patchy sycamore trees, and coast live oaks.

At North Marker 5, the river view opens looking south. Native pink roses (Rosa californica) and sunflowers (Encelia californica) line the river pathway. Their blooms foretell the approach of spring. Hidden is the wrentit, a tiny native brown bird with the “call of the chaparral.” Other birds to be seen include black phoebes, bushtits, and white-crowned sparrows, peeking out from the bushes. Laurel sumac, an indicator plant of a frost-free area, provides shelter.

Along the trail, near North Marker 6, is an overlook for observing the river life. Note the arroyo willow nearby. It was revered by the Kumeyaay for its medicinal properties as a pain reliever, source of basket material, and used for making clothing. Benches near the kiosk welcome weary travelers.

San Diego River Trail

To continue east along the river, turn north on Camino del Estes for a short distance to a crosswalk, carefully cross the street, then immediately turn south back down to the river and turn east on the path until Qualcomm Way. The path turns south and crosses over the San Diego River at Qualcomm Way. Looking westward, the river eventually empties into the ocean between Mission Beach and Ocean Beach via an estuary.

Turning west, the path runs parallel to the trolley tracks. Passengers on the trolley have a fabulous view of the river as they speed along the line. There are benches and picnic tables along the trail. Native sugar bush (not usually found at this low of an elevation) is a reminder that banks of the river have been replanted after the channel was straightened. Following the path west to the end, turn north and return to your car or trolley station.


Distance from downtown San Diego: 5 miles. Allow 15 minutes driving time (Mission Valley). From SR-163, exit east on Friars Rd. Turn south on Frazee Rd. then west on Hazard Center Dr. and park in the lot. Or, take the Green Line Trolley to Hazard Station, walk 0.2 mile east to the parking lot at Mission Center Dr. and Hazard Center Dr., taking care when crossing the road.

Hiking length: 2-mile loop.

Difficulty: Easy. Pavement is flat and wide with leashed dogs, bicyclists, and joggers common. No facilities at the parking lot, with stores and restaurants on the south side of the River Walk.

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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