Covid measures in San Diego

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity. We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in San Diego, please refer to The City of San Diego website. Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!

What you get on this adventure: A professional, knowledgeable, medically-trained, wilderness guide Trail snacks and water on full-day hikes Use of trekking poles Bike and equipment What’s not included: Transportation Accommodation Meals on half-day hikes Entrance fees to Torrey Pines State Reserve and parks ($20)

How fit do I need to be?

The best thing about hiking in San Diego is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. For beginner hikes, if you can walk for two to four hours with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate hikes will see a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles. Advanced hikes are full day treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks. For the Bike to Hike San Diego tour, you have to be an intermediate rider, familiar with biking hand signals, comfortable with riding on the road with vehicles and is in good physical health. Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.

What do I need to bring?

Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring: Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed — around a 40L bag Water bottle or hydration bladder — 2L capacity Lightweight hiking boots or shoes Spare clothes for layering Waterproof rain jacket Sunhat Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.) Sunglasses Camera — optional (but recommended)

What about group sizes and pricing?

Group size and pricing: For these San Diego hiking tours, the max client to guide ratio is 4:1. Pricing is per person, and all tours require at least 2 participants to operate. Hiking in San Diego can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements. Min. age requirements: Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this hiking adventure. Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis. If you plan to hike with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

Getting there and meeting location

To get to San Diego, most people fly into San Diego International Airport . From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the city center. Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the hiking ability of the group.

Enjoying the amazing viewpoint from the top of Cowles Mountain.

La Jolla Cove, one of the most photographed places in San Diego.

Sunset from Cowles Mountain is simply stunning.

The landscape of Cowles Mountain is filled with wild flowers, dirt trails, and green grasslands.

Torrey Pines offers a lovely viewpoint over San Diego’s coastline.

You will also get a chance to get up close to Lake Murray whilst hiking up Cowles mountain.

Despite its looks, this hike in Torrey Pines is beginner-friendly.

The hiking trail towards Cowles Mountain is also bike-friendly.

After a long hike through Torrey Pines, the reward is Flat Rock beach.

San Diego | California

Hiking in San Diego

5.00 ()

Season

Year-round

Nearest city

San Diego, CA, is half an hour away from all the trails

Duration

1 day

Skill level

Beginner to intermediate

Guides

Adventurous Travelers, Lindsay Hoffman

From $150 / 1-5 days

Got any questions?

Overview
Itinerary
Guides
Reviews
Things to know

Famous for miles and miles of unexplored nature and amazing weather, San Diego offers an abundance of trails for hikers of all ages. Join one of the hiking or bicycle tours in San Diego and let your guide show you the best hiking spots inside city limits as you discover the wide array of breathtaking landscapes and natural features this stunning city has up its sleeve. Hike along the sparkling beaches spreading for miles on end and climb the highest point in San Diego overlooking the entire city, with views reaching Mexico, Islas Coronados, and Orange County. Relax along the trails of Cowles Mountain or energize with a bike ride along La Jolla before exploring the wonderful nature hidden in Torrey Pines State Reserve! Say ‘yes’ to scenic hiking day trips in San Diego! Find out more about the best places to go hiking in and around San Diego from Liz Thomas, a professional hiker and guidebook author.

Known for its beaches, its canyons, woodlands, deserts, palm oases, and mountains
More trails, parks, coastlines, and national forests than almost any other county
No matter when you visit, you’ll find hikes for your level of fitness and sense of adventure

Choose itinerary

Get free trip brochure

Brochure sent, check your inbox

Talk with us with our adventure expert and start planning your perfect adventure.

Meet your guides

5.00

Adventurous Travelers are passionate about living life through adventure, exploring new terrain whilst experiencing and quenching a zest for life through experiences. They are committed to providing more active adventures while keeping the costs low, building relationships and supporting locally owned businesses. Their guides are certified tour and trail guides with passion for getting people active in the outdoors.

5.00

Lindsay Hoffman

Lindsay was born and raised in San Diego, making her an expert guide in her own back yard. Her lust for adventure, the outdoors and new experiences grew at a young age. She has since traveled all over the US and international destinations. Her greatest passion is getting people active in the outdoors. She has been a certified trail guide since 2011, a certified Wilderness First Responder since 2014, and a certified Tour Guide with the San Diego Professional Tour Guide Association since 2015!

5.00 (1 reviews)

Elena Lelchuk about Lindsay Hoffman on 57hours

Lindsey was absolutely incredible and the hike she led was informative and incredibly fun – my clients raved about the experience!

Things to know

57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.

We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, guides and the communities they’re travelling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in San Diego, please refer to The City of San Diego website.

Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
- A professional, knowledgeable, medically-trained, wilderness guide
- Trail snacks and water on full-day hikes
- Use of trekking poles
- Bike and equipment
What’s not included:
- Transportation
- Accommodation
- Meals on half-day hikes
- Entrance fees to Torrey Pines State Reserve and parks ($20)
The best thing about hiking in San Diego is that there are incredible options for all skill levels. For beginner hikes, if you can walk for two to four hours with little elevation gain, you are good to go! Intermediate hikes will see a little more change in elevation and hikes will start to increase in length, hiking anywhere between four to eight miles. Advanced hikes are full day treks with steep descents and challenging switchbacks.

For the Bike to Hike San Diego tour, you have to be an intermediate rider, familiar with biking hand signals, comfortable with riding on the road with vehicles and is in good physical health.

Keep in mind, the weather in summer can be very hot and you’ll also be packing a daypack filled with water and other things you’ll need throughout the day.
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
- Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed — around a 40L bag
- Water bottle or hydration bladder — 2L capacity
- Lightweight hiking boots or shoes
- Spare clothes for layering
- Waterproof rain jacket
- Sunhat
- Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)
- Sunglasses
- Camera — optional (but recommended)
Group size and pricing:
- For these San Diego hiking tours, the max client to guide ratio is 4:1.
- Pricing is per person, and all tours require at least 2 participants to operate.
Hiking in San Diego can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.

Min. age requirements:
- Everybody over the age of 18 is welcome to book this hiking adventure.
- Minors may be permitted to join private tours on a case-by-case basis.
If you plan to hike with anyone under the age of 18, please contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
To get to San Diego, most people fly into San Diego International Airport. From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service to the city center.

Once you and your guide agree on the details of your itinerary, your guide will suggest the best place to meet, whether that’s at the guide shop or a predetermined location. From there, you’ll head to your tour. The guide will choose the appropriate terrain dependent on conditions and the hiking ability of the group.