Los Penasquitos Canyon Waterfall Trail

The Los Penasquitos Canyon Waterfall Trail follows a creekside canyon through Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, in the Mira Mesa area of San Diego, California. The most commonly used trailhead is at 12020 Black Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA 92129, where parking is free and no permit or entry fee is required. The preserve is managed by the City of San Diego together with partner agencies, and visitors can find current information at sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation.

The round trip to the waterfall is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) with roughly 400 ft (122 m) of cumulative elevation gain, which places the hike at a moderate level on the basis of distance rather than steepness. The main path is a wide, mostly flat dirt road that runs beside Los Penasquitos Creek, passing through a corridor of live oak, sycamore and willow woodland, then open coastal sage and grassland. Toward the waterfall, the trail narrows and becomes rockier, with some uneven sections and short climbs. Shade is intermittent, with good cover under the trees in the lower canyon and exposure in the open stretches.

The waterfall is the destination and the usual turn-around point. It is seasonal, and flow depends on recent rainfall, so it is most impressive in winter and spring and can be reduced to a trickle or nothing after long dry periods. Other points of interest along the route include the creek crossings, the historic Rancho Santa Maria de los Penasquitos adobe ranch house in the preserve, and birdlife and wildlife in the riparian corridor. Trails are shared with mountain bikers and, in places, horseback riders, so hikers should stay alert and yield appropriately.

There are no huts or shelters along the route, and drinking water is not reliably available, so visitors should carry their own supply. Creek water should not be consumed. Rattlesnakes and poison oak are present in the canyon, and hikers should stay on the path. After heavy rain, creek crossings and low sections can be muddy or flooded.