Hiking Trails Near San Diego

5 named route entries mapped within 40 km (25 miles) of central San Diego, with real lengths in kilometres and miles — and a straight answer about the data we do not have.

Guide revised: 2026-09-14 · By TrailsPals

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This is a regional overview, not a drawing of the listed routes. Open a route's source link to inspect its geometry. © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Mapped entries may be connectors or regional sections and may include alternatives. Confirm legal access, official closures, the full return distance, weather and daylight. We have not independently surveyed these routes. Report a correction · Editorial policy

The 5 named hiking routes in this saved OpenStreetMap query within 40 km (25 miles) of central San Diego, sorted short to long. Routes under 1 km and over 60 km are filtered out, so this is a filtered snapshot rather than every walkable path. Length alone does not establish suitability for a day hike.

Each length is computed from the route's own mapped geometry, and every name links back to the OpenStreetMap relation it came from, so nothing here has to be taken on trust.

How many hiking trails are near San Diego?

This page lists the saved query of named hiking relations within 40 km (25 miles) of central San Diego that runs between 1 and 60 km, 5 of them. Shorter fragments and long-distance thru-hikes are filtered out, so this is a filtered snapshot rather than everything walkable near San Diego.

How long are the hiking trails near San Diego?

The routes listed here run from 1.6 km (1 mile) up to 9.5 km (5.9 miles), with a median of 2.9 km. 3 of the 5 are under 5 km. Lengths are computed from the mapped route geometry rather than taken from signage, so they can differ from the trailhead board.

Which trails near San Diego are shortest and longest?

Of the 5 routes listed here, the shortest is Hillside Loop at 1.6 km (1 mile) and the longest is South Poway Trail at 9.5 km (5.9 miles). Both lengths are computed from the mapped route geometry, not taken from signage or from a guidebook.

How difficult are the hiking trails near San Diego?

None of these routes carries a difficulty rating, so this page shows none. OpenStreetMap grades hiking difficulty with the SAC scale, and that tag is empty on all 5 of them; a rating we invented would be worth nothing to you. Use length as a first filter, then check the land manager's page for the trail you pick.

How long does it take to hike these trails?

Naismith's rule, the standard planning estimate since 1892, allows an hour for every 5 km on the flat plus an hour for every 600 m of ascent. The median route here is 2.9 km, so about 35 minutes before any climbing. These pages carry no elevation data, so treat that as a floor.

Where does this trail data come from?

Every route here comes from OpenStreetMap, the open map database, under the ODbL licence, and this snapshot was taken on Aug 29, 2026. Lengths are computed from the mapped geometry of each route relation. Each trail name links back to its relation, so you can check the source or fix it yourself.

Can you track a hike near San Diego and share it live?

Yes. TrailsPals records your route on your iPhone and gives someone you trust a link showing your last synced position, when it was recorded, and when you said you would be back — they install nothing. Out of coverage the track keeps recording on the phone and syncs when signal returns.

Before you go

Pick the length first, then read up: our day-hike safety checklist covers what to do before you leave, the beginner gear checklist covers what goes in the pack, and what to do if you get lost covers the part nobody plans for. If someone at home wants to follow along, live location sharing explains what they actually see, and the hiking safety app page covers expected-return times and check-ins. Recording the walk itself is its own guide.

Trail guides for other cities

• Hiking trails near Asheville — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Boulder — 12 named routes
• Hiking trails near Denver — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Phoenix — 30 named routes
• Hiking trails near Portland — 20 named routes
• Hiking trails near Salt Lake City — 6 named routes
• Hiking trails near Seattle — 30 named routes