La Jolla Cove.
San Diego. Saan Diiagggoo. America’s Finest City. The home of Mizu. Whatever you call it, there are plenty of ways to get outside for an adventure right within the city limits. In celebration of Earth Day, we narrowed down our employee’s 5 favorite spots for a quick adventure in San Diego county.
1) Mission Trails
There are a number of places to start hikes in the Mission Trails regional park, but one of our favorites is to summit North and South Fortuna peaks in one loop. The trail begins at the Tierrasanta entrance on the west side of the park. From here, you can head out on a 6.3 mile loop that takes you up the North and South Fortunas which offer awesome views of the coast, downtown San Diego, North County, and eastward towards Alpine.
Time:
2.5-3 hours
How to get there:
Directions to Tierrasanta Entrance
What you’ll need:
- V12 - this trail can be challenging, and get very hot in the summer months. Bring along an insulated V12 packed with some ice cold water to keep you going all day
- Hiking shoes
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen (very little shade out there)
- Snack
- Hat
- Water bowl for furry friends (if you’re bringing one)
2) Annie’s Canyon Trail
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Next up on the list is a quick hidden gem in North County near Solana Beach. Annie’s Canyon is an easy loop that sits between the 5 freeway and the coast. The trail starts in the neighborhood and runs east along the San Elijo Lagoon. After about half a mile, you’ll see Annie’s canyon on the right hand side. Follow the trail up the slot canyon, up the ladders, and to the top where you’ll get some amazing views of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, the ocean, and the colorful rock formations below.
Time:
1 hour
How to get there:
What you’ll need:
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hiking shoes/boots
- Mizu M5 - this is a short hike, but can get hot. We find the M5 to be the perfect size on short hikes like this, stick it in your pocket when climbing around on the rock walls of the canyon.
3) La Jolla Cove
Once you make it past the smelly sea lions, head over to La Jolla Kayak on Avenida de la Playa to rent a sea Kayak and snorkel gear. If you’ve never snorkeled before you’ll probably want a guide on your first time out to be safe - they’ll also help you find the marine life you’re looking for. La Jolla cove is known as the best spot to snorkel in San Diego with it’s clear water and abundant marine life. Keep your eyes peeled for plenty of species of fish, leopard sharks, seals, stingrays, and more.
Time:
Half day
How to get there:
What you’ll need:
- Kayak
- Snorkel
- Goggles
- Wetsuit
- Fins
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Mizu V7 for the kayak - The water in La Jolla Cove can be cold. We like to bring a V7 with warm tea in it to keep on the kayak.
4) Sunset Cliffs
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At low tide, head down to Sunset Cliffs near Ocean Beach. This stretch of coast is filled with tide pools, hidden sandy beaches, sea caves, and cliffside hangouts to watch the sunset (hence the name). Park near Ratkay point and (carefully) make your way down to the water then head south where you’ll find the secret open ceiling cave (trust us, you’ll know when you see it). Head into the cave and enjoy the view. Be sure to watch out for the tide level while you’re down there and leave some time to explore the other caves, tide pools, and critters before the water level rises.
Time:
2.5 hours (or more if you want to stay for sunset)
How to get there:
What you’ll need:
- Waterproof bag
- Waterproof shoes
- Gopro/waterproof camera
- Mizu V8 & Mizu Wine Cups - Not much hiking involved at Sunset Cliffs. Pour that bottle of two buck chuck into a V8, bring along a couple of wine cups, and kick back on the rocks at sunset.
5) Saigon Trail
Similar to Annie’s canyon, this trail leads to a slot canyon, but this time finishing at the beach. The slightly longer (and more scenic route) starts at the Torrey Pines gliderport and where you can take the ridgeline trail that heads south. Stay high on the ridge for some awesome views and keep traversing until the trail veers left (away from the beach) and drops down into the canyon. This will take you to a an incredible slot canyon that sometimes requires all fours to bridge yourself across gaps, tight squeezes, and beautiful sandstone walls. At the end, you pop out on a secluded beach where you can sit back and enjoy the waves in peace.
Time:
1.5 hours (or more depending how long you want to hang out on the beach)
How to get there:
What you’ll need:
- Hiking shoes
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Snack
- M8 - while climbing around on the rocks on the way down, you’ll want something lightweight and durable. The M8 is our go to for adventures of this kind.
Got any favorites near San Diego that aren’t on our list? We’d love to hear about them in the comments below!
