Imagine standing amidst rolling hills. It is one of the nation’s largest urban parks. This is Mission Trails Regional Park.
Mission Trails Regional Park is a treasure. It holds stories from Native Americans to Spanish missionaries. Ranching and mining also shaped its history.
Today, Mission Trails Regional Park spans over 5800 acres. It offers approximately 65 miles of trails for exploration.
One popular trail is the Rim Trail. Runners and mountain bikers love it. The Rim Trail gives panoramic views of canyons and San Diego. The Rim Trail starts at the West Fortuna staging area. It begins at the end of Clairemont Mesa Blvd.
Cross the bridge from the parking lot. Head northeast to the mesa. This section is steep. Expect an elevation gain of about 300 feet. Once on the mesa, the trail levels.
Watch out for rattlesnakes and mountain bikers. Shade is limited. Bring plenty of water and a hat. Summer can be scorching. Chamise and black sage line the Rim Trail. California sagebrush guides your way.
Spring is the best time to hike the Rim Trail. The weather is cooler then. Seasonal rains renew the chaparral. Wildflowers bloom. Shrubs turn green. Colors and fragrances enrich the mesa. The rain reveals vernal pools.
Vernal pools are seasonal. They form in shallow basins. The area’s geology makes them unique. Pools vary in depth and size. Most are less than a foot deep. They range from puddle-sized to as large as a car.
Hard volcanic rock helps pools form. Thick layers of clay and silt retain rain. Silt holds magic. Dormant eggs wait for rain. They aestivate like hibernating animals.
Vernal pools spring to life almost overnight. Fairy shrimp hatch. They are endemic to Southern California. Spadefoot toads also hatch. Some scientists believe they sense the falling rain.
Historically, hundreds of vernal pools dotted the region. Today, only a handful remain. This is due to habitat loss from development. Find these puddle treasures atop the mesa. Follow the main trail northeast. The trail loops along the mesa. It eventually heads back to the trailhead. Take side trails to find the pools. Look for wooden fences protecting this endangered habitat.
Bicycles are only allowed on the main trail. Side trails are off-limits to bikes.
Mission Trails Regional Park has a long human history. The Kumeyaay people have lived here since time immemorial. Exhibits share their history.
Spanish colonization began in 1774. The main mission was located near a Kumeyaay village. Spanish colonizers forced Kumeyaay people to build the Mission Dam. The dam was built between 1809 and 1815. It provided water for crops and drinking. The dam can still be toured.
Much of the park was mission property until 1846. The Mexican government granted it to Santiago Arguello. He was a local politician and military officer. After the U.S. conquest, Mission Trails was used for ranching, mining and farming. Granite from Mission Gorge built the breakwater in San Diego Bay.
The area served as a military training zone during World War I and World War II. Artillery and tank training occurred here. Live fire exercises took place. Unexploded ordnance remains a hazard to this day.
In 1960, the military area became surplus. San Diego acquired land. The city converted it into the park we know today. Mission Trails Regional Park was established in 1974. It has grown into a beloved public space.
Mission Trails offers more than hiking. Trails accommodate horseback riders and mountain bikers. Park staff lead guided nature walks. You can camp at Kumeyaay Lake Campground.