California's Largest City Park Is An 8,000-Acre San Diego Gem With Hiking, Camping, & Boating

If you're visiting Southern California, it may feel like you have to choose between an outdoor adventure and a city vacation. However, that isn't the case at all if you're hitting the coastal city of San Diego. While San Diego itself has world-renowned beaches and tons to do — like the immersive USS Midway Museum, the Gaslamp Quarter, and the San Diego Zoo — there are outdoor adventures just around 8 miles from downtown at Mission Trails Regional Park. This is California's largest city park at an incredible 8,000 acres, with over 60 miles of trails to explore, camping at Kumeyaay Lake, boating on Lake Murray, and the historic Old Mission Dam. You can trek up to the summit of Cowles Mountain, or learn about the history of the Kumeyaay people, the colonization by the Spanish, and the missions and how they changed the area at the Mission Trails Visitor Center. 

In fact, it's a good idea to hit the Visitor Center first. Not only does it have pretty views, but you can check out exhibits, browse the gift shop, and learn about what to do while you're visiting. It's open every day (outside of Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day) and has free films about the park. Mission Trails Regional Park has a 4.8 out of five on Google Maps with nearly 8,000 reviews. One person writes, "Mission Trails is one of San Diego's hidden gems. ... A must if you want nature, exercise, and amazing views right in the city." The best part is that the park is free to enter. 

Hiking is a great way to spend your time in Mission Trails Regional Park, and a popular trail to tackle is the moderately difficult Cowles Mountain Trail. It's 3 miles out and back, with a 915-foot elevation gain. This trail takes you to the summit of the mountain, with breathtaking views of San Diego, Mexico, and Orange County. You may want to hike early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day, but even if you do, make sure to bring water, as there is no shade on this path. If you're looking for an easier hike, you can do the 1.5-mile Visitor Center Loop. This hike is kid- and dog-friendly, but, again, there is little shade. Also on the easy side is the Father Junipero Serra Trail, which is 4.5 miles with a small, 200-foot elevation gain. This is a paved trail that takes you past benches and the Visitor Center.

Another moderate route that goes up to Cowles Peak is the 6-mile Pyles Peak Trail. This trail has a nearly 1,800-foot elevation gain and features great views. After you hit the top of Cowles Peak, it takes you to Pyles Peak, with plaques on the summit of both. If you want some pretty water views, try the easy Lake Murray Trail, which is 5.7 miles out and back, with a 100-foot elevation gain around part of the lake. This is a great trek if you're planning some boating or fishing on the lake. It's also a good choice if you have kids and dogs along, and it's both stroller- and wheelchair-friendly. For all of these hikes (and any others in the park), make sure you apply sunscreen and reapply if you sweat it off. This is Southern California, after all, and you can burn any time of year.

There is camping in Mission Trails Regional Park if you want to stay overnight to enjoy the area. However, note that the Kumeyaay Lake Campground is only open for overnight stays on Friday and Saturday nights. It's inexpensive, at less than $23 per night at the time of this writing, but you may want to have a backup plan: There are 46 sites, and they're first come, first served. However, you can also access the site all week during the day, as well as the picnic tables and restrooms.

Fishing is available on Lake Murray, with stocked largemouth bass, black crappie, trout, and bluegill, though you must have a valid fishing license for the state. Both shore and boat fishing are allowed. You can bring a personal watercraft, but if you don't have a boat, you can rent rowboats, motorboats, pedal boats, and canoes hourly or daily. There is also a concession stand with snacks, drinks, bait, and tackle, as well as permits and licenses available on site.

The closest airport to Mission Trails Regional Park is the San Diego International Airport (SAN), which is roughly 15 miles away. While it's close enough to take a taxi or ride share, you may want to rent a car to explore beyond the park. However, if you're staying in Downtown San Diego, there are plenty of public transportation options, such as trolleys and buses. Finally, if you want to explore beyond Mission Trails Regional Park and San Diego itself, the nearby coastal city of Coronado Beach and its sparkling golden beach are worth the short drive.