Old sea world drive bay trail
San Diego Section 8
This short section of the CCT starts and ends on a beach and passes through the largest aquatic park on the west coast, 4600-acre Mission Bay Park with 27 miles of shoreline, 11 marinas, six hotels and two campgrounds. This gigantic park's amenities cover every caring of water sport from swimming and boating to water skiing and windsurfing, with park facilities ranging from picnicking to horseshoes and softball.
The glorious recreational opportunities of Mission Bay Park came with a price. The Spaniards found deep water embayment and called it False Bay because sailing ship captains occasionally muddled it with San Diego Bay on the other side of Point Loma. The San Diego River flowed into San Diego Bay, making Point Loma almost an island at high tide. After California statehood in 1849, the Army Corps of Engineers rerouted the river to vacant into False Bay. The Corps then filled the old river mouth, allowing port facilities construction. The new river filled in False Bay with sediments and within 50 years it was a shallow marsh. In the 1940s the Corps began to dredge the bay and in following years the City of San Diego developed the Mission Bay facilities
Recreation Areas
Grant Park
After the Grant Family generously donated 17 acres of land, The San Diego River Park Foundation and our community worked on plans to turn the abandoned sand mining pit into an exciting brand-new nature education and eco-park in the heart of Mission Valley. The dream turned into a actual world. Grant Park is scheduled to open Summer of 2025!
Location:
2450 Camino Del Rio North, San Diego, CA
Mission Valley Preserve
The 51-acre Mission Valley Preserve is located at the west end of the Mission Valley, and includes riparian and estuarine wildlife habitat for species such as the endangered least Bell's vireo and southwestern willow flycatcher. Work is carried on to restore native plants and provide habitat for animals. The Preserve has a native plant garden and interpretive area for visitors to enjoy.
Location:
5505 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92110
Cedar Creek Falls Trailheads
At the end of Eagle Peak Road are marvelous views of the River gorge and Mildred Falls. Hike (with a required USFS permit) 3 miles down to beautiful Cedar Creek Falls.
The falls are also accessible via the Thornbush trailhead from San Diego Region Estates:
15531 Thorn
San Diego River Trail
California
11 Reviews
The 11.4-mile San Diego River Mark is a network of paths that lead along the San Diego River channel and mud flats and provide access to Mission/Fashion Valley shopping areas. Footpath users can walk or commute on either side of the river via the Sunset Cliffs bridge, or the bridge closer to the Qualcomm Stadium.
About the Route
The trail is marvelous for wildlife viewing; bird watchers from all over the county come to snap pictures and get good sightings and soft for an array of wildlife. Fish are always jumping, eagles and hawks are often flying with live catches in their talons or beaks, and the tides make sure the attend is never the same twice.
The trail is part of a vision of a 55-mile-long corridor of trails and paths following the San Diego River. While gaps remain, several sections are already completed. For playfulness or exercise, this path links to well more than 20 miles of paths around the beaches and bay, which keeps trail users almost completely on a path and off traffic-clogged streets.
Parking and Trail Access
The San Diego River Trail runs between 5156W W Point Loma Blvd. (San D
Bring binoculars to spot a variety of birds on this easy coastal stroll that passes the San Diego River and heads toward the Pacific Ocean.
The Old Sea World Drive Bay Trail, at roughly 4.5 miles, is a paved out-and-back path that is shared by walkers, runners, cyclists and other wheeled visitors, such as those on rollerblades or pushing strollers. The trail is sandwiched between the San Diego River and a few busy roads — so it’s not a complete escape to nature — but walkers can find serenity by admiring the lush vegetation lining the path and the expansive views of the river and distant ocean.
This walk, being on a paved path, makes for a nice outing during rainy days, but be sure to return when it’s sunny, too; the sparkling blue water against the bright sky is a reminder of San Diego’s beauty.
Birders doing this walk in late winter will also be happy to spot several winged visitors, including northern pintail ducks, willets and reddish egrets. While walking, I was lucky to see a few cinnamon teals, dabbling ducks known for their bright red feathers.
To begin, park on available shoulder space anywhere along Old Sea World Drive between Friars R
Bayside Hiking Trail
Bayside Trail. A fast easy hike with amazing views across San Diego Bay. First, visit Cabrillo National Monument which commemorates the area at the southern end of Point Loma where the first Europeans landed at San Diego Bay in 1542. Convenient to city urban area. Great San Diego weather. Cool ocean breeze and some of the most outstanding scenes you will ever experience.
The track can't be missed from the visitor's center as it descends down the eastern slope of the point down to San Diego Bay. Bayside Hiking Track is about 2-miles long on the clearly marked trail that was once an old army/ navy road. The entire loop should take about 1.5 hours to complete. The glimpses of sailboats and other ocean-going vessels is an experience of tranquility.
Getting to the trailhead. From Interstate 5 south in San Diego take the Sea World Navigate Exit heading southwest toward Tecolote Road. Turn right onto Sea World Drive - stay unbent to go onto Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Take a slight left onto Nimitz Blvd. Turn right onto Chatsworth Blvd. Turn left onto Catalina Blvd. Catalina Blvd. becomes Cabrillo Memorial Dr.