When people think about San Diego, what springs to mind typically includes sandy shores, fish tacos, and flip flops worn in the winter. Surfing and skateboarding are infused into San Diego’s culture, which is also home to a budding craft brewery scene. But east of the city proper, in the rugged, expansive backcountry, I find myself returning time and again to revisit familiar vistas.
MT. WoodsonSan Diego CA
A classic San Diego hike is the climb up Mt. Woodson. I’ll pack some chili mango in my Osprey trail running pack and aim to get on the trail no later than 10am. My recommendation - walk straight past the line of budding influencers waiting for Potato Chip Rock and head for a more hidden vista. Closer to the top of the mountain you’ll find a picturesque view, where you can see the original survey mark from the hikers who founded the trail still chiseled into the granite (I’ve dropped a pin to it here).
If you’re free in the early afternoon, my favorite post-hike tacos are Taco Stand in La Jolla. Get a few Al Pastor tacos and enough green salsa to share and head for Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach to catch a glimpse of a different view of the city, from a sweeping green lawn that drifts down to a view of the entire city skyline. Pro tip - every summer, the Bay lights up with fireworks around sunset on Friday, so if you end up staying a few hours at the park, be prepared for a festive sunset.
Happy Trails :)
