How to Visit Mission Trails in San Diego

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By Jerrie Dean
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Bench on Mission Trails

Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego is 5800 acres of mountains and lakes and stretches from Santee to La Mesa. You can spend a whole day enjoying nature and seeing mule deer, and bird watching while you hike. The trails are readily marked and are easy for novice and children, while there are areas for experienced hikers to walk off the trail. This area of the park is from the tourist center to Kumeyaay Lake and Campground.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Binoculars
Walking Shoes
Water
Horse

Step 1

Mission Trails Regional Park has a tourist center located just on the outskirts of Santee, on One Father Junipero Serra Trail, called the Visitor and Interpretive Center. Inside there is a museum, gift shop and library and outside is a large terrace that has a view of the gorge. The trail leading to the center shows the different types of animals at the park and their calls. They offer tours often and just stop by the website to find out when.
Step 2

Take your car and head east down the paved road to Mission Dam. There is parking at the foot of the dam. You can take the high road that looks over the dam or the low road that takes you to the dam. Walk around the front of the dam, through the overgrowth on a dirt path and there is a beautiful lake. On the low road walk past the dam and you will run into a bridge. Walk over the bridge to another hiking area.
Step 3

Kwaay Paay Summit from Bushy Hill Drive is just up the road from there. Take your car and drive up to the dirt parking lot on Bushy Hill Drive. Walk to the left down the paved road and you will see a hill with poles in front of it. Take that path down to the bridge over the water. Once you hit the clearing you have your choice of going straight towards 52 freeway or left back towards Mission Dam. Many people ride their horses in this area.
Step 4

When you walk back towards your car you will see Kumeyaay Lake and Campground. You can walk in through the main entrance to look around or you can go into the entrance on the left before the campground entrance. At the main gate walk veer towards your left towards Kumeyaay Lake. On the West side of the lake there isn't as much foot traffic. Cross the large gray rocks to see the small Indian hut and open air seating. When you come back, cross the rocks and veer left to walk by the lake. You used to be able to go all the way around the lake but it has been blocked off.

Comments

MIghtyDreamer said

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on 11/4/2008 This is a very inticing article. San Diego sounds like a place filled with more nature fun than Santa Monica.
Thanks for this information. Great opening shot. What a sweatheart.