By: Maya Ordonez
Hiking is one of my favorite things to do to destress and get in touch with not only myself mentally and physically, but with my surroundings, nature, and people I choose to spend time with adventuring. Hiking affects my mood overall and I can literally feel the serotonin flood in because I love feeling active, getting out of the house, exploring, seeing the beauty of nature, sharing conversations with close friends, or just thinking quietly on my own. For my San Diego adventure enthusiasts, travelers, and explorers alike, here are five of my favorite hikes that I have done in the San Diego area in my 1 and a half years of living here!
- Ho Chi Minh Trail
This hike is the most recent one I have done, and surprisingly the closest one to my dorm! I have walked past the entrance to the trailhead many many times, but I finally got around to going on it last month! After hearing different opinions on the trail from a variety of people, some saying it was a walk in the park and others saying they almost died, I for some reason was envisioning a nice morning stroll while on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. I did get that, however, it came with mud, sliding, screaming, and slow, careful steps up the cliffs. I also had the genius idea to bring snacks and no bag, which presented another challenge alongside just walking. There was in fact a wooden plank to walk across and avoid falling in the rocky opening, which was quite the balancing act. Nonetheless, the journey through the rocks and wilderness ended with a beautiful beach trip- how San Diego!
- Iron Mountain
Located in Poway, this hike holds the most breathtaking view of San Diego a little more inland, which is a range of beautiful green mountains. The landscape is different from what I am used to seeing in La Jolla, and it is so stunning that California offers such a variety of scenery. I am able to see these mountains from a distance, so it is honestly so mind-blowing that one can actually hike through them and eventually be at the top! This hike is one of the longer ones, and I saw it as an opportunity to get closer with loved ones and chat while taking in the scenery. Reaching the top is so rewarding, and I felt like I was on top of the world! Compared to Ho Chi Minh, this hike was not as challenging in difficulty, it just required patience, stamina, and lots of water!
- Volcan Mountain
Julian was a day trip destination on my San Diego bucket list, and the first time I went there I had decided to do a hike, and I committed to that! Even though it was absolutely not ideal hiking weather at all! The trip was done very spontaneously, so we just chose a hike that fit into our schedule and time frame. The trip was so spontaneous in fact that we did not even check the weather or bother to wear hiking clothes. That did not stop us, and even though the sky was covered in clouds, it was sprinkling off and on, and the wind was blowing the fastest I have ever seen, we still went as far as we intended and survived! One would think that with this commitment I would know how to read a trail map or something, but I don’t. The trail was very woody and had many exotic trees that blew magically in the wind. I have never seen such a variety of bark or leaves, and especially with the weather conditions, it felt like I was in a completely different world. Thank you to mother nature for an exciting turn of events to our totally unplanned hike!
- Potato Chip Rock
A classic photo spot and must-do in San Diego! The hike itself has multiple paths all the way up to the famous potato chip rock! If you haven’t heard of or seen pictures of this hike, essentially there is a super-thin rock on a ledge that very closely resembles a potato chip! Travelers and tourists alike enjoy posing on the rock for photos, which results in exciting images of multiple people on a paper-thin sliver of a rock! When I did this hike, my friends and I decided to take the fastest way up, which was quite steep, but the terrain was filled with rocky, green land that looked right out of a fairy tale. Over time I kept imagining that rocks that clearly were not THE potato chip were the end destination, but alas they were not. By the time we finally arrived at the rock I was fairly fatigued, but the view and the pictures were so worth it!
- Torrey Pines
Lastly, Torrey Pines Hike goes all the way through the Torrey Pines Beach State Reserve and it has many different routes so you can choose your different adventure every time! When I did the hike I walked all the way down the beach on the rocky shore from North to South. This was a beautiful walk on the beach right next to the bluffs and the rocks! I then took the route back up through the green, lush bluffs along the paved path. There were so many groups of locals, visitors, families, and friends all enjoying the trail. From up above this trail presents the most spectacular view of the vast ocean below. The Torrey Pines Trail is a beautiful way to start the day, have a midday adventure. It truly felt so tropical and magical that I would totally do this trail over and over again!
