An easy 2.5-mile hike departs from a trailhead at the end of Park Village Road, looping down to a nice waterfall on Peñasquitos Creek. The preserve offers miles and miles of other trails for hikers eager to explore more.

Just under a mile long, this loop trail in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve offers easy hiking with spectacular views. Enjoy panoramas up and down the coast as well as encounters with wide array of native plant species.

Follow the switchbacks up to the sweeping views atop Cowles Mountain on this popular hike. It's a strenuous 3-mile round-trip adventure, gaining (and then, of course, losing) 900 feet of elevation on the south slopes of the mountain. Avoid weekends for a quieter trail experience.

This classic hike at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park offers panoramic views from a striking granite summit. It's four miles round-trip, with plenty of switchbacks along the way to ease the climb of roughly 800 vertical feet. This moderate hike culminates with stone steps and a handrail to help you navigate the rocky slabs just below the top.

A strenuous, 5.5-mile round trip hike carries visitors to the summit of Iron Mountain and its wide views over Poway. The route gains over 1,100 feet on the way up, so start early in summer to beat the heat.

High in the Cleveland National Forest, this 4-mile loop has a bit of everything: mountain views, forest hiking, and scenic lakeshores. Starting at the Meadows Trailhead on the Sunrise Hwy, take the Sunset Trail for just over 1.5 miles before popping over to Big Laguna Lake. Head back to the trailhead via the Water of the Woods Spur Trail to complete this moderate hike with around 350 feet of elevation gain.