La Jolla Heights Natural Park Trailhead
Alright, La Jolla doubtless harbors better-kept secrets. But I still was dazzled by the tip dispensed this past week by Alexandra Hart and Julie Gelfat, creators of the San Diego Travel Tips website. For anyone who doesn’t live near the top of Mt. Soledad and wants to savor its breath-taking views, Hart and Gelfat point out that the La Jolla Heights Natural Park is a hidden gem.
As recently as the 1950s, dirt trails leading to fabulous views criss-crossed the mountain. Today it’s hard to find an empty lot. Yet at some point the city decided to preserve some 42.64 acres as open space here. A walkway cuts through the chaparral, and the stroll from the trailhead to where the path ends at a decrepit looking city reservoir took Steve and me and the dogs less than 10 minutes the other morning. What amazed us was how pristine the area looked. On a return visit, I noticed discarded plastic cups, probably left by the La Jolla High students and others who’ve partied at the site. But still, it was easy to ignore them.
Of course the penultimate views from Mt. Soledad are at the top, near the cross. But that’s a paved and pruned place, almost always peopled with sightseers. Moreover the best views there are to the east and south; ocean exposures are limited to a slice of La Jolla Shores. In contrast, the the open-space park is located about a mile northwest of the summit, so the trail takes in the full sweep from La Jolla Farms to the kelp beds off of Windansea. From that vantage, the village somehow looks sleepy and old-fashioned. Once on the trail, we didn’t see another soul. In fact, the isolation at the reservoir creeped me out a bit. Apparently the park is a secret even to some members of the City of San Diego’s Park and Recreation Department, according to Hart and Gelfat, who report that when they inquired, 2 staffers there had never heard of it.
The view to the west
No wonder, considering the location. Although it looks easy to find on Google Maps (where it’s labeled “La Jolla Natural Park”) beware that you in fact cannot park on Nautilus and hike to Upper Hillside Drive. (We tried that, only to discover that the section of Upper Hillside between Caminito Bassano and Brodiaea Way is closed to everyone but local residents.) Instead, take Exchange Place off Torrey Pines Road to Country Club Drive. Follow Country Club to where Romero Drive branches off, and then take the left fork off Romero that’s Brodiaea Way. Just a little further on, Brodiaea meets Encelia Drive. Park near here, and follow Encelia north to the trailhead. And pssst — keep it a secret.
HZ and I hiked there often when we were training for the Annapurna Circuit. Sunny loved it because he could be off leash.
This looks like a such a great hike. I can’t wait to try! Thanks for scouting it out.
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