Hiking San Diego: Quarry Loop Trail via West Fortuna
Mission Trails Regional Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. There are many great hikes located by the state-of-the-art visitor’s center. However, the western end of the park also has a great network of trails. This is our look at a 2.5 mile hike that incorporates Quarry Loop Trail.
- Starting Point: 11440 Clairemont Mesa Blvd (West Fortuna Staging Area or Mission Trails Clairemont Mesa Trailhead
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Elevation: about 400 feet, up and down
- Type: loop
As the crow flies, the western end of Mission Trails Regional Park is a short distance from the Mission Trails Visitor Center. However, by car, it is a 10-mile drive to the West Fortuna Staging Area where this hike starts.
NOTE SPRING 2020: The West Fortuna area of Mission Trails Regional Park is undergoing construction activity on the water line until Winter 2022. This has included closing the parking lot at West Fortuna Staging Area. However, most trails are open. There may be some detours and construction conditions can change regularly. Before hiking you can check the official map for the project to look for current conditions. There will also be updates on the official website for Mission Trails.
Even when the parking lot at West Fortuna is closed there is plenty of free parking on the side streets in the suburban Tierrasanta neighborhood. Quarry Loop Trail is a 1.3 mile loop trail with several options. This hike adds in some extra trail to create a 2.5 mile loop that Mission Trails officially rates as a level 2 moderate on a scale of 3. For a shorter hike you can check out our 1.5 mile Quarry Loop hike or our 2-mile hike.
There is a bridge at West Fortuna Staging Area that takes you directly into the park. After crossing the bridge you will make a left turn and walk about 300 feet uphill to a narrow trail that turns off to the right. This trail is labeled Clairemont Mesa Trail.
Clairemont Mesa Trail is a short connector trail that leads to Fortuna Saddle Trail road. It goes downhill a short distance and then goes up some stairs to meet with the road.
Fortuna Saddle Trail road is the main access road through Mission Trails park. It is used for access vehicles servicing the utilities in the park. It generally follows along the SDG&E utility lines that cut through the northwest section of this park.
For this hike you turn right on Fortuna Saddle Trail road and walk a few hundred feet down to an intersection where Quarry Loop Trail starts.
Quarry Loop Trail is the narrow trail that heads uphill to the left at an angle. Like most trails in the area it is well-marked.
This portion goes uphill a short way where you can get great views of the park. Near the top a trail turns off to the right. This is called Quarry Loop Trail North. This hike continues straight ahead to the left on Quarry Loop Trail South.
There is an additional split off to the right in a clearing about 0.2 miles further down the trail. This is another connector trail that can shorten the hike by bypassing the quarry. Bearing to the left continues to the quarry.
The quarry is on the left at the bottom of the trail. This view stretches towards downtown San Diego which is visible on a clear day. Past the quarry, the trail starts to turn slightly uphill.
Quarry Loop Trail ends at a 4-way intersection at Fortuna Saddle Trail road. This is where the shorter hikes on Quarry Loop Trail start (one is 1.5 miles and the other is 2 miles).
To complete this loop, the hike crosses Fortuna Saddle Trail road and heads along a trail that bears slightly left towards the power lines.
At the power lines, there is a trail that makes a sharp right turn downhill back towards the bridge at West Fortuna. This short connector trail makes a steep decline before a short uphill climb to the bridge.
For more hikes in Mission Trails be sure and check out our full guide.
For more hikes in Mission Trails Regional Park be sure and check out our full guide.
