San Diego Hikes: Central Balboa Park Hike
In 1869, early founders of San Diego set aside 1,400 acres as a “City Park.” Today Balboa Park is home to many museums and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. It is also home to some great urban hiking. This is our guide to hiking what is currently Balboa Park Trail 31.
- Starting Point: Park Blvd Gateway, 2115 Park Blvd
- Length: 3 miles
- Elevation: flat
- Type: loop
It should be noted that official hiking trails in Balboa Park are a work in progress. Trail 31 is part of four trails that start at Park Blvd Gateway. These are trails 31,32, 33 and 34. They range in difficulty with 31 being the easiest.
You can find the official map here.
This trail system is only the latest of several official trails in the park. Currently these trails are very poorly marked and confusing signs remain of older trail systems. However, trail 31 goes through the center of Balboa Park and is fairly easy to follow.
The Park Boulevard Gateway is located at the south entrance of Balboa Park right off the I-5 and 163 freeways at President’s Way. There is a large parking lot with an information kiosk and a free shuttle that takes you to the rest of the park.
The start of the hike is right by the Veteran’s Museum. On the right side of the museum you head up a staircase to the impressive Regional Parks Building. This is Inspiration Point where you get a great view of downtown San Diego and planes landing at the airport.
This building is the administration center of Balboa Park. There is a garden area that leads to the left towards the Balboa Park Activity Center. The Activity Center is a large gymnasium with programs operated by the Parks and Recreation division of the city.
At this point, the trail runs along Park Boulevard by the large Naval Hospital complex. Across the street from the Fleet Science Center is the Inez Grant Memorial Rose Garden and the Desert Cactus Garden. The trail goes through both gardens.
At this point, trail 31 and trail 33 split off. The longer trail 33 turns a steep right down into Florida Canyon. For trail 31, you turn left and either cross the bridge over Park Blvd (or cross with the stop light at the intersection of Village Place and Park Blvd) towards the San Diego Natural History Museum.
Trail 31 goes around the left side of the Natural History Museum along Village Place. On the right is the Spanish Village Art Center and the San Diego Zoo. In late 2020 there is major construction going on at this area of the zoo.
At the botanical building, the trail turns left through the heart of Balboa Park. You go past the Timken Museum of Art and the Lily Pond in front of the Botanical Garden. This leads to the center square, Plaza de Panama, which is dominated by the San Diego Museum of Art.
Going through the square puts you on to El Prado, the main road through the parl. Turn right on El Prado towards the Museum of Us (prior to August 2020 this was known as the Museum of Man). The Museum of Us, built in 1915, is the most recognizable building in the park with its iconic California Tower.
El Prado crosses Cabrillo Bridge to the Hillcrest neighborhood. The bridge crosses the 163 freeway and provides excellent views of downtown San Diego.
On the west end of Balboa Park there is plenty of open green space. On the right is the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club and on the left is Nate’s Point Dog Park. At 6th street the park ends and the trail turns around and heads back across Cabrillo Bridge.
Crossing the bridge on the right is Palm Canyon which has some trails and an archery range. After you cross through the courtyard of the Museum of Us tun right into Alcazar Garden. This garden was designed after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain.
The Gardens will come out along the walkway that leads down into the trails of Palm Canyon. Trail 31 goes south along Pan American Rd to the Spreckels Organ Pavilion. Spreckels Organ has been the world’s largest outdoor organ since it opened in 1914. There are free concerts on Sunday.
The trail loops around the front of Spreckels Organ Pavilion past the Japanese Friendship Garden. In the center of Plaza de Panama the trail goes right along the pedestrian portion of El Prado.
El Prado is lined with museums on both sides. There will often be street performers entertaining. El Prado ends at the courtyard in front of the San Diego Natural History Museum and the Fleet Science Center at Bea Evenson Fountain.
Making a right on Park Blvd, trail 31 goes back along the road to the parking lot at President’s Way. On the right there are some playgrounds and the colorful Centro Cultural de la Raza and WorldBeat Cultural Center buildings.
Links
For additional hikes in Balboa Park check out the Seven Bridges Hike that goes through the Hillcrest neighborhood or the hike on Trail 33 that goes into Florida Canyon.
San Diego Natural History Museum
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