San Diego’s Marion Bear Park Trail Run
(UPDATE) Video of the Trails in Marian Bear Park
Marian Bear Park to Rose Canyon – HERE
Nestled right in the heart of San Diego is a little known trail run within Marion Bear Park. This is one of my favorite San Diego trail runs due to its easy access off the I-5 and 52 freeway, big parking area and public restrooms. To get to the main trailhead exit Clairemont Mesa Blvd/Regents road from the 52. Go South on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Make an immediate right into Marion Bear Park. Then make an immediate left onto the gravel parking area. Park at the end near the bathrooms.
San Diego's Marion Bear trail is a favorite!
The main trail runs east and west along the 52 with many single track offshoots as a nice option. On the North side of the parking area catch the single track trail and head east until you pass back under Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Look for the single track on your left and then continue east. You will see another parking area on your right and a river (dry or quite full depending on the time of year) on your left. When the trail appears to end jog to your right then your left. You will now be on a double track trail still heading east with sounds of the 52 now muffled but audible on your left.
Along your run you will notice signs for three different “side” canyons which are marked by signs. There are also multiple off-shoot single track trails that are not marked by signs. The first side canyon is Biltmore, the second is Cobb and the third is Kroc Canyon. Biltmore and Cobb are out-n-back trails, each being roughly half mile long and extremely wooded. Cobb Canyon dead-ends at a fairly steep flight of steps up to the street. Get in a nice stair work-out here. Kroc Canyon is a little longer and will add a little over a mile to your total run. Follow the single track to the barren fire road up to the street. There will be a school on your left as you near the fence. Return the way you came back to the main trail and continue east until you reach the turn-around point at the 805.
The main trail will take you over multiple stream crossings (dry or wet depending on the time of year), under Genesee Ave and eventually end abruptly at the 805 freeway where you can turn around. It is roughly 2.7 miles to this point. Make sure to explore and take some off the single track offshoot trails on your return. Do not worry! All of the trails lead back to the main trail making it difficult to get lost. Just make sure the sounds of the 52 are now to your right during your return. On your way back you will see the familiar path under Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Continue back the way you came and you will soon be at your car.
If you run the out-n-back without running any of the three side canyons you will run approximately 5.5 miles. Kroc Canyon will add about 1.2 miles and Cobb and Biltmore combined will add roughly another 1.2.
As an option you can add the trails on the west side Marion Bear Park. For this option continue running past your car and catch the trail to the left of the restrooms. You can either run the double track trail or veer left onto the single track. Either option will take you west towards I-5 with Highway 52 on your right. Run this trail until you get to the I-5 and return by way of the double track or single track adding another 2 miles to your run. During the rainy months the double track is flooded by the river but the single track is higher and dry. It is worth running this direction as it can be very green and the wildflowers seem to bloom very well at this end of the park.
For an even longer option you can turn north (right) when you get to the I-5 and run beneath the underpass until you get to Rose Canyon. This option can add another 8 miles to your run.
If you ever want to explore some of San Diego’s finest trails call the San Diego Running Institute at 619-265-7374. The Running Institute is owned by Dr. Victor Runco. Dr. Runco is an avid trail runner, coach of the San Diego Dirt Devils www.meetup.com/dirtdevils and ultrarunner. He can typically be found with some Dirt Devils every Tuesday morning at Marion Bear Park between 6am-6:30 am depending on daylight savings. If you want to run with the Dirt Devils and Dr. Runco at Marion Bear call the San Diego Running Institute to find out what time to be there. See you on the trails.
This trail running map is for the West side of Marian Bear Park and leads in to Rose Canyon.
This trail running map is for the east side trails of Marian Bear Park and includes the Biltmore and Cobb Canyon. You can also access the Main trails from the trail heads on these two streets.
