Switzer Canyon Open Space Park

I live nearby so hiking through Switzer Canyon is a great way to spend an hour or so. Occasionally, there’s trash along the route but overall, it’s very clean. It’s nice to be able to walk along the golf course, too!

The Switzer Canyon Open Space area is located down in South Park pretty much cutting a line through 30^th street. There is several entrances into this «trail» and I ended up going in towards the golf course near 28^th and Maple (
). The trail is kind of small, not very wide in some areas, it’s not the best trail for biking or running. It’s pretty much just good enough for a quick walk or a short cut through South Park. The canyon has a lot of liter in it despite the cleanup efforts from the people in the area. You can tell a lot of homeless people come down there. There is a cool tunnel that cuts underneath 30^th street (
) that is pretty small and narrow but you can easily make your way through it. Once you get towards the east end, it starts to get less defined and trashier. This is pretty much the worst open space area in San Diego City in my opinion, I wouldn’t take your time going through here really, especially after a heavy rain.

I dig it. One of central San Diego’s most attractive features is the embedded open space. The canyons, the small parks and the natural features that remind you what this desert is really supposed to be.
Having moved to South Park in the last couple years, I’ve been looking for a place to walk the pooch on a daily basis. Juniper Canyon and Switzer Canyon really haven’t disappointed.
Switzer, being the larger of the two (at possibly a six mile hike) reminds me more of what I remember as a kid. I really didn’t know areas like this existed in the city. Clearly evidence of some rope swings, hang out spots, dog walking. I’m surprised there aren’t more people using this space more often.
Just remember, pack out what you pack in and clean up after your pet. Keep this open space pristine and a great communal spot.

A great part of our nightly walk; this is a little over six miles, its a beautiful park, a beautiful Canyon.
So, when you have the chance and you’re in San Diego I encourage you and yours also experience it.
Musicians, choirs, people of cosmopolitan genre abound at this Tsavorite Garnet
, not a diamond in the ruff for sure!
The adjacent well groomed & maintained golf course is great for a stroll too, and let those Pooches run as many do in the safety of this affluent neighborhood park & golf course.
There are plenty of hares for them to chase too, but good luck, these Bugs Bunnys have all of the tricks down to escape, but your Pooch will surely get a workout while you stroll and admire the beautiful view of the Conrado Bridge & downtown San Diego.
During the Christmas season, 2 houses directly across from the golf course combine and go all out with Christmas decorations galore, and they start setting up the first of November and are ready by months end, truly spectacular!
Also, we’d attempted taking many videos & pictures for this again spectacular, car stopping, pedestrian not ever wanting to go home display, but the array of colored lights and themes are so bright, our filters could not do it justice until I got one from a friend who was with us, and this is only ½ of the Christmas displayed 2 homes on the Santa Fe/​San Marcos side of the street!
This place is safe, historic, and just a delight; will miss it this year as Marty Is spending Christmas this year here in LB, but I am Gobsmacked every time I go; almost forgot, the homeowners give free hot soups & bread for disenfranchised too at the back gate.
With all of this going on, you will be happy year round to do this, I know we do-​will we see you?

Yea, i like this spot a lot! So many ways in and out, i think ive finally found more than half of em. Weekdaze are the best cuz theres usually no one else around, no dogs being walked, no kids playing bb gun tag.
Definitely a good spot to go practice my shuriken skills without anyone hassling me about it. I recently just discovered the tunnel that runs underneath 30^th street that leads towards the golf course… that was an ill mission that day, although i prefer the east side of the canyon, theres just more to it.
Avoid going down here after a heavy rain because it can get quite flooded and that water is nastay! I wouldnt wanna be down there when it starts raining either, for fear of being swept away by a raging torrent! Ifya happen to see me down there feel free to approach, im a friendly fellow, just dont creep up on me aright?!

The neighborhoods of North Park began to be developed in the early 1900s. The chances that an original piece of the natural plant and animal community would survive one hundred years of bulldozers, roaming pet cats, and gardens harboring invasive plants from every corner of the world seems small. That’s why finding Switzer Canyon is such a surprise. To see the best slice of high-​quality native habitat, use the trailhead at 28^th and Maple Street, walk downhill and then follow the cobblestone-​lined creek upstream. Keep an eye open for the velvety Felt-​leaf Yerba Santa.
Switzer has a Friends group (motto: 24 Hours a Day! No Monthly Fee!) to help keep it special and give the natives a little help to reclaim some of the abused portions. (FYI, I maintain the group email list and keep the projects moving.)
Switzer is one of my favorite San Diego canyons because it’s close to home and like a little wilderness walk in the city. There is a nice view of downtown from 30^th Street. It’s not five star yet because a lot of it east of 30^th is still dominated by non-​native weeds and beat up by years of neglect.