7 Bridges Hike - Urban Hiking San Diego

A search on Google for 7 Bridges San Diego will produce thousands of hits for this popular 5.5 mile loop in the Balboa Park vicinity.  Here's the map that all of them use: 

They are all missing at least one bridge, there can/should be 8, or even 9, bridges on this loop, without adding distance, but it will add an elevation change.

Fran and I will document the 8 bridges as a bike-n-hike in a 5.6 mile loop.

My Google map with the 8 Bridges is HERE.  Follow along, or plan your own loop.

Although this is a loop where we could start at any of the bridges, we will start at the Park Blvd Bridge at the Rose Garden as that is where most of the 7 bridge folks document the start.

1.  Park Blvd Bridge 

Park Blvd Bridge

Located behind the National History Museum the bridge joins the award winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden to Balboa Park’s Bea Evenson Fountain.

From the fountain continue west along El Prado.

2.  Cabrillo Bridge

Cabrillo Bridge

The Cabrillo Bridge is California’s first multi-arch bridge.  It was built in 1914 as preparation of the Panama-California Exposition to connect with downtown.  Spanning Cabrillo Canyon, which was a waterway when the bridge was built.

Continue west as El Prado becomes Laurel Street.

3.  First Avenue Bridge 

Continue on Laurel to 1st Ave and turn right to the only steel arch bridge in San Diego. 

First Ave Bridge

The First Ave Bridge spans Maple Canyon. 

Maple Canyon

From the right side of the bridge the next stop can be seen.

Quince Street Bridge

Continue north to Quince street.

4.  Quince Street Bridge

A right on Quince leads to the Quince Street Bridge that also spans Maple Canyon.  This bridge was built in 1904 to provide access to the 4th Street Trolley.

Quince Street Bridge

With stairs at each end this bridge is not ADA accessible.  But after crossing the bridge we will come back, so we do not have to carry our bikes up/down the stairs.

Fran and I use Maple Canyon and the Quince Street Bridge as an access to Balboa Park when events limit parking.

Return toward 1st Ave, but turn right on 2nd Ave and left on Spruce Street.

5.  Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

Spruce Street Suspension Bridge

It is a suspension bridge, and it does wiggle!

Enjoy a walk across the bridge as it sways with each step. 

The bridge spans Kate Sessions Canyon.  A stop at the center makes a great photo-op spot.

Kate sessions canyon

The bridge certainly is in need of some repairs.

At the far end of the bridge is a short/steep set of concrete stairs.  Definitely not ADA accessible and this time we do have to carry our bikes.

Once across, turn right on Brant Street and follow it as it becomes Upas Street, then Albatross and finally Walnut to return to 1st Ave.

NOTE:  Up to this point the 7 Bridge Hike is identical.  To avoid a really steep hill, follow the 7 bridge route by turning left at 1st Ave to University Ave, right on University to Vermont Street.

6.  Marston Bridge (optional)
OK I just made up that name, since it is located below the Marston House.  If you know the official name of this bridge please leave a note in comments.

Turn right on 1st Ave, then left on Upas St to return to Balboa Park at 6th and Upas.  The trail map here shows 3 trails that cross back over Cabrillo Canyon on this un-named bridge.

6th and Upas Trailmap

Hikers can take the dirt trail to the left after crossing the bridge (orange route).  It will lead to Vermont Street.  Follow it to University Ave.

Not wanting to bike the dirt track we continue straight up the paved steep slope to Richmond Street (blue route). 

We rode down the well maintained concrete path with its switchbacks to the 'Marston' Bridge.

'Marston' Bridge

I did mention that this is a short but steep hill.  We both had to walk part of it.

We rode north on Richmond to University Ave where we turned left to Vermont Street.

7.  Vermont Street Bridge

Vermont Street Bridge

My first apartment in San Diego was near this bridge.  Then it was a wooden trestle bridge, with peeling blue paint.

Rebuilt in 1995, it is the newest bridge on this tour.

Take some time crossing this bridge to read the words of inspiration along the way.  It would be at home in Solana Beach.

Continue straight after crossing the bridge to Lincoln Ave and turn right. 

8.  Georgia Street Historical Bridge 

Georgia Street Bridge

Lincoln Ave ends at Georgia Street where a right leads to this historic bridge.  Built in 1914 of concrete.  It connects the communities of Hillcrest and North Park over University Ave.  It was awarded Historic Landmark status in 1998. 

After crossing the bridge turn right down the hill to Park Blvd, a left on Park Blvd will lead back to the starting point.

Yes there are other bridges that could be included, such as the Palm Canyon footbridge north of the Oregon Pavilion.  Enjoy the walking/hiking trails of Balboa Park.

Secret Swing - Urban Hiking La Jolla

There’s two very easy short hikes here.  First let’s see if I can find the ‘secret swings’ of La Jolla.  This location is not so secret, just enter “La Jolla Secret Swing” into the Google Maps search bar.

The street parking at the top was reserved for students.  Rather than risk a ticket or purchase a guest permit, I chose to park at the Birch Aquarium visitor lot.  The aquarium remains Covid-closed and I was the only car there.

It’s a short steep climb up to the swing.  

Today there were two swings.  

In the past there have been 6 or more, or even no swings!  It looks like these will stay, as where the previous swings hung is now populated with reforestation signs.  

The large two person swing has been here in some form for quite awhile. 

Do the search #lajollasecretswings, as suggested on the swing to see some of its previous versions.

But I like the current one best:
”It’s the world’s job to come at you in waves.  It’s your job to learn to surf”.

The views from the swing are spectacular.  This would be a great place to watch the sunset and capture a Green Flash.

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The upper trail is a bit longer, but level.  It's parking that can be an issue.

A short drive below the swings and a couple left turns is the entrance to Pottery Canyon.

The Rodriguez brothers founded La Jolla Canyon Clay Products here using a wood fired kiln to make roofing tiles and adobe brick for over 40 years.

The remains of the old kiln is on private property and no other remnants of that time remain.

The San Diego Reader mentions a trail to the top of the canyon with views of La Jolla and the ocean, but I did not find it.  The San Diego parks map does not show this trail at all.

I took the short easy trail, 

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 but it ends quickly in a fallen eucalyptus log jam.

The small canyon is surrounded by expensive homes and steep hillsides.

Or private property along the entrance.

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La Jolla rejected San Diego’s offer to revitalize the park.  Guess it will remain an unmaintained open space.  That just might be a good thing :)
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Tecolote Canyon Revisited - Urban Hiking San Diego

I’ve mentioned in past posts that Tecolote Canyon is our go-to local hike, in that we can hike the lower section as a loop from our front door.

My old Merrill hiking boots are well worn, hence I wore tennis shoes in our failed attempt to complete Rainbow Canyon.  I found a pair of near-new used Keen boots in my size in the ‘used gear’ at REI for a third the cost of new.

Feet meet boots

the Keen boots have a bigger toe box and grab the foot at the ankle, making downhill stretches much more comfortable. 

Tecolote Canyon is in it’s 4th year of restoration projects.  I volunteer here for the cleanup, but have left the last couple years of replanting to the pros.

Tecolote (owl in Spanish) may not have been named for the abundance of owls, but the vines the native Americans called “tecolil”.  Although several species of owl call the canyon home, I've not seen any owls in the canyon, but the vines still remain.

Instead of entering the park from home off September Street I want to see the updates to the Nature Center and will enter the park there.  One of the first items I noticed is the little trail map case had maps!  a first ... a copy of the map can be downloaded HERE.

New displays have been added in order to benefit and educate visitors and local residents.  It will be open by the time I return.

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Behind the Nature Center, the Kumeyaay village and native plant exhibits remain unchanged.

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However, the fence is decorated with paintings of the many creatures who make their home here.

To facilitate access for the trucks and equipment needed in the restoration projects the main trail is now a dirt road.

The Battle Trail has had some restoration and improvement projects completed, but remains mostly a 'trail'. 

There was no 'Battle of Tecolote', the trail is named for M. Eloise Battle who argued tirelessly for the city to acquire the canyon as open space.  In 1974 the canyon was acquired with Battle asked to take charge of the new nature preserve.

The Battle Trail follows the base of the southern side of the canyon.  This side does not get as much sun.  Runoff from the USD campus and Linda Vista in general leave the ground wet well into summer.

The typical muddy areas are now covered with wooden walkways.  It's nice that I can keep the mud off my new-to-me boots.

An inviting oak tree has become home to the bees. 

The hive is within this hollow base.

The non-native plants are being removed, to be replaced with native vegetation.  Lots of work has been done on this section.

The tall stocks of the invasive wild radish indicate that this area has not yet been reclaimed.

The Battle Trail returns to the main dirt road, with previous restoration efforts just to the west.

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Which continues on past the natural gas bumping site to the Tecolote Golf Course.  The map shows the trails that exit the canyon to the east.

The main trail heads northeast to the trailhead on Genesee, however I stay left following the rolling hills along the Tecolote Golf Course.

Not shown on the 'official' map is that there is a brand new foot bridge crossing Tecolote Creek at the golf course club house.  

 Fran is playing golf today, with better coordination I could catch a ride home!  But we typically exit the park here and walk up the hill home, and that's what I do again.