Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → San Diego Area → San Diego Coast → Annie’s Canyon

Location: Solana Beach, northern coastal San Diego

Distance: 0.25 miles

Elevation Gain/Loss: 200 feet

Time Required:  30 – 45  minutes (via the quickest access route)

Red Tape/Notes: The Annie’s Canyon Trail itself is only 0.25 miles, but you’ll need to hike at least 1.2 miles roundtrip through the San Elijo Lagoon to reach it; the quickest access (and only open access as of late 2017) is from the N. Rios Avenue Trailhead. For more information on the trail and current access points, see this webpage.

What’s Nearby?: San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

Previously called the “Mushroom Caves” and horribly prone to vandalism (seriously, its walls were covered in graffiti), a major effort was made to restore the canyon and it was reopened as “Annie’s Canyon” in June of 2016. And while the loop hike of the canyon is very short, it’s still well worth doing because it’s an extremely picturesque little sandstone canyon and the access hike to reach it is quite short and has a scenic value of its own. You can combine this hike with other hikes in the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve for a longer day, or just enjoy an hour outside with some lovely coastal scenery.

Epic Travel → North America → The West Coast → Southern California → San Diego Area → San Diego Coast → Annie’s Canyon