Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is a wonderful opportunity to go for a fairly easy trail run through a canyon — right in the Sorrento Hills/Mira Mesa Area! The 4,000 acre canyon preserve features gravel multi-use paths that stretches for 5.5 miles from the I-5/805 merge to just east of I-15. There are also numerous other hillier and more rugged trails in the preserve that are great for trail running. The preserve contains 500 plant species, more than 175 types of birds. Features of the route include streams, waterfalls, a forest giant California live oaks, sycamore trees, and a freshwater marsh. There are map kiosks at the trailheads. Pro Tip: Near Qualcomm HQ!

The easier trail running option is the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Trail, which runs mostly along the south side of Peñasquitos Creek. The west end starts at a parking lot off Sorrento Valley Road. The east trailhead is off Black Mountain Rd., just west of I-15. This distance is 5.6 miles, though you can continue east for another 1.8 miles to Cara Rd. just east of I-15. A spur goes north to a trailhead at Canyonside Community Park.

The more rugged trail running options are the trails north of the creek, toward Ram Ranch.