Now that we’ve been back in San Diego for a couple weeks we are getting back on the trails and exploring a little further from our home on the coast. Today we ventured to Vista to the Buena Vista Park Trails. This is a location we visited with Karlie in 2020, but never returned. I’m sure the reason was the nearly hour travel time and so many other great places closer to home. Despite that we thoroughly enjoyed our visit with Sunny today.
Our Adventure
When you first arrive at the park it appears to just be a pond and grassy area with picnic tables, but if you venture a little further you will find a nice trail system. The trails start at the end of the parking area once you drive past the pond and restroom. You will see a metal gate and dirt trail. Walk past the gate and you’ll find several different trails.
We started on the main trail and shortly after passing a covered bench we took the trail to the right. After walking a short distance we found a nice grove of trees that was a perfect spot for a photo. As we continued we noticed we were walking near the Agua Hedionda Creek. Eventually we found a bridge that crossed the creek.
After that we started to enter a wooded area. This was my favorite part of the trail because it looked so serene. Not long after that we crossed another bridge and left the woods. We found ourselves entering an area that had brush on both sides that was taller than Sunny. And then the trail narrowed considerably. This part of the trail appeared to be used by mountain bike riders as we saw some jumps, although we did not encounter anyone on a bike. This section wound around and eventually became a much wider trail again.
We continued and eventually made it to the underpass of Melrose Drive. We continued and found another cool rock formation overlooking the creek. A short distance later the trail wound around and we again passed under Melrose Drive. before making our way back to the parking lot.
We hiked just over 2.5M, but could have added additional distance if we had explored some of the other trails. The beauty of these trails is despite a large number of cars in the parking lot and seeing a few people on the trails, we felt like we mostly had the place to ourselves. Most of the trails are quite wide making it easy to give people room if needed. There were quite a few other dogs on the trails, but everyone had them on their leash which was nice. All in all this is a fun place to take a hike and you can create different hikes depending on the different trails you explore.
Sunny’s Perspective
This place is fun! I loved sniffing all the incredible smells and exploring the different areas. It’s so fun to hike in places with sandy trails. There are a lot of birds and I kept checking the brush for lizards, but didn’t see any. I also liked resting in the shade and grass at the end. I just wish it wasn’t such a long drive to get there.
Our Rating
Sunny and I give Buena Vista Park Trails 3 out of 4 paws up. We liked all the different trails with different vegetation and especially enjoyed the shaded sections. The trails are easy to follow and the views of the creek are nice. Although the trails would not be good for those using scooters or other mobility devices due to the loose sand, they are relatively flat. The pond and picnic area are lovely and it’s nice to have restrooms. There is also ample parking.
How Do I Get There?
From I-5 take exit #45 – Poinsettia Lane and continue on Poinsettia Lane for nearly 5 miles. Turn left onto Melrose Drive and then turn left on Shadowridge Drive. Take the next left onto Antiqua Drive which is the entrance to the park. Follow the road past the pond and bathroom and park near the metal fence and dirt trail.