Slot Canyon San Diego Beach

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  • San Diego lover. Obsessed with travel. Over the last 20 years since living in San Diego, friends and family have visited and my heart breaks a little when they tell me their itinerary is full of theme parks. Not that there is anything wrong with theme parks, but there is SO.MUCH.MORE to San Diego than theme park hopping.
  • Tourmaline Surfing Park is a beach access point and a surf spot in North Pacific Beach, San Diego, California, USA.The park is situated at the northern end of Pacific Beach, a short distance south of where the sand beach ends and the rocky promontory of La Jolla begins.
  • San Diego could be disrupted for years. Yet most people in San Diego either know nothing about the Rose Canyon fault or think it’s still not active, even though it has been 30 years since.

See a true natural wonder – right in your county’s backyard –

The sandstone canyon walls display breathtaking shapes that are a don’t-miss gift from mother nature. What happens when thousands of years of coastal rains fall? In this particular case, those rains yielded a unique slot canyon – and what we think is one of the best hikes in San Diego – for us to appreciate and enjoy.

Residents say homeless are trashing Pacific Beach canyon. The City of San Diego encourages individuals to be specific when reporting issues or concerns on the “Get It Done” app or website.

Slot

In this slot canyon, you get up-close and personal with San Diego’s unique geology. On either side of you, you can observe these naturally eroding canyon walls. Don’t forget your camera – and a spirit of adventure! (Tag your Instagram photos with #anniescanyontrail)

4.8

Added by Jason Neitzke

Distance: about one mile (no need to rush). Duration: 1-3 hours, depending on your speed. Short hike, easy access and amazing views. No permit required.

The Slot is an amazing short hike located in the Anza Borrego Desert. Drive east on Hwy 78, and about a mile and a half after Borrego Springs Road, turn left onto Buttes Pass Road. Buttes Pass road is a dirt road and not marked well so look carefully. The road is pretty smooth, about a mile in you will take a left at the fork. From there, you will drive about another mile to a parking lot. Two wheel drive vehicles should be fine unless there was a recent rainstorm.

From the parking lot, you will take the trail into the canyon that is directly in front of you. This will be the hardest and steepest part of the hike. There are no trail markers for the Slot. Do not take the trail to the right of the parking lot or you will miss the Slot. Once you are at the bottom, go left and head to where the canyon starts to narrow. As you enter, the walls start to close in and you are taking your bag off to get through some tight passages. Every turn is exciting, it is constantly changing and you are not sure what is going to be around the next bend. The Slot is made of siltstone and is very brittle so watch your footing if you decide to climb around. At the end of the Slot you hit a dirt road, from there you can either turn around and go back through or follow the road and find some other trails. Further down the road there are some awesome wind caves and arches that are worth checking out.

Hiking
Diego
Food Nearby
Scenic

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Reviews

Sophia Steen

Slot Canyon San Diego Hike

over 2 years ago

Great short hike

Beautiful sandstone slot canyon. It gets tight in areas. Went of the main trail a bit and did some climbing up! So much fun

5.0

Scott Sichler

Slot canyon san diego beach hotels

🥇Top Contributor

almost 3 years ago

Slot Canyon San Diego Beach Camping

Slots O fun

This is a really fun hike. The slot is a little tight in spots but doable by most people. We like to hike out into cliffs beyond the slots for great views of the area.

5.0

Allett Wallets

Slot Canyon San Diego Beach House

about 4 years ago

Slot Canyon San Diego Beach Hotels

Worth The Stop

Slot Canyon San Diego Beach Resorts

This was an entertaining hike. It makes you feel like a kid again. It's a unique experience and a worth while diversion.

4.0

Christine Thompson

almost 5 years ago

Hands Down One Of The Best Adventure

It is simply amazing! Your weaving in and out of the canyon you find yourself going through tunnels . A must see

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on.