rose canyon open space park trail

The day after Thanksgiving, we decided to make sure we kicked off our holiday season in a healthy direction so we went in search of a good urban hike, but not too far from home to stay away from holiday traffic. We wanted to avoid hikes that were "great on clear days" because ... well, it wasn't a clear day. We choose Rose Canyon Open Space Park Trail because it was close & thought it might make a good run/walk combo.

• Trail: Rose Canyon Open Space Park Trail (map)
• Location: University City, near University City High School on Genessee
  
• Length: 3 miles (out & back)
  
• Hike/run time: 18 minutes out, 40 minutes back
  
• Terrain: country road, no incline but lots of small rocks
  
• Path visibility: Clearly marked (but it just looks like a dirt road)
  
• Difficulty: easy as pie -- suggest running half of it!
  
• Cost: free parking at high school or on Decoro
  
• Highlight destination: tattered bridge - picturesque!
  
• Beware: rocky road - don't trip!
  

This was a great path for our first run/hike combo because it was very easy & really just like running down an old country road. It was cloudy & a bit cool with light wind when we started (in the high 50s, low 60s), but we warmed up after we started running.

The trail itself is nothing special - it could have been the time of year (late autumn) but there wasn't much vegetation other than lots of brush & chaparral lining the road. There weren't many birds (in fact they all seemed confined to a single tree near the beginning of the trail). And frankly, it was perfect for a quiet run - if you're looking for a less urban scene that is close in SD & easy to get to.

There were several groups of people that we ran into - a family walking a dog (the dad had a saw - we didn't ask!), bike riders, other runners, a few hikers. I imagine that with how bumpy the road was it would only be good for a mountain bike or something that can handle that type of terrain, but it definitely seemed well-suited for all beginners or those looking for a light hike experience. It would certainly make a great walk right after a big dinner!

We enjoyed much more of the scenery after our turn-around point - when we stopped running & started walking back. We got to really enjoy the little tattered bridge, the small ravine beneath & even saw some wild squash growing on the side of the path!

The biggest benefit of the trail is that in the canyon you can really feel like you are in the middle of the country -- far from the urban life of San Diego! Looking up the sides of the canyon was amazing & there were lots of little surprises around we found on the way back. It is also a great location that is quick & easy to get to. The downside is the rocky terrain for runners or bikers (I know it doesn't look that way in the pics, but trust me!) - you just have to keep your eyes looking down more than around so you don't fall so you end up missing some of the smaller pleasures of the canyon. Also, the trail is right next to railroad tracks so every now & again you are taken out of your "country road fantasy" & reminded of where you are.

I think if we went on this path again, we'd approach it the same way we did it this time: a quick run out & leisurely hike back.

Tipped off: We first saw this hike in the new edition (May 2007) of Jerry Schad's Afoot & Afield in San Diego County. Schad's write-up made this hike sound a bit nicer than it was (we barely heard any birds, let alone the canyon alive with woodpeckers & I'd hardly call the hike as a whole picturesque), but we still had a good time.