Wide paths. Easy pet-friendly and kid-friendly trail. Tons of critters to enjoy such as Lizards, Barn Owls, Red Tailed Hawks, and more. Streams. Green trees. Serene atmosphere. Moderate temperatures. These are some of the many reasons we frequent Marian Bear trail on those mornings or afternoons when we have a couple of hours and are wanting some fresh air.
When to Go
While Marian Bear trail isn’t the most strenuous or scenic trail like some of the others we enjoy, it is ideal when you desire any of these things:
- Easy flat and wide relaxed trail, that’s kid and dog-friendly. Good for bikes too.
- Lots of fun critter explorations – we’ve seen lizards, snakes, butterflies, owls, red tailed hawks, squirrels, and so much more.
- Moderate temperature during the Spring/Summer/Fall heat when many of the mountainous and desert trails we love become unbearable.
- Quiet and serene atmosphere, that isn’t as jam packed as some of the popular trails around town.
- A short drive in the central area of San Diego, when you on a whim want some fresh air and don’t have time for an entire day excursion.
Just as we got in, before we even started along the trail, lizards can be found all over the entryway!
Exploring Marian Bear Trail
When you first walk through you’ll immediately get to a nice gentle stream. Take a peek and you’ll see some small fish swimming around.
If you search under rocks, you may even find a crayfish as we usually do! While they have little pinchers, they aren’t strong enough to hurt a human if you wanted to give him a little snuggle before putting him back.
As you walk along you’ll find many fun photos spots…it’s a popular location for family photo shoots. You’ll also find many benches to take a load off if needed.
Our lizard hunter in action. The lizards love to bask in the sun on logs. We counted 58 lizards on our short stroll that day!
You really wouldn’t know that you are right by the freeway! The wide-open paths of this trail make it really nice for dogs and kids. Butterflies are in abundance!
He was on a mission to catch a lizard, and he did it with his bare hands!
Gave him a little pet before releasing him back to the wild.
Time to turn around and head back!
Good to Know
Getting to Marian Bear Memorial Park Trail
There are many entrances to the trail. The entrance we used for this blog post is off Genesee Avenue.
Warnings
- As with all local trails, snakes are present including rattlesnakes, and we have seen them on this trail before. Because of the wide trail, it’s safer than most as you can avoid the side areas with the brush and easily notice if a snake is in the trail.
- The trail does have Poison Oak, so it offers another reason to stay on trail.
- If you look on Yelp, you’ll see some comments about suspicious behavior on the trail. I’m sad to see that as it truly is a wonderful trail and great for families with young kids who aren’t ready for more strenuous hikes. We’ve been to Marian Bear dozens of times and never had an issue. However, be cautious like you would anywhere else, and use common sense such as going during peak hours and not going on the trail alone. We’ve never come across anything, but I wanted to be transparent with you that others have posted on Yelp about this in the past.
Tips
- At the entrance of the trail there is a restroom and water fountain.
- Parking is free and easy.
- Temperature stays very moderate, so it’s a great trail year-round.
We hope you enjoy Marian Bear trail! Let us know what you think and share comments or questions…we are listening!
