San Diego Outdoor Adventures
Deep sea fishing off Point Loma, whale watching from the harbor, kayaking through La Jolla's sea caves, surfing Pacific Beach, hiking Torrey Pines at sunrise — this city was built for being outside.
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I thought San Diego's outdoor scene was just beaches and surfing. Then I booked a half-day fishing charter out of Point Loma and hauled in a 30-pound yellowtail before lunch. The next week I was kayaking through sea caves in La Jolla with sea lions popping up three feet away. Then someone dragged me to Cowles Mountain at dawn and I saw the entire county from the summit — ocean to mountains in a single panorama. The thing about San Diego is that it doesn't matter what kind of outdoor adventure you're after — the weather cooperates 266 days a year and the variety is absurd for a single metro area.
-- Scott
We've organized San Diego's best outdoor adventures into three categories — On the Water for everything from deep sea fishing to parasailing, Land Adventures for hiking and mountain biking, and Golf for the courses worth your time and money. Each activity includes current pricing, the best season to go, and practical tips.
On the Water
Pacific swells, harbor cruises, and sea caves — San Diego's coastline is the main event
6 activities
Must-Do Deep Sea Fishing Charters
$65–250Point Loma / Harbor
Half-day trips run $65–85 per person, full-day $150–250. Target yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, dorado, and calico bass depending on season. H&M Landing and Fisherman's Landing run daily trips year-round. No fishing license needed on charter boats — it's included.
Must-Do Whale Watching
$50–65Point Loma
3–4 hour trips departing from the harbor. Gray whales migrate through December–April, blue whales (the largest animals on Earth) surface June–September. Hornblower and San Diego Whale Watch are the top operators. 96% sighting success rate during peak season.
Family-Friendly San Diego Bay Cruises
$30–150Harbor
1–2 hour narrated harbor cruises run $30–45 per person. See the Coronado Bridge, naval fleet, and sea lions from the water. Sunset and dinner cruises are available for $75–150. Flagship Cruises and Hornblower are the main operators.
Must-Do Kayaking La Jolla Sea Caves
$40–60La Jolla
Guided 90-minute tours paddle you through seven sea caves carved into the La Jolla cliffs. In summer you'll glide over leopard sharks in crystal-clear water. Sea lions year-round. Everyday California and La Jolla Kayak run daily trips.
Best Value Surfing
$10–100Pacific Beach / Ocean Beach
Lessons run $75–100 for 90 minutes — Pacific Beach has gentle breaks perfect for beginners. Board rentals are $10–20 per hour at shops lining the boardwalk. Water temperature ranges from 60 to 72 degrees F depending on season. Wetsuits recommended October through May.
Family-Friendly Jet Ski & Parasailing
$80–150Mission Bay
Jet ski rentals run $100–150 per hour, parasailing $80–100 per person for a 10–15 minute flight. Mission Bay's calm, flat waters make it ideal for water sports — no ocean swells to deal with. Aqua Adventures and Action Sport Rentals are the go-to operators.
Land Adventures
Coastal cliffs, canyon trails, and mountain biking in year-round sunshine
4 activities
Must-Do Torrey Pines State Reserve
Free–$20 parkingTorrey Pines
8 trails ranging from easy to moderate, 1.5–4 miles each. Home to the rare Torrey pine trees — one of the rarest pine species in the world. Dramatic sandstone cliffs drop straight to the ocean. Guy Fleming Trail is the easiest and most scenic. No dogs allowed.
Best Value Sunset Cliffs
FreePoint Loma
Dramatic sea cliffs with the best sunset views in all of San Diego. At low tide, tide pools teem with anemones, crabs, and starfish. Informal trails run along the bluffs for about a mile. No guardrails — stay back from crumbling edges, especially with kids.
Family-Friendly Mission Trails Regional Park
FreeSan Carlos (East SD)
7,220 acres of wilderness just 15 minutes from downtown. Cowles Mountain summit trail (3 miles round trip, 950 feet elevation gain) is San Diego's most popular hike — the 360-degree views at the top are worth the sweat. Visitor center has exhibits on local ecology.
Mountain Biking
$5–10 trail passes (when required)Various
Penasquitos Canyon is flat and easy — great for families. Noble Canyon near Pine Valley is a legendary intermediate-to-advanced descent. Mount Laguna offers expert-level singletrack at 6,000 feet. Year-round riding weather is San Diego's secret weapon for mountain bikers.
Golf
Championship courses with ocean views and year-round tee times
3 activitiesFor a deep dive into San Diego's world-class golf scene, see our Golf Guide.
Must-Do Torrey Pines Golf Course
$202–290/roundLa Jolla
Two 18-hole championship courses perched on the bluffs above the Pacific. The South Course hosted the 2021 U.S. Open. Ocean views from every hole. Non-resident rates are steep, but this is a bucket-list public course — book 7 days in advance.
Best Value Balboa Park Golf Course
$50–60/roundBalboa Park
Historic 18-hole municipal course in the heart of Balboa Park. Open since 1915, it's one of the oldest courses in Southern California. Not the fanciest layout, but the location and price make it the best value for a full round in central San Diego.
Mount Woodson Golf Club
$45–75/roundRamona
Mountain course with a dramatic boulder-strewn landscape about 45 minutes from downtown. The scenery here is unlike any other San Diego course — massive granite boulders frame the fairways. A hidden gem for golfers who want something different.
What to Do by Season
San Diego's outdoor calendar runs 12 months — but the best activities shift with the seasons. Here's what to prioritize depending on when you visit.
Winter
December – February- Gray whale watching season peaks — daily sightings off Point Loma
- Best surf swells of the year hit the coast
- Cool mornings make Cowles Mountain and Torrey Pines ideal for hiking
- Lowest golf green fees and easiest tee times
Spring
March – May- Wildflowers bloom across Torrey Pines and Mission Trails
- Water starts warming — kayaking and paddleboarding season begins
- Tail end of gray whale migration (March)
- Perfect hiking weather before summer heat kicks in
Summer
June – August- Blue whale watching season opens — the largest animals on Earth
- Leopard sharks arrive in La Jolla — incredible kayaking and snorkeling
- Warmest ocean water (68–72 degrees F) for surfing without a wetsuit
- Longest days — sunset cruises and Sunset Cliffs at their best
Fall
September – November- Best fishing of the year — yellowfin tuna and dorado runs peak
- Warm water lingers through October for water sports
- Smallest crowds at Torrey Pines and Mission Trails
- Blue whale season winds down (September)
Pro Tips
Book Water Activities 2–3 Days Ahead
Whale watching, fishing charters, and kayak tours sell out — especially weekends and holidays. Book online 2–3 days in advance for the best time slots. Same-day walk-ups are possible midweek but risky on weekends.
Bring Layers, Even in Summer
Morning marine layer (locals call it "June Gloom") can make the coast 15 degrees cooler than inland until noon. On boats it's even colder with wind chill. A light jacket is essential for any morning water activity year-round.
Start Hikes Early
Torrey Pines and Cowles Mountain get brutal sun exposure by midday. Start before 8 AM in summer and bring more water than you think — there's no shade on most trails. Cowles Mountain parking lot fills up by 7:30 AM on weekends.
Check Tides Before Coastal Activities
Sunset Cliffs tide pools, La Jolla kayaking, and coastal hiking are all tide-dependent. A negative low tide opens the best tide pools. High tide can make some sea caves impassable. Check NOAA tide charts the night before.
Sunscreen is Non-Negotiable
San Diego averages 266 sunny days per year. The UV index regularly hits "very high" even in spring and fall. Reef-safe SPF 50+, a hat, and sunglasses are mandatory for any outdoor activity — even overcast mornings burn.
Plan Your Outdoor Trip
Tell our AI planner which activities you want to try and it will build a day-by-day itinerary — with booking links, timing, and what to bring for each adventure.
Start Planning →Frequently Asked Questions
Year-round, genuinely. San Diego averages 266 sunny days per year and temperatures rarely dip below 50 or above 85 on the coast. That said, each season has standouts: winter for whale watching and surfing, spring for hiking with wildflowers, summer for kayaking and blue whales, fall for fishing and the warmest ocean water. If you're trying to do a bit of everything, September and October offer the best combination of warm water, clear skies, and smaller crowds.
No — not if you're going on a licensed charter boat. The boat's license covers all passengers, so you can just show up and fish. This applies to half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips out of H&M Landing, Fisherman's Landing, and other harbor operators. If you want to fish from shore, a pier, or a private boat, you'll need a California sport fishing license ($55.46 for a one-day non-resident license, available online from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife).
Yes, with a guided tour and reasonable conditions. The outfitters (Everyday California, La Jolla Kayak) check conditions daily and will cancel or reroute if swells are too high. You don't need kayaking experience — guides provide full instruction and stay with the group. The main risks are bumping into cave walls in choppy water and getting wet (which you will). Wear clothes you don't mind getting soaked and bring a dry bag for your phone.
A budget day runs $0–20: hike Torrey Pines (free, $20 max for parking), watch sunset at Sunset Cliffs (free), surf with your own board (free). A mid-range day is $50–100 per person: a half-day fishing charter ($65–85) or kayak tour ($40–60) plus lunch. A splurge day hits $200–300+: a round at Torrey Pines Golf Course ($202–290) or a full-day fishing charter ($150–250) plus a sunset dinner cruise ($75–150).
The essentials for any San Diego outdoor day: reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+), sunglasses, a hat, and a reusable water bottle. For water activities, add a light windbreaker (it's colder on the water than you expect), and quick-dry clothes. For hiking, wear closed-toe shoes with grip — Torrey Pines and Cowles Mountain are sandy and steep in spots. Flip-flops are fine for the beach but not the trails. A dry bag is smart for any boat or kayak trip to protect your phone and wallet.