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Par Course Trails

San Diego, CA · San Diego County · 3.1 mi

A flat 3.1-mile trail. Good shade throughout.

Dogs allowedAllowed
Leash ruleRequired
Trail effortFlat
ShadeHigh shade
Certified dog policySource: Dogs in Parks | City of San DiegoGood year-round.
Best entry:Hopkins Parking Structure

Par Course Trails is a 3.1-mile dog-friendly trail in San Diego, CA. Includes leash-required policy details · high shade. Elevation gain is about 367 ft. Looking for more options in San Diego dog-friendly trails or across dog-friendly trails across California? Use the sections below for dog policy, access points, shade/heat, water, terrain, and safety.

Dog Fit

Dogs allowed status, leash expectations, and suitability by dog type

Dogs must be on a leash no longer than 8 feet in all San Diego city parks. SDMC §63.0102.
Suitability by dog type

By Dog Type

How this trail suits different kinds of dogs

Small Dog
Toy & small breeds
57%
Fair fit
Manageable length
Well-shaded route
Senior Dog
Older dogs, 7+ years
95%
Great fit
Flat & joint-friendly
Comfortable distance
Good shade available
Reactive Dog
Reactive to dogs & strangers
85%
Great fit
All dogs leashed — controlled
Sensitive Dog
Anxious or paw-sensitive dogs
77%
Good fit
Well-shaded — stays cooler
Getting-Fit Dog
Building up stamina
85%
Great fit
Good training length
Flat — great for conditioning
Water Lover
Dogs who love to swim & splash
15%
Not ideal
Water nearby — no swim confirmed
Water near parts of the trail
Leash required — limits water play

Trail Suitability

Who this trail works best for — and what to watch

Well-shaded, flat trail — comfortable for most dogs

Best for

Senior dogsEasy walksHeat-sensitive dogs

Why this trail works

  • ~100% shade coverage along the route
  • Essentially flat — average slope under 3%

Safety & Conditions

Hazards, heat exposure, crowd level, and nearby emergency vet context

HAZARDS—
SHADE / HEATHigh shade
CROWD—

Terrain & Comfort

Elevation, surface, shade, heat, and water signals for dog hiking comfort

EffortFlat
SurfaceMixed
ShadeHigh
WaterSome

Elevation & Width

Distance and climbing are shown together so you can judge overall effort for your dog on a 3.

Trail Effort

Easy

Flat or gently rolling. Comfortable for almost all dogs.

EasyModerate
Challenging
Strenuous
Gain:367 ftGain/mi:120 ft/miSteep sections:Low
Rated from 367 ft gain + 120 ft/mi.
Elevation Profile
410 ft289 ft0 mi3.1 mi123
Trail Width
Narrow
Narrow
< 6 ft
In-between
6-10 ft
Wide
10+ ft
NARROWTypical: ~0 ftWIDE

Mostly single-file with tighter passing space.

Surface & Paws

Surface coverage helps you plan for paw comfort and choose routes that match your dog's tolerance for rough or hot terrain.

Surface

What your dog will walk on

Mostly: Dirt

Softer footing that can feel easier on paws and joints.

Soft footingRoughness unknown

Top surfaces

Dirt
100%

Quick read

Roughness: Unknown

This trail is mostly Dirt. Softer footing—can get muddy after rain.

Best forrelaxed walksexpect mud after rain

Shade & Heat

Shade coverage and heat exposure are summarized to show when this trail is safer for warm-weather dog hikes.

🌳 Shade

HIGH

High shade coverage

100.0%
Shade along the trail
0 mi3.1 mi123SunPartialShadeDense

Exposure mix

Sun
0%
Partial
0%
Shade
14%
Dense
86%

Quick read

Most of the trail benefits from consistent tree cover.

Water Access

Water proximity is tracked along the route (24%) to help you plan hydration and cooldown stops.

Water

Hydration & splash potential

Near water: 24%
Swim: Unlikely
Water nearby24%
Water along the trail
Dry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 mStreamDry — no water within 200 m0 mi3.1 mi123Stream

Water types nearby

Stream

Stream

Quick read

Water is limited near the trail—bring enough for you and your dog. Swimming spots are unlikely.

Access & Entry

Trailheads, parking, and entry logistics for hiking with dogs

Parking LotsUnknown
Capacity—
FeeUnknown

This section covers 3 trailheads listed, parking availability, and amenity placement so you can plan start points and access logistics before arriving.

Primary trailhead

Hopkins Parking Structure
Primary🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~110 m from trail🅿 Large lot

Other access points

Hopkins Parking Structure
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~110 m from trail🅿 Large lot
Parking #3
🔓 Access not confirmed💵 Fee not posted📍 ~210 m from trail🅿 Small lot
Parking details

Map & Route

Trail layout, trailheads, parking, and dog-relevant points of interest

Map

Explore More

Highlights, viewpoints, and bailout options

Highlights

Highlights

0 total
Closest: — · —

No highlights are available for this trail yet.

Bailout & exit options

Rules & Safety

Dog policy context, emergency resources, and trail hazard overview

Hazard levels are summarized from available route data. Nearby emergency veterinary coverage appears when mapped in source data.

Dog Emergency

Emergency help nearby

No nearby vets found

No nearby veterinary clinics were found within search radius.