For exploring San Diego’s urban trails, keep in mind Florida Canyon, one of the largest trail systems within the city. Consisting of 150 acres of coastal sage scrub, the trails provide habitats for native chaparral plants, birds and animals. Actually an extension of Balboa Park, interconnecting trails roam the east and west sides of Florida Canyon, popular for walkers, bikers and joggers.
A not-well known fact about this canyon is its link to a very important hiking organization, the Canyoneers. As volunteer naturalists, the Canyoneers lead free, guided nature hikes all over the county. This year, they’re celebrating their 50th anniversary. Originally, the Canyoneers started out by leading hikes through Florida Canyon. That is how the organization got its name. One of the key people who started it was Helen Chamlee, a botany associate and educator at the San Diego Natural History Museum. She advocated for keeping Florida Canyon in its natural state. To this day, the canyon and all its traversing trails have kept a parking lot at bay, thereby keeping a bit of paradise.
A friend of mine who lives near the trails recommended beginning at Upas Avenue crossing Park Boulevard. So off my husband and I went on a Sunday afternoon. Because of the constant drizzle and quite chilly temperatures, we opted to drive up to the dog park behind the native plants garden near Morley Field. The dog park is a wonder to behold. During the first few months of the pandemic, I discovered this place and marveled in the delight of all manner of dogs running to and fro through the park. My rapture was complete when I saw for the very first time a lovable Komondor, or Hungarian sheepdog. His flying mop hair went everywhere as he ran, his tongue and eyes the only things visible beneath its long, corded fur. Do make it a point to stop and ogle the dogs before you begin your hike.
On the rainy Sunday afternoon, we walked below the dog park to the sign pointing to the Florida Canyon trails. Right away, I noticed the beauty in the variety of rocks on the ground as we walked the trail. A rock hound could have a field day on the trail. Fairly quickly, the trail branches off in several different directions. You can take your pick of which direction to go, but generally, you’ll be walking parallel to Florida Drive. We chose to stay straight on the trail we were on; eventually, we came across a small wooden bridge traversing a creek, stepping aside to allow a lone biker cross the bridge.
This time of year, especially after the rains we’ve had, the wildflowers are spring-happy. Black mustard flowers carpet the sides of the trail. As we walked, we noticed a pretty bunch of Purple Nightshade flowers waving in the chilly breeze. We admired the delicately pink flowers of native Lemonade Berry shrub that attract honey bees. Lemonade Berry was an important staple for the Kumeyaay people who inhabited the area. They soaked the berries in water to make a beverage, and ground the dried berries into flour for a mush or to add to soup.
My husband and I were starting to get drenched in the constant drizzle and as we turned around, we spotted a Red-Tailed Hawk soaring towards his partner sitting on a large light post over Morley Field. For a comical moment, they looked down at the ground as though they had lost something and then turned to each other like they were arguing.
Across Florida Drive at the cactus garden in Balboa Park, you can see the trails of Florida Canyon crisscross through buckwheat, coast prickly pear cactus, chaparral broom, black sage, and laurel sumac. Because of all the rain, these native plants are all now in gorgeous shades of green. At the very north side of the canyon by the Blind Community Center, the view of the canyon is spectacular.
Winter and spring time are definitely the best times of year to hike Florida Canyon. All of us owe a debt of gratitude to Helen Chamlee for starting the Canyoneers decades ago with the goal of saving Florida Canyon.
— Cynthia G. Robertson is an award-winning freelance writer and photographer, putting together interesting and informative articles for more than 30 years. Her stories, essays and poems have also been published in “Acorn Review” and several anthologies, including “Six Feet Apart…in the Time of Corona.” She blogs about her observations of nature and spirituality, and in 2019, she penned her first novel, “Where You See Forever.” Her website is www.cynthiarobertson.com.
