Balboa
Park
The reason I chose to stay at the ITH CoLive Balboa Park/Zoo Hostel was its location to the north end of Balboa Park. I first visited the park in 1993 and in 2010 (I stayed at the now-closed HI Point Loma Hostel during that trip). I was eminently impressed by the exposition area where buildings still exist from the 1915 Panama-California Exhibition and I always enjoy walking around it when I’m in town. Unfortunately, much of what I wanted to see inside the buildings was interrupted by the pandemic and not everything was fully open.
I never fully explored the park and there were areas I had never seen. So, one day I set out to walk around the 1,200-acre park. I took a left when I stepped out the hostel door and and walked down several blocks down Sixth St. until it met Upas Street. This is the beginning of the northwest corner of the park and would be the officially starting point of the day’s adventure.
Balboa Park North
Marston House
I immediately came upon the Marston House as I started my trek along the northern edge of the park on a sunny summer day. It sits on a small ravine – one of many running through the park. The house is an example of Arts and Crafts Architecture and was designed and built in 1905 for George Marston, a local businessman and community leader who is considered the “Father of Balboa Park”, by two internationally acclaimed architects who did a lot of work in San Diego, William Hebbard and Irving Gill.
Arts and Crafts Architecture is defined by it use of low-pitched roofs with wide enclosed eave overhangs, exposed beams, built-in furniture,-and large fire places among other details. A California-Style English Garden was added to the backyard between the back of the main house and the carriage house. These type of gardens are somewhat informal and arranged with bright-colored plants using species suitable to San Diego’s climate. The Marston Family donated the house to the public 1987. Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) maintains the property and operates the museum.
Marston House
I immediately came upon the Marston House as I started my trek along the northern edge of the park on a sunny summer day. It sits on a small ravine – one of many running through the park. The house is an example of Arts and Crafts Architecture and was designed and built in 1905 for George Marston, a local businessman and community leader who is considered the “Father of Balboa Park”, by two internationally acclaimed architects who did a lot of work in San Diego, William Hebbard and Irving Gill.
Arts and Crafts Architecture is defined by it use of low-pitched roofs with wide enclosed eave overhangs, exposed beams, built-in furniture,-and large fire places among other details. A California-Style English Garden was added to the backyard between the back of the main house and the carriage house. These type of gardens are somewhat informal and arranged with bright-colored plants using species suitable to San Diego’s climate. The Marston Family donated the house to the public 1987. Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO) maintains the property and operates the museum.
Upas Street
I walked back out onto the trail and turned left. The trail takes you past separate boy and girl scouts locations before leading you back onto Upas St. You’ll cross school property before re-entering the trail again. There’s not much here as the San Diego Zoo and the school take up much of the central northern section of the park and it isn’t freely open to the public. However, once you get walk past this section, things began to happen again as I followed along Upas St. to the bird viewing area in the northeastern corner of the park.
One concern about walking the northern edge is you’ll have to go up and down a very steep ravine to get from the central to the northwestern section. This is a strenuous hike even if it’s not very long.
Upas Street
I walked back out onto the trail and turned left. The trail takes you past separate boy and girl scouts locations before leading you back onto Upas St. You’ll cross school property before re-entering the trail again. There’s not much here as the San Diego Zoo and the school take up much of the central northern section of the park and it isn’t freely open to the public. However, once you get walk past this section, things began to happen again as I followed along Upas St. to the bird viewing area in the northeastern corner of the park.
One concern about walking the northern edge is you’ll have to go up and down a very steep ravine to get from the central to the northwestern section. This is a strenuous hike even if it’s not very long.
Balboa Tennis Club
The first thing you’ll come to is the Balboa Tennis Club. They have hard If you play tennis, the private club offers day passes for $8 to $10 dollars to those passing through town provided courts are available. The club has 24 hard courts and three challenge courts for people looking to play a game. There’s also tennis pros you can take a short class with if you so desire and a pro shop.
A stadium named after San Diego native Maureen Connolly Brinker, affectionately known as “Little Mo”, who became the first woman to win a tennis grand slam in 1953, is on the grounds. A horse riding accident ended her career the following year and cancer took her life in 1969 at 34 years old.
Balboa Tennis Club
The first thing you’ll come to is the Balboa Tennis Club. They have hard If you play tennis, the private club offers day passes for $8 to $10 dollars to those passing through town provided courts are available. The club has 24 hard courts and three challenge courts for people looking to play a game. There’s also tennis pros you can take a short class with if you so desire and a pro shop.
A stadium named after San Diego native Maureen Connolly Brinker, affectionately known as “Little Mo”, who became the first woman to win a tennis grand slam in 1953, is on the grounds. A horse riding accident ended her career the following year and cancer took her life in 1969 at 34 years old.
Morley Field
Surrounding the tennis club is Morley Field. Here there are a dog park, baseball fields, a small baseball park, archery range, “pay-to-play” secluded disc golf course, bocce courts, and the Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool. The swimming pool also offers day and multiple passes for visitors. In addition, the field has a velodrome for cyclists. A velodrome is an oval racing track and you can stop by on certain nights to watch people race – for free.
Morley Field
Surrounding the tennis club is Morley Field. Here there are a dog park, baseball fields, a small baseball park, archery range, “pay-to-play” secluded disc golf course, bocce courts, and the Bud Kearns Memorial Swimming Pool. The swimming pool also offers day and multiple passes for visitors. In addition, the field has a velodrome for cyclists. A velodrome is an oval racing track and you can stop by on certain nights to watch people race – for free.
Bird Park
Once you past Morley Field, the landscape will rise up until you get to Bird Park in the northwest corner of the Balboa Park. This is a quiet and tranquil area of the park where you can bring young children to play or sit back and read a book on the grass. The one thing you won’t do is see a lot of birds.
Bird Park did not get its name because migratory or indigenous birds flock to this area. Instead, it gets it name because the portion of the park is designed in the shape of a bird when you view it from the air – which was the intention of local artists Robin Brailsford. Although, the names of birds native to the region are engraved into the sidewalks around the little park.
Bird Park
Once you past Morley Field, the landscape will rise up until you get to Bird Park in the northwest corner of the Balboa Park. This is a quiet and tranquil area of the park where you can bring young children to play or sit back and read a book on the grass. The one thing you won’t do is see a lot of birds.
Bird Park did not get its name because migratory or indigenous birds flock to this area. Instead, it gets it name because the portion of the park is designed in the shape of a bird when you view it from the air – which was the intention of local artists Robin Brailsford. Although, the names of birds native to the region are engraved into the sidewalks around the little park.
“Travel far enough, you meet yourself.”
David Mitchell
Balboa Park East
28th Street Canyon Connector
The east side of the park is generally set aside for the Balboa Golf Course and you can’t just hike through it, but you can follow 28th Street south to the canyon connector trail. The trail takes you down a deep slope where you’ll meet up with the Switzer Canyon Trail that heads east through and into a residential area. I headed south until I got to the Grape Street Dog Park. The dog park is fairly large and has a dirt surface that’ll get all over shoes. For the rest of the walk, I was on a side walk that goes past the gold course (which is all there is for the rest of the way south – unless you’re a golfer golfing).
28th Street Canyon Connector
The east side of the park is generally set aside for the Balboa Golf Course and you can’t just hike through it, but you can follow 28th Street south to the canyon connector trail. The trail takes you down a deep slope where you’ll meet up with the Switzer Canyon Trail that heads east through and into a residential area. I headed south until I got to the Grape Street Dog Park. The dog park is fairly large and has a dirt surface that’ll get all over shoes. For the rest of the walk, I was on a side walk that goes past the gold course (which is all there is for the rest of the way south – unless you’re a golfer golfing).
Balboa Park South
The park goes down to Russ Blvd, a small street that gets cut off by private property and you have to go around to keep walking the southern edge of the park. When you get to A Street, turn right until you get to 27th. Turn right at 27th to walk a block up back to the park.
Golden Hill Recreation Center
The recreation center is geared toward the residents of Golden Hill, but you might be able to watch a basketball, baseball, or softball game on the outdoor courts. There’s even a “Summer Movies in the Park” events on some evenings where you can pull up a seat and watch a movie under the stars.
Golden Hill Recreation Center
The recreation center is geared toward the residents of Golden Hill, but you might be able to watch a basketball, baseball, or softball game on the outdoor courts. There’s even a “Summer Movies in the Park” events on some evenings where you can pull up a seat and watch a movie under the stars.
Golden Hill Fountain Grotto
The Golden Hill section of Balboa Park was the first popular area where people would congregate and celebrate life. The fountain was conceived by L.A. Wright, Park Commissioner and local resident, and designed by Henry Lord Gay. It was turned on March 8, 1908 and worked for years before falling into disrepair and getting turned off. Several groups have tried to rejuvenate this area by fixing the stones around the grotto and replanting the gardens.
Golden Hill Fountain Grotto
The Golden Hill section of Balboa Park was the first popular area where people would congregate and celebrate life. The fountain was conceived by L.A. Wright, Park Commissioner and local resident, and designed by Henry Lord Gay. It was turned on March 8, 1908 and worked for years before falling into disrepair and getting turned off. Several groups have tried to rejuvenate this area by fixing the stones around the grotto and replanting the gardens.
Bennington Memorial Oak Grove
Walking back to 26th Street to get off Golden Hill Park, I went down a ravine and ran into the Bennington Memorial Oak Grove near the corner of 26th and Pershing Drive. The grove was created to honor the 65 Naval personnel who died in a peacetime massive boiler explosion on the USS Bennington on July 21, 1905. The ship has just completed a difficult voyage across the Pacific from Hawaii to San Diego when the tired crew was ordered back out to sea after a few days rest to assist the USS Wyoming that was floundering in the open waters. On the way out of San Diego Bay, the ship suffered a massive explosion when a closed steam valve, along with oily water and a faulty relief valve combined to build up pressure in the boiler beyond its capacity to safely operate.
The boiler blew killing 62 Naval personnel aboard the ship. Many died from the severe burns they suffered in the blast. On November 30th, 1905 (Thanksgiving Day), the citizens of San Diego created the memorial grove when they planted 70 California Live Oaks to honor their sacrifice. The ship was sold for scrap and the dead were buried on a hillside on Point Loma over looking the bay in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
As a side note, The USS Bennington, an Essex-class aircraft carrier, launched in 1944, also suffered a massive peacetime explosion in a below level hanger just outside Narragansett Bay. The explosion resulted in 102 crew members perishing.
The memorial grove is located at 26th Street and Pershing Drive just near the sign for the Balboa Park Golf Course on Pershing.
Bennington Memorial Oak Grove
Walking back to 26th Street to get off Golden Hill Park, I went down a ravine and ran into the Bennington Memorial Oak Grove near the corner of 26th and Pershing Drive. The grove was created to honor the 65 Naval personnel who died in a peacetime massive boiler explosion on the USS Bennington on July 21, 1905. The ship has just completed a difficult voyage across the Pacific from Hawaii to San Diego when the tired crew was ordered back out to sea after a few days rest to assist the USS Wyoming that was floundering in the open waters. On the way out of San Diego Bay, the ship suffered a massive explosion when a closed steam valve, along with oily water and a faulty relief valve combined to build up pressure in the boiler beyond its capacity to safely operate.
The boiler blew killing 62 Naval personnel aboard the ship. Many died from the severe burns they suffered in the blast. On November 30th, 1905 (Thanksgiving Day), the citizens of San Diego created the memorial grove when they planted 70 California Live Oaks to honor their sacrifice. The ship was sold for scrap and the dead were buried on a hillside on Point Loma over looking the bay in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery.
As a side note, The USS Bennington, an Essex-class aircraft carrier, launched in 1944, also suffered a massive peacetime explosion in a below level hanger just outside Narragansett Bay. The explosion resulted in 102 crew members perishing.
The memorial grove is located at 26th Street and Pershing Drive just near the sign for the Balboa Park Golf Course on Pershing.
Balboa Park Central
The lower central area of the park is generally reserved for the Naval Medical Center complex, park administration and maintenance buildings, and a city yard complex. However, the upper central section is where the jewels of the park are located.
Cross Pershing Dr. onto Florida Drive and stay on the right hand side. You want to walk up to Zoo Drive and turn left.
The path up to the Desert Garden is just up on the left on Zoo Drive. It’s a zig-zagging route that will take you up the side of the canyon.
Once you reach the plateau, you’ll start to see the cacti of the desert garden.
Desert Garden
The Desert Garden was added in 1976 (there’s another one created by Kate Sessions near the UN section of the Expo area that was created in 1935). The garden has examples of succulent and drought resistant cacti suitable to grow in a dry climate.
There are over 1,300 plants in the 2.5 acres set aside for the garden. If you want to see it during peak bloom times, make sure you visit between January and March – although, the cacti look cool throughout the year
You can find pictures of many of the plants in the garden here.
Desert Garden
The Desert Garden was added in 1976 (there’s another one created by Kate Sessions near the UN section of the Expo area that was created in 1935). The garden has examples of succulent and drought resistant cacti suitable to grow in a dry climate.
There are over 1,300 plants in the 2.5 acres set aside for the garden. If you want to see it during peak bloom times, make sure you visit between January and March – although, the cacti look cool throughout the year
You can find pictures of many of the plants in the garden here.
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
The rose garden was the vision of Dick Street who was the president of the San Diego Rose Society and started the movement to re-establish a rose garden in Balboa Park.
Born in Oswego, Kansas, Inez Grant Parker was a founder of the Parker Foundation which helped provide the financial support to build the rose garden in 1975.
The garden has roughly 160 varieties of roses and was named to the Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) Rose Garden Hall of Fame in 2014.
A list of plantings and locations can be found here.
Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden
The rose garden was the vision of Dick Street who was the president of the San Diego Rose Society and started the movement to re-establish a rose garden in Balboa Park.
Born in Oswego, Kansas, Inez Grant Parker was a founder of the Parker Foundation which helped provide the financial support to build the rose garden in 1975.
The garden has roughly 160 varieties of roses and was named to the Great Rosarians of the World (GROW) Rose Garden Hall of Fame in 2014.
A list of plantings and locations can be found here.
1915 Panama-California Exposition Site
Balboa Park attracts up to 15 million people a year and most make their way to the grounds of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Because of this, I have created a separate page for this part of the park. You can access the page here.
Balboa Park West
The eastside of the park is a narrow strip that runs between Sixth Street and Cabrillo Canyon. Starting at the southeast corner, you find yourself in a little forested area called Marston Point where people gather to exercise and take part in spiritual outings. There’s also clubs including
Marston Point
Marston Point is a quiet area away from most of the activity in the park and it’s a nice place for people to gather to partake in exercise or spiritual programs.
The point is also the location where four of the trails that meander through the west side of the park meet. The trails range from easy to hard and the trail surfaces range from dirt to paved.
Marston Point
Marston Point is a quiet area away from most of the activity in the park and it’s a nice place for people to gather to partake in exercise or spiritual programs.
The point is also the location where four of the trails that meander through the west side of the park meet. The trails range from easy to hard and the trail surfaces range from dirt to paved.
Place to Watch Planes
As you walk north from Marston Point along the sidewalk, you’ll come to a place where you can seemingly touch the planes you watch fly overhead. Planes landing at the busiest single-runway airport in world pass right over Balboa Park and you will most assuredly see planes all during the day and evenings. So, stop by anytime, you won’t have to wait long before a plane comes.
Place to Watch Planes
As you walk north from Marston Point along the sidewalk, you’ll come to a place where you can seemingly touch the planes you watch fly overhead. Planes landing at the busiest single-runway airport in world pass right over Balboa Park and you will most assuredly see planes all during the day and evenings. So, stop by anytime, you won’t have to wait long before a plane comes.
Clubs
There are several clubs along the length of the west side of the park including the Redwood Bridge Club. They have classes where you can learn how to play the game if in town for a few days and want to learn. The San Diego Chess Club and the San Diego Horseshoe Club share a facility along Sixth Avenue. San Diego Camp Fire for Boys and Girls is also located in this area/
Clubs
There are several clubs along the length of the west side of the park including the Redwood Bridge Club. They have classes where you can learn how to play the game if in town for a few days and want to learn. The San Diego Chess Club and the San Diego Horseshoe Club share a facility along Sixth Avenue. San Diego Camp Fire for Boys and Girls is also located in this area/
Trees for Health Garden
In 1993, the San Diego Herb Club went about documenting the trees in Balboa Park producing fruit and leaves that can be used for medicinal purposes. The group established a 3 1/2-acre garden on the west side of the park that now has 70 species pf trees, shrubs, and ground cover that can help treat illnesses and injuries. There is a path through the trees with signs marking the trees and how they can be used medicinally.
Trees for Health Garden
In 1993, the San Diego Herb Club went about documenting the trees in Balboa Park producing fruit and leaves that can be used for medicinal purposes. The group established a 3 1/2-acre garden on the west side of the park that now has 70 species pf trees, shrubs, and ground cover that can help treat illnesses and injuries. There is a path through the trees with signs marking the trees and how they can be used medicinally.
The west side of park also includes:
Founder's Plaza
As you drive onto El Prado to enter the location of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, you'll statues honoring the founding fathers of the park: Alonzo Horton, George Marston, and Ephraim Morse
Nate's Point Dog Park
This is a 2.3-acres off-leash dog park in a fenced-in area. There are plenty of tree coverage to keep cool and fountains for Fido to get a drink. The dog park is considered one of the finest in San Diego
Sixth Avenue Playground
As you drive onto El Prado to enter the location of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition, you'll see a little plaza with several statues of men: two standing and one sitting.