Visiting The Most Instagrammable Places Near San Diego.

San Diego is a photographer and nature lover’s dream. With perfect weather year-round and diverse landscapes from pristine beaches to desert vistas, it is ideal for hiking and sightseeing. Spring is one of the best times to visit Southern California, as the temperatures are cooler and crowds are typically smaller. It is much easier to get that perfect photo without a ton of people waiting their turn, and there is beauty around every corner. Check out these Instagrammable photo spots, and you will undoubtedly agree with San Diego being aptly named “America’s Finest City”.

Diamond Valley Lake, Hemet California

This past year, due to the exceptionally wet winter, there has been what is referred to as a “super bloom”, in which the hills of California are covered with thousands of wildflowers of all kinds and colors. This is a rare occurrence and only happens once every several years under certain conditions. The last super bloom in California was in 2019. It is truly a once in a lifetime thing to see and should be on everybody’s travel bucket list. The best months to view wildflowers in Southern California are the end of March and early April.

The Wildflower Trail at Diamond Valley Lake is one of the best displays of wildflowers in the country, including these vibrant golden poppies. The Diamond Valley Lake Marina costs $11.00 per car for parking, and then $4.00 per person to hike the wildflower trail. The whole trail is a 2.1 mile loop and is open Wednesday through Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed on Monday and Tuesday). Hemet is located approximately 87 miles northeast of San Diego.

It is important to follow the rules of this natural area and to stay on the maintained trail. While it might seem tempting to go off into the flowers, trampling and picking them ruins the experience for others to enjoy and prevents future blooming. There are many ways to play with different focal lengths and angles to give the illusion of sitting or standing in the field. Be creative!

Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve

Located in the La Jolla area of San Diego, Torrey Pines is a stunning nature preserve with dozens of hiking trails and several beaches to explore. Parking costs $10.00-$25.00 (demand-based fee) per car, and there are two main parking lots with a pay station on site. The best hiking trails to see the wildflowers right now are the Guy Fleming Trail- 0.8 miles roundtrip (pictured below) and the Torrey Pines Beach Loop Trail- 2.3 miles.

Hike above the sandstone cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean to spot a wide variety of wildflowers including heliotrope, sea dahlia and popcorn flowers. There are also a wide array of desert plants including cacti and succulents to see as well. Hike down to the Flat Rock at low tide and you might get a glimpse of sea lions sunbathing or herons swooping down to catch their next meal.

The Flower Fields, Carlsbad California

The Flower Fields in Carlsbad California are located approximately 32 miles north of San Diego, right off of I-5 N. The season runs from about the end of March until Mother’s Day, but peak bloom is around mid-April. For reference the picture below was taken on Easter Sunday. The Flower Fields are open seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and tickets cost $23.00 for adults and $12.00 for children. Parking is free.

There are tons of things to do and see at The Flower Fields (outside of marveling at the colorful rows of ranunculus) including live music, food trucks, tractor rides and an aviary. There are also plenty of cute photo set-ups and props such as these benches and tractors to pose on.

Keep in mind this is a very popular attraction during the Spring, so if you are looking to enjoy it away from the crowds, go on a weekday and earlier in the morning or later in the evening. I went there mid-day on a Sunday and it took a very long time to get a parking space.

Sunset Cliffs Sea Cave

The next spot is only for serious adventurers because it does take some skill and hiking experience to get down to the sea cave. Located in San Diego at the Sunset Cliffs is a open ceiling sea cave, that while being very beautiful can also be very dangerous if caution is not taken. This cave is only accessible at negative tide (less than 0.0), so special care must be taken to review the tide charts beforehand and plan your visit accordingly. Check the latest tide charts for this area here.

To get to the sea cave you will park near Luscomb’s Point on the street, and you will see the top of the cave surrounded by a wire fence by the parking area. There are two ways to get down to the cave, which I will discuss now. The first way is to take the surfer’s trail located directly to the left of the fencing. This way is extremely slippery and steep, and is essentially an almost vertical rock scramble. When I visited, the low tide was before sunrise, so I didn’t feel comfortable taking this route in the dark.

The second option is to head north up the beach (away from the fence) for about 0.2 miles and then climb down to the beach that way. This path is not maintained and is still steep with exposed roots and loose rocks, but much safer feeling. Either way, expect to get wet. Even at a negative tide at times the water came up to my knees. Wear shoes and clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty for this adventure (and bring something cute to throw on once you get down to the cave like I did). Make sure you exit the cave and start heading up the beach (or trail) as soon as the tide starts coming in to avoid getting trapped.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Wildflowers

Located about 87 miles northeast of San Diego is the small town of Borrego Springs, which is the nearest hub to the beautiful Anza Borrego Desert State Park. This is another wildflower hotspot with immaculate desert vibes, and another place to view the super bloom this year. Some of the wildflowers you will find here include desert primrose, sand verbana and yellow brittlebrush; as well as a variety of cacti. The best places to view the wildflowers are:

• The Visitor Center (pictured above) located on Palm Canyon Drive (about five to ten minutes from Borrego Springs).
• Coyote Canyon off of DiGiorgio Road (about 15-20 minutes from Borrego Springs).
• Henderson Canyon Road (about 15-20 minutes from Borrego Springs)..
• June Wash at mile 41 on County Rd S2 (about an hour from Borrego Springs)

Anza Borrego Desert State Park Slot Canyon

Also known as “The Slot”, this trail is approximately 2.3 miles roundtrip. Keep in mind that only a small portion of the trail is in the slot canyon and the majority of the trail is out in the sun with no shade or cover. You can always turn around at the natural arch and head back out the way you came, if you choose to stay in the shade. Do not underestimate the heat in this area, as it can be very dangerous if ill-prepared.

Important Things to Know for Your Visit:

• NEVER attempt a slot canyon hike if there is any forecast for rain, as a flash flood within the canyon can be deadly with no way out of the canyon.
• The temperature is much hotter in the desert than up in San Diego, and it can be very easy to get overheated and dehydrated. When I went in April the temperatures ranged from 80-102 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to bring plenty of water even if you aren’t planning on venturing far from your vehicle. You never know what might happen and it’s best to come prepared.
• Watch out for rattlesnakes. They like to hide under rocks and plants, and easily camouflage in with the ground. Wear closed toed shoes whenever possible to protect your feet and ankles.
• There is limited cell phone reception in this area, so plan accordingly and download trail maps and directions beforehand.
• Come prepared with sunscreen and something to cover your skin, like I mentioned the sun can be brutal out here.
• There is a $10.00 day use fee for the trails which can be paid using the Yodel app or at a pay station.

Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier

Located in La Jolla Shores is this spectacular site, located right off campus from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography. While you can’t walk across the top of the pier, it’s the underside of it that has captured the hearts of photographers alike for its natural framing, leading lines and perfect symmetry. This is a popular spot for sunset and sunrise photography so there may be other people there waiting to take their photographs.

While you cannot park on campus right nearby the pier, you will want to find parking along El Paseo Grande and walk down to the beach. A little ways to the right of the pier you will see a staircase leading down to the beach, and you will then turn left to reach the beach below it.

Balboa Park

This 1,200 acre urban garden is considered to be one of the top attractions to see while visiting San Diego, and one of the best places to get amazing photographs in the area. Filled with dozens of trails, gardens and museums (most of which are free to visit), it is also right nearby the famous San Diego Zoo.

Some of my favorite garden trails within the park include:

• The Palm Canyon Trail.
• The Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden.
• The Kate O. Sessions Cactus Garden.
• The Botanical Building and Lily Pond.

You can buy individual tickets to some of the museums, performances and special events; or an Explorer Pass which gives you access to everything. These can be purchased here.

I Hope you enjoyed this travel and photography guide to some of my favorite places in Southern California. The San Diego area is near and dear to my heart, and I know you will love adventuring and exploring this beautiful area too.

Happy Wandering!