21 Secret Ponds in San Diego
San Diego is definitely known for its beautiful beaches and lakes. Ponds are one of those little treasures that get far less attention though. They are often tucked away in inconspicuous areas and if you know you, know types of situations.
Many are great fishing spots and if you're looking for some peace and quiet, the perfect place to spend an afternoon. Keep in mind that ponds are largely dependent on the amount of rainfall we received that year. Some years they may be super full and others near empty.
Anyway, ponds is definitely one of our favorite places to scout out so I finally put together a list with some of the prettiest around. Check it out!
1. Wilderness Gardens County Preserve
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Situated within the San Luis Rey River watershed, this 737-acre preserve is a great adventure from the fast pace of the city life. There are many different trails you can take that range in level of difficulty.
Enjoy a pond, a wide variety of wildlife, viewpoints, a museum, ruins and a ton of history tied to this p
2. Model Boat Pond
It turns out this pond has quite an extensive history, dating back to 1939! The pond was originally built into the Mission Bay master plan in 1939 as a continuation of a long standing program with the City Schools of San Diego of building Model Boats and competing between schools on the pond.
Today you can still see hobbyists racing their boats on weekends. It's really fun to watch!
3. Bahia Resort
The Bahia Resort will literally make you feel as though you've transported to a tropical island. The design of the tropical 15.5 acre property gives a feeling of seclusion and intimacy despite there being 314 rooms total.
There is an area here with lagoons and fish which I highly recommend exploring. It's also right along a quiet cove with peaceful water.
4. Spot 21
Although I made the page for this spot for the dam, it also comes with a lovely little pond. The dam was built in the late 1920’s and predates anything mad-made around it. In an area that has been so heavily developed, it’s soothing to me to see these old remnants of times long ago.
5. Fenton Pond
Fenton Pond is located within Otay Valley Regional Park. There are many hiking trails in this area and multiple ponds which you will quite likely come across. We came here specifically for Fenton Pond but ended up finding a lot more than expected, including learning some very interesting history tied to this area!
Fenton Pond is named after Henry G. Fenton who had a sand and gravel mining company in this valley. This was a highly productive company which provided the concrete that helped construct the Salk Institute, the UCSD campus, the Home Federal skyscraper in downtown and even the Coronado bridge!
6. Laguna Meadows
The Sunset Trail in Mt. Laguna was such an unexpected surprise the first time I did this hike. I’ve done this hike at least half a dozen times. It’s just that beautiful that you want to return to it over and over again.
On this hike you will see sprawling meadows (either in hues of yellows, green or white depending on what time of the year you visit), several bodies of water (that occasionally dry up) and scenic views that span all the way to the ocean on a clear day. The hike is packed with variety and beauty, all in under an 8 mile loop.
7. Evan's Pond
Evans Pond sits next to the Scripps Ranch Branch Library. This also happens to be the first library to invite me to do a book reading on my book Abandoned San Diego, so thank you to them! The library is on land that was once part of E.W. Scripps 2,100-acre estate.
Scripps’ daughter Nackey, and her husband Thomas Meanley, had their 1920s Mission Revival home behind the retaining wall (still there today) by Evans Pond – a community pond and oasis.
8. Doane Pond
Doane Pond is situated inside the majestic Doane Valley in Palomar Mountain. This is one of the easiest hikes around, being .1 miles from the parking lot!
9. Del Mar Mesa Duck Pond
Over-development of San Diego has sadly become the new norm. Without pause, entire towns and villages sprout up where sprawling fields and wildlife once thrived. For many of us that grew up out here, it is hard to watch one cookie-cutter neighborhood after another pop up in areas we once hiked in or routinely appreciated while driving by. I understand that there is a housing crisis, but there is also an environmental crisis and part of that involves nature slowly losing terrain to concrete.
Thankfully, this sweet little pond has been spared and it sits as a reminder of what this area once looked like all around. The pond even appears to have been a big selling point for the homes above as the neighborhood is named “Duck Pond Ranch” and the streets “Duck Pond Trail” and “Duck Pond Lane”.
TIP: If you're enjoying this post, make sure to check out our list of 9 Beautiful Swimming Holes in California next!
10. Dos Picos Park
Dos Picos County Park, located in Ramona, is a spacious 78-acre park with features that include a campground, pond, hiking trails, ADA-accessible cabins, a youth group and much more!
11. Buena Vista Park
Buena Vista Park, located in Vista, was a surprising one. I had no clue how beautiful or extensive it is! All-trails and other blogs are saying it’s only a 1.3 mile loop, but I feel like that is only one of the options here. The hike starts off at a small pond. I encountered the cutest and sweetest pair of geese!
12. Morrison Pond
Morrison Pond is a scenic loop trail located inside Sweetwater Regional Park. This park is part of an extensive network of trails along the Sweetwater River. You will come across plenty of intersections to extend your hike if you choose to go further.
The original inhabits of this area are the Kumeyaay who named the region Apusquel. It was later a dairy farm and then a sand and gravel quarry.
13. Alta Vista Gardens
The Alta Vista Botanical Garden is an interactive botanical garden that uses up-to-date technology in an interactive atmosphere. This a place that all ages can appreciate
There are different zones such as sub-tropical, an herbal labyrinth, the Children’s Musical garden. ponds, prehistoric gardens and more. It truly is a treat here, especially for the price! Rather than taking the conventional approach of creating another living plant museum, this garden has become a gathering place for the community.
14. Hendrix Pond
Hendrix Pond is a decent-sized pond that is tucked away from any main streets and I doubt too many people besides the neighbors nearby know of it. I can’t say I know too much about this pond, but here is what I do know: the pond dates back to the E.W. Scripps period and was located 1/4 mile from the Scripps Castle.
15. Los Jilgueros Preserve
Los Jilgueros Preserve is a 46-acre nature preserve located in Fallbrook. The Fallbrook region is Luiseño territory. The preserve was once an orchard and farmland before being purchased by the Fallbrook Land Conservancy.
During your hike, you will most likely see some of the old farm equipment still laying around off trail. The preserve has a variety of zones to explore such as wetlands, native gardens, a pond and forest groves.
16. Cypress Canyon
This area is deeply shaded in many areas making it nice to hike in hotter weather when you still want to get outside. Watch out for poison oak though as it is everywhere! It is also nice to hike to the flag atop Cypress Hill which is in this same area.
17. Jack's Pond
Jack’s Pond is a nice family spot or place to walk your dog. Enjoy 23 acres of woodsy hiking trails and a pond which, at the time we visited, was looking quite sad. We need rain! The pond is home to bluegill, catfish, large-mouth bass and crappie fish.
Jack’s Pond was actually built in the 1930’s to served as an extra water supply. It was named after the caretaker of the grounds, Jack Nieswonger. The park that we see today opened in 2000 and is owned by the City of San Marcos.
18. Spot 4
Right on the outskirts of a busy town lays some of the few remains of slower times. I have unfortunately been unable to get much information on the dam or reservoir. What I have been told is that the dam was built in 1927 and is of the Constant Radius Arch type. There was once nothing but fields, scattered homesteads and a bunch of cows around the reservoir. Boy have times changed.
19. Waterfall 5
At this point I have little to no information on the waterfall or dam. I have contacted the local historical society to see if they can help so hopefully this page will be updated! From what I can gather, the pond appears to have been part of a water treatment plant. Historic aerials show what looks like a water facility treatment southeast of the dam, built somewhere between 1953 and 1964 and removed or abandoned by 1989.
I have read stories online about people fishing in the pond decades ago but there is such an extreme overgrowth around the whole thing now that it's nearly impossible to fish there anymore. This seems to be an old, forgotten location that is still brimming with beauty and curiosity.
20. Rabbit Pond
Old Pomerado Rd. has so much historical background that it is nice enough to possibly visit just for the history alone. Sadly there is not much that remains today to back up its past. If you head west of the road into the woods though, there is a whole world back there for exploring complete with a secret pond!
21. Waterfall 1
