Black Canyon Trail
0 Reviews
Hello everyone! This is a friendly reminder that any of these fun places we may visit, we are a guest at. Please treat both businesses and trails with the utmost respect. We here at Hidden San Diego follow the 'Leave no Trace' mantra, meaning whatever you bring with you comes back with you. If you see trash on a trail, please do your part to help remove it. Remember, we are not picking up trash from another person but instead cleaning up for Mother Nature. Happy adventures!
9701 Hopkins Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093
Where to Park: Hopkins Parking Structure 32.88382466, -117.23936538
(Note: You can buy a required visitor parking permit at an adjacent parking pay station or by using the zone code “4752” through the ParkMobile app. Park only in visitor spaces marked “V” on the ground or EV charging spaces (paid charging session required).
Trailhead: 32.88366095, -117.238481708
Hike: 2 mile loop Level: Easy
Kid-Friendly: Yes Dog-Friendly: No
About the Black Canyon Trail
Years back I remember researching trails I may have missed in La Jolla and stumbling upon an All Trails post showcasing a eucalyptus grove with a crazy obstacle course hidden inside. How could I have missed this all these years? I absolutely had to see this for myself.
Sure enough, there is a beautiful, easy hike just off the busy Genesse Ave. that adds just enough mystery to make it a satisfying adventure. 
History
It turns out the the Black Canyon Trail is actually a nature preserve which hopefully means it is protected from the non-stop development happening in that immediate area. Reading forums it seems like this is a special escape for many students who need a quick nature fix without venturing too far.
Black Canyon was actually part of UCSD’s original open-space system. The large eucalyptus groves that you will walk through actually predate UCSD by decades.
Much of the La Jolla mesa was originally ranch land and agricultural property, and eucalyptus trees were widely planted in Southern California during the late 1800s and early 1900s as windbreaks and timber experiments. The grove around Black Canyon is one of the largest remaining forested areas on campus. 
The canyon was intentionally preserved while the campus expanded. UCSD has developed around the canyon rather than through it. Students on campus often refer to it as one of the last quiet natural areas left in central campus.
While you’re in the area, make sure to check out the Secrets of UCSD!
Another interesting fact is that the trails were largely informal before becoming mapped. Many of the paths through Black Canyon existed as social trails created by students, runners, mountain bikers, and faculty over decades. The network evolved organically rather than being designed as a formal park trail system.
That’s one reason you’ll see numerous side paths, hidden clearings, stick structures, and unofficial viewpoints throughout the grove. Student discussions from the last several years describe it as a place for walking, biking, studying outdoors, and escaping campus crowds. 
Older UCSD students often referred to sections of the eucalyptus grove as “Hopkins Forest” because of its location near Hopkins Drive. Over the years, the area accumulated unofficial landmarks: rope swings, stick forts, meditation spots, hidden benches, and student-built structures. Most come and go as the forest changes and campus maintenance removes them. The stick shelter in your photo is exactly the kind of thing that has appeared repeatedly in the canyon over the years. 
Obstacle Course 
From what I’ve been able to piece together, the “obstacle course” is associated with UCSD’s long-running Challenge Course program. The course was built for team-building, leadership training, and outdoor education rather than as a public fitness park. So don’t plan on navigating it while you visit. It’s all locked up!
The course includes both low-ground elements and higher ropes-course features used by organized groups.
