Marian Bear Park (West)
2 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!
5491 Genesee Ave
San Diego, CA 92117
Phone: (619) 525-8213
32.844102, -117.193136
Hike: This is a 467-acre preserve with many trails Level: Easy
Dog-Friendly: Yes Kid-Friendly: Yes
About Marian Bear Park West
Marian Bear Park is one of the last of its kind in this area. Located directly next to Highway 52, this 467 acre park is filled with shaded paths and so much beauty.
The Park is separated into two sections: Marian Bear Park East and Marian Bear Park West. This page is specifically for the western section.
In the 70’s this area was threatened by the 52 freeway being put in. There are still scares occurring today as talks for expanding the freeways into this park are still happening.
The park is named after a lady named Marian Bear who was an active community leader and environmentalist. She worked tirelessly to help preserve the canyon in its natural state.
She was the driving force behind realigning the highway from the canyon floor to the north hillsides above it. This is similar to Bette Bendixen of Bette Bendixen Park.
Over 40 million years ago this park was under the ocean. Remnants of those times can be found in the geology of the park. Horizontal lines of round rocks at many levels, separated by clay and sand, represent the various levels of the ocean washing sand away and leaving rocks at surf level.
Fossilized mollusks, such as snails and clams from that period are still found in the canyon’s walls. The fossils are preserved in the sandstones and siltstones.
Be careful of ticks in this area (we learned this on our last trip here). This is a stunning park though and stays shaded all year long. So beautiful.
Activities
Biking is permitted on the maintenance roads in the canyon; no equestrian use is permitted. Major entries to the park are off Genesee Avenue and Regents Road where parking and picnic areas with restroom facilities are available.
When visiting the park, please observe the following rules:
Keep dogs on a leash throughout the park.
No fires or overnight camping.
No firearms, air rifles, slingshots, or projectile devices.
No glass containers.
No alcoholic beverages.
No off-road vehicle activity.
David
Grew up just north of there, I remember enjoying the canyon on my mountain bike as a kid growing up, and now I still go there, it’s wonderful to really savor the beauty in that canyon, this is one of my absolute favorite places! Thank you for sharing about it. I’m homesick looking at these beautiful photos!
August 31, 2016
LM
there was a waterfall towards the eastern end, a big flat rock, by where the 805 freeway is. does anyone know if it is still there? I grew up in clmt and these pictures bring tears to my eyes. it was so beautiful in the 1960’s. the finger canyon that runs down on the west side of the middle school is also very pretty, but not as flat.
December 11, 2016