Annie's Canyon Trail

Hike into one of the wildest stretches of San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve. Annie’s Canyon Trail, once prone to vandalism, was restored and opened on June 21, 2016. It is named Annie’s Canyon Trail in honor of a conservancy supporter, Annie, a 30-year resident of Solana Beach who desired to expand and restore wild areas for nature and for people. Whether you hike through the steep switchbacks, or choose the winding path to the overlook, the views of the ocean and lagoon are panoramic. Annie’s Canyon Trail is a moderate-to-strenuous ¼-mile loop trail accessible from Rios Avenue trail. Naturally eroding sandstone walls create a sense of mystery and wonder. Imagine what this canyon view revealed to the Kumeyaay and early settlers. It’s likely this was a spiritual place for many people with its sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and lagoon at an elevation of 200-feet above sea level. The canyon was sculpted by water, over time, which poured over sandstone and smoothed its surface into narrow corridors with sandy footing like a dry creek bed. It is deeper than it is wide.