Exploring Balboa Park
From leisurely strolls to hiking, biking, golf and more, Balboa Park is the place to get your steps in and your heart rate up.
For those looking for an active experience, Balboa Park does not disappoint. From hiking and biking to golf, there are plenty of ways to experience the wonders of the park while burning calories. It’s game on in Balboa Park!
Not one but two archery ranges are set up in Balboa Park for enthusiasts of all skill levels. Bring your own equipment as there are no services available. Morley Field Archery Range is a standard range with 34 divided lanes and distances set from 10 to 70 yards. Rube Powell Archery Range is more unique in that its build throughout the canyon. Distances range between 20 feet and 80 yards and terrain elevations vary throughout the forest-like setting.
Balboa Park Golf Course is the closest golf course to downtown San Diego and offers views Balboa Park, Point Loma and the Pacific Ocean.
Facilities include an 18-hole golf course and a nine-hole executive golf course as well as a driving range, practice putting greens, coffee shop and halfway house
The Balboa Park Tennis Club features 25 hard courts, 1 stadium court, 3 ongoing challenge courts, plus 11 tennis pros and a fully stocked pro shop. Day passes as well as ball machine rentals are available.
Balboa Park has some 65 miles of trails that differ in length, difficulty and scenery from leisurely strolls through the heart of the park to challenging hikes that explore the Park’s more rugged terrain and vegetation. The 19 different trails begin at one five gateways that are located at Golden Hill, Marston Point, Morley Field, Park Boulevard, and at Sixth and Upas.
Traveling with your pet? Let Fido run, play, and explore at any of 3 Balboa Park dog parks.
Nate’s Point Dog Park is located next to El Prado, just West of the Cabrillo Bridge.
Grape St. Dog Park is located on the most Eastern edge of the Park near the golf course, where Grape street ends.
Morley Field Dog Park is off Morley Field Dr., adjacent to the Balboa Park Tennis Club at the Northern end of the Park.
Want to go for a spin around the park?There's plenty of bike rental options and easy access to trails suitable for mountain and street biking. Do you have a need for speed when it comes to biking? You may want to head over to the San Diego Velodrome in Balboa Park’s Morley Field. It is just one three velodromes in the southwest United States and is a resource for bicycle track racing. With 27-degree banked corners, this 333.3-meter oval track is a recreational and racing resource and is typically used by members or for classes, but it is open to the public from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For more information, visit http://www.sdvelodrome.com/.
Want to try golf with a different spin? Balboa Park is home to one of the original disc golf courses in the world. Disc golf has similar rules to regular golf but instead of using clubs and ball, it uses a flying disc, also known as a Frisbee. The Morley Field Course at Balboa Park is considered challenging with many trees and tough pin placements. For more information, visit https://www.morleyfield.com/.
Located on the northeast side of the Cabrillo Bridge, across from Founder's Plaza, lawn bowling is a classic summertime game. Because it is low impact, people of all ages can enjoy this outdoor sport with friends. Stop by on a sunny day and you’ll see the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club in action. With more than 100 members, you’ll most likely see them dressed to the nines in white. For more information on how you can participate in this activity, visit the San Diego Lawn Bowling Club Website.
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