Scenic Bike Rides Around San Diego

San Diego is a biker’s paradise, with heaps of nature parks and 12 miles of flat, bayside biking paths that are almost entirely vehicle-free. Read up on some of the best and most scenic routes, and when you’re ready to try them out, borrow one of the cruiser bikes from Humphreys and get rolling (one hour-long rentals are included in the Half Moon Pass).

Shelter Island Bike Route

Cycling the three-mile Shelter Island Bike Route’s loop is a perfect way to immerse yourself in this neighborhood’s picturesque scenery, including trees, grassy lawns, and the harbor itself. You’ll share the trail with dog-walkers and joggers, but only a handful of vehicles.

Bayshore Bikeway

The Bayshore Bikeway allows you to curve around from the city’s Embarcadero, down through National City and Chula Vista, and around the bay to Coronado — passing two bayfront marinas and Silver Strand State Beach on the way. While parts of it merge with the street, the majority includes a dedicated bike lane.

Mission Bay Bike Path

Taking the Mission Bay Bike Path, you’ll cycle among Mission Bay Park’s fields, playgrounds, and picnic areas, and along the water. At the end, you can link up with routes like the San Diego River Trail and Mission Beach-Pacific Beach Boardwalk.

Balboa Park

The bike route through Balboa Park is a great way to glimpse the San Diego Zoo, the Cabrillo Bridge, the Bea Evanson Fountain, the Rose Garden, and other iconic San Diego sites. It’s a full circuit around the perimeter of the park, with several smaller trails that weave through fields and gardens.

Cabrillo National Monument

The route surrounding Cabrillo National Monument affords front-row views of the statue itself, as well as the glimmering Pacific Ocean.

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve

The bike route through the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve invites you to cycle alongside the dramatic cliffs between Del Mar in the North and La Jolla in the south.