Next group run
TrailFree
San Diego Trail Runners
San Diego, California
Premier trail running group in East County San Diego
About This Club
San Diego Trail Runners meet Monday evenings in Mission Trails Regional Park, on technical singletrack and hills rather than paved paths. The group alternates its starting point between two spots in the park, and there's no cost or membership required to show up. It suits people who actually want trail terrain, not a flat loop with dirt on the edges.
Highlights
- Alternating Mission Trails locations
- Trail-focused
- Part of SD running scene
- Free runs
- All paces
- Community support
Who It Suits
This fits trail enthusiasts and intermediate trail runners who want technical footing and hills, and who are comfortable running rather than walking sections. It's not the move if you're a road runner looking for pavement, an absolute beginner hoping for flat easy paths, or someone who needs walk breaks accommodated, since walkers aren't part of the setup here.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
Found your people? Now find the races. A Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of what's coming up near San Diego, so your crew always has a start line on the calendar.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What a Run With Them Is Like
Distance varies week to week rather than following a fixed route or mileage. The terrain is technical singletrack with hills, so footing takes more attention than a road or gravel path would. All paces are welcome, but this is a trail-focused group, not a stroller or dog outing, so neither is accommodated here.
DistanceVaries
PaceAll paces welcome
TerrainTrail, Technical singletrack, Hills
Your First Run
Check the club's social media before you head out, since the meeting spot alternates between the Kwaay Paay parking lot and 11499 Clairemont Mesa Blvd, and you want the right one. Get there early, parking fills up.
It's a 6:00 PM start, so depending on the season and how long you're out, bring a headlamp in case you're still on trail as it gets dark. It's free and there's no sign-up or membership to deal with, so you can just show up once you've confirmed the location.
Something to train for
Upcoming Races in San Diego
57 upcoming races in San Diego. Having one on the calendar is the easiest way to turn a few group runs into a habit.
Wed, Aug 5, 2026ONETrack International 5K San Diego, CAFrom $5Register Sat, Aug 8, 2026Margaritaville Run San Diego Gaslamp 10K & 5K San Diego, CAFrom $64Details Fri, Aug 14, 2026POW/MIA 2-Mile Run/Walk San Diego, CAFreeDetails
See all San Diego races
Common Questions About San Diego Trail Runners
Is there a fee or do I need to join something first?
No. It's free and there's no membership required, so you can turn up once you know the week's location.
Can I bring my dog?
No, this isn't set up as a dog-friendly run.
Is it okay to take walk breaks if I need them?
Walk breaks aren't really part of how this group runs. It's marked as not walker-friendly, so if you need regular walking on technical terrain, this may not be the right fit week to week.
Where exactly do I go, since I've heard the location changes?
The group alternates between the Kwaay Paay parking lot and 11499 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Check their social media ahead of time to confirm which one is that week's spot.
Will it still be light out for the whole run?
Meeting time is 6:00 PM, and depending on the season that can run into dusk or dark, so bring a headlamp if you think you'll need one.
Where this comes from: Club details come from each club’s own channels (their site, Meetup, Strava and social posts) and are checked by hand. Group runs move, so confirm the meeting spot on the club’s latest post before you head out. Last updated April 2026.