City of San Diego owned Rose Canyon Open Space Park and the Marian Bear Memorial Park, at the hearts of Rose and San Clemente canyons, are important recreational resources for the region. World renowned Mission Bay Park at the mouth of Rose Creek, is easily accessible and visited by millions of people every year.

In all three parks, the public can enjoy bicycling and walking trails; picnicking is also available in Marian Bear Memorial Park and Mission Bay Park. Aquatic adventures are widely available in Mission Bay Park. Interpretive kiosks are present in all three parks to help foster public understanding of their natural and cultural history. The 16 acre Kendall Frost marsh, in Mission Bay near the mouth of Rose Creek, is a site of ecological study for students of the University of California. Interpretive signage and wildlife viewing platforms are available to the public.

Rose Canyon Open Space Park contains many interacting habitats unique to Southern California for the visitor to enjoy. Rose Canyon Open Space Park is located in the University City neighborhood of San Diego. It is approximately 4 miles long and is very narrow, averaging less than 1/4 mile wide. It contains riparian, oak woodland and field habitats and is home to a great variety of plants and animals making it a good location for a walk or bicycle ride. While no motorized vehicles are allowed; mountain bicycles are welcome on the dirt roads.

Access points to Rose Canyon are located throughout University City.

Marian Bear Memorial Park is located in San Clemente Canyon stretching from Interstate 5 to Interstate 805. The park provides a natural setting in the midst of a bustling urban area. The 467 acres of dedicated natural parkland include finger canyons and mesas on the south side. The public can enjoy over three miles of mostly flat trails along the length of San Clemente canyon. More challenging hiking is available on the trails in several of the finger canyons leading up to the mesa tops in Clairemont. Biking is permitted on the maintenance roads in the canyon; no equestrian use is permitted.

Access points to Marian Bear Memorial Park are located throughout Clairemont and University City.

Get Outdoors in the Rose Creek Watershed

Lower Rose Creek south of the confluence of Rose and San Clemente creeks is partially accessible by a bicycle path that generally follows Rose Creek with the exception of .6 mile section in eastern Pacific Beach where the path follows Santa Fe Drive.

Our thanks to the City of San Diego Parks Department, the Marian Bear Natural Park Recreation Council, the Rose Canyon Recreation Council, the University of California and the Friends of Rose Canyon for their help with the information in this section.