San Clemente Canyon, Natural canyon in San Diego, California

San Clemente Canyon stretches between Interstate 5 and Interstate 805 with dense forest of oak trees, sycamores, and native willows creating a continuous woodland corridor. The vegetation and watercourse form a natural passage through the surrounding developed areas.

The Kumeyaay inhabited the San Diego County area for 10,000 years, and a Kumeyaay village called Onap stood at the junction of San Clemente Canyon and Rose Canyon. Traces of that presence remain in the canyon. In the late 19th century the canyon was named Clemente Canyon after a Native American rancher.

The canyon was named Clemente Canyon in the late 19th century for a Native American rancher. In the 1970s Marian Bear, a community leader and environmentalist, led the effort that moved State Route 52 from the canyon floor to the northern hillsides, and the linear park along the canyon bears her name.

The canyon offers access from multiple trail points, particularly from Regents Road and Genesee Avenue where parking is available. Basic facilities including restrooms can be found at the main entrance area.

Visible rock formations here date back to the Eocene epoch, containing preserved fossils within sandstone layers. These geological layers reveal evidence of an ancient ocean bed that once covered this area.