Aside from parking being a bit tough at peek times, this place is great! You can either park by the dam or hike there after starting by the visitor center! Depending on the time of year, the water levels at the dam rise and fall! There are great trails surrounding the dam and informative signs and items planted all along the paths!

A local favorite place to hike. Be prepared to park outside the entrance if coming later in the day, or when there are lots of visitors. Interesting flora and fauna along the trail heads here.

Great place to get lost for a day or go for a bike ride. Even nicer now with the river running fuller.

Great walk out to the old mission dam. Had never done it before. Paved. Slightly up and down. Beautiful scenery and very peaceful.

Great family hike. Around the San Diego River and the remnants of the old Mission dam. Lots of trails to hike in the area, varying in distance and difficulty.

Absolutely stunning hike. We we're on trails for 3 hours and saw beautiful waterfalls and wildlife. We went mid March, I think it was a great time to go because of all of the running water. Can't wait to go again.

Came here to Mission Gorge and hiked at the dam area. Enjoyed the open views in early April for small picnic, had to bring own picnic tarp for the sandy floor near small stream, no picnic benches, many different trails to hike but we took the route that went around the dam area approx a 30 minute leisure hike, no tables. It was a sunny cool day, lots of people on the trail, 360 degree open views of greenery and mountains. Easy parking and walk on large path to the dam, crossed the water barefoot to reach the parking without backtracking, many families and kids hike, Portable restroom near the small parking lot.

The Old Mission Dam is part of the Mission Trails Regional Park and it is a great place to explore. Lots of trails for hiking and biking in the area. You might even see a few people climbing nearby. Please be sure to visit the Information Center before exploring the park.

The dam itself underwhelmed, but many trails to explore & beautiful spot overall. Great way to spend some time in Santee for any outdoorsy folks!

Only minus star due to sewer water smell cross San Diego River. Saw slow Red Diamondback Rattle snake on side of Father Junipero Serra Trail road. Warming self in Sun under bundle of sticks. Lots of green due to recent rains even to Grasslands Trails and hills beyond SR-52 and Fortuna Mountains. Kwaay Paay Peak trail also.

Really cool landmark filled with educational signs on the history, geography & biology of the area. I went on a Wednesday morning and it wasn't crowded at all. The best part about it all is the visitor center, parking, facilities & trails are all free!

The Old Mission Dam is a historic water impoundment structure in Mission Trails Regional Park in San Diego, California. It was built about 1803 to impound the San Diego River to provide water for irrigation of the fields associated with the Mission San Diego de Alcalá, the first Spanish mission in what is now California. It was the first major colonial-era irrigation project on the Pacific coast of the United States.[4] The surviving remnant of the dam was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

San Diego has a river? Yes, it flows into mission bay. Or at least it used to. Also used to flow into San Diego Bay sometimes. Check this unique and historic area. This is one of the “three jewels” within San Diego city limits. During spring you will see wildflowers, all year round you will are flowing water and interesting geology and wildlife. If you like to hike you can comb many peaks. There is tons to explore within the entire park.

It was nice to see a hand built dam still existing which is part of San Diego history

Cool piece of history to see. Easy to get to and the area is really nice.

Always a nice time outdoors on the river.

Great place to get some exercise, see some amazing views, and enjoy some rock skipping.

Great paved path to the dam. Warm and recommend going early in the morning during summer.

Little hidden gem. Nice place refresh after a hike.

(Translated by Google) It is a very beautiful place to enjoy nature and walk (Original) Es un lujar muy hermoso para disfrutar de la naturaleza y caminar

Great spot to take a rest from hiking. Definitely recommend if you need to change your surroundings.

Learn the history before you go... great place to take the kids. Easy access for older adults.

A nice place to meditate and see the beauty of nature.

Good picnic place!

Not completely back open but able to walk it again

Beautiful place

Great place to visit.

Fun wading spot in water of questionable cleanliness. Could use more parking, and could really use much later hours. When we were there they start locking the gates at 5:00 p.m. yikes

If you're looking for a peaceful and picturesque hike, the Old Dam in Santee is the perfect destination. I recently had the pleasure of visiting this trail on a day that was not too sunny, with the weather being just right for a comfortable and enjoyable experience. What struck me the most about the Old Dam in Santee was the absence of crowds. Despite its stunning scenery and well-maintained paths, this trail seems to be a hidden gem that only locals know about. As someone who values solitude and quietness when hiking. The trail itself is not particularly challenging, making it accessible to hikers of all levels. It's a loop trail that's just under 3 miles long, offering a nice balance of forested areas and open spaces. The highlight of the hike is, of course, the old dam, which is a beautiful and historic structure that's worth taking the time to explore. Along the way, I was treated to some stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The trail passes by a small lake, which offers a peaceful and serene setting for a picnic or rest stop. The trees provide ample shade, making this hike ideal for those who want to escape the sun. Overall, I highly recommend the Old Dam in Santee hike to anyone looking for a quiet, scenic, and easy-to-navigate trail. The lack of crowds, coupled with the beautiful scenery, made for a truly enjoyable experience. Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just starting out, this trail is sure to delight and inspire you.

Beautiful, scenic nature walk/hike. Gorgeous wild flowers, purple wheat grass, and serene river stone beds. Its a perfect place to spend time in nature.

Beautiful landscape for a quick getaway from the hustle bustle San Diego. Good place for a peaceful walk, run, or family time!

Visit often especially during rainy season. Historic place

This is one of San Diego's best kept secrets. Really, it's a secret on top of a secret, as the Kumeyaay Indians were "conscripted" by Spanish padres to build the dam in 1803 so water from the San Diego River could be directed toward the Mission San Diego de Alcala down the road. Today, there is a movement to change the name of the road where the dam is located - Father Junipero Serra Trail - to a Kumeyaay name. The dam is an interesting landmark that aficionados of history, architecture, landscape and Nature will enjoy. Old Mission Dam is a National Historic Landmark, earning the distinction in 1963. It's one of only 17 National Historic Landmarks in San Diego County. And it's not just about the dam; it's about the surrounding area that is a spectacular natural setting that is host to many different kinds of plants and animals. On our hikes and mountain bike rides here, we've seen red-tailed hawks, tarantulas, ducks, and even a bobcat. The water rises and falls with the seasons. In the winter after heavy rainfall, the dam performs as planned and looks quite dramatic. In times of summer drought, you'll see barely any water moving in the San Diego River - it's more of a trickle. A lot of sand has sifted into the dam area over the years due to wildfires. Councilmember Raul Campillo has requested funds to dredge the dam. This is a great place to take people who may not be up for much of a hike, as there is some disabled parking a couple hundred feet from the dam overlook.

Our favorite hiking spot

Everything is perfect except that there is no bathroom. This place is good to go hike and out.

A quiet beautiful place. It's close to San Diego but feels like you're out in the middle of nowhere. The original dam was built a long time ago by monks, it has a fascinating history. It's great to see all the ducks too! We went to see the water level as well.

In love with this place, local great to go with family, friends. Kid friendly you can drive or walk. So pecefull a lot to explore.

I love talking walks in the area, but generally I refuse to go during the summer. There is very little shade on the trails, and with the drought conditions in California most of the area is dry and brown. If you go a few days after a storm it's much more pleasant to look at. The San Diego River runs through the park which is always a great thing to check out. The Old Mission Dam can be a fun place to take kids to go see, and when the waters are high I often see people fishing there. Expect to street/dirt lot park (Father Junipero Trail has ample parking on the Santee side, and the visitor center/neighboring dirt lots always have spots open). There's a tiny lot near the dam, but it consists of only ~10 spots that are almost always full. The trails range from a "walk in the park" to "I'm going to hurt tomorrow." You can often see some interesting wildlife out in the brush - coyotes, snakes, spiders. Last time I checked out the Oak Canyon Waterfall it was more like the Oak Canyon Trickle, and that was right after a pretty serious storm. Not sure what it takes to get that thing going. Probably consistent rains for a few weeks would be enough to saturate the ground and get it running, but anything less and you shouldn't hope for much.

The dam was cool. The sewer smell was not.

Such a fun spot with rocks to climb. Very peaceful

My favorite part of Santee nice hiking trails very safe this year there is a lot of water all the rivers are running I go there with my family with my kids very awesome place to be there's a mountain biking trails and I go to as well highly recommended

Perfect place to recharge and escape all the noise of the city. Generally peaceful... occasionally there can be a handful or two of people around.

Great piece of history and a great trail. If you want a review check out Dirt Road Duo's trail review on YouTube.

Mission Trails has lots of nice areas to hike or just sit by the dam and listen to the sound of rushing water.

Fun spot

Love this area..connects to the east mission hills trails

(Translated by Google) A walkable trail close to downtown San Diego. (Original) 샌디에고 도심에서 가까운 걷기 좋은 트레일.

Hidden gem in Mission Trails. A nice break from the usual dry dusty paths.

Nice place lots of trails and great for bike riding bikes. The water smells awful

Ok

Love it.

Always take a nice walk around the Dam. Easy with small inclines. Great to visit after one of the rare rains we get from time to time.

Beautiful place

Nice to clear your mind

Relax time with family and friends. Perfect walks. Only bad thing is I didn’t see any restroom.

Its a nice to place to walk

Nice place to hike

Nice relaxing place good for the whole family you have trails to ride , hike, or walk very busy on Sunday mornings. Enjoy also look out for snakes .

Beautiful place to sit and relax

Just got back from the place and I encountered two coyotes. Be careful when hiking, if you see them make noise. Scenic place.

Fun little fishing hole

family trail hike with close encounters with deers, coyotes and birds

Fun place to let the kids explore, take pictures, and enjoy San Diego's wildlife. Pick up your trash. Small parking lot. You may have to wait for a spot or just park on the road and walk in.