The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
Haunted attraction · San Diego · California
Reinventing fear for 27 years, the Haunted Trail runs a mile through the gnarled oaks of historic Marston Point, paired with the 3,500-square-foot eXperiment Maze. The free Dark Carnival, with games, roaming creatures and food trucks, returns for a second year and needs no ticket.
Don’t miss
Plan your visit
Most nights, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in late September, then 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Closed Mondays through October 19.
Dates from the official announcement, checked July 28, 2026. Always confirm before you go.
Color nearby peaks: November 24–November 28
Color builds from November 13 · mostly bare by December 20
Sampled at The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park’s own coordinates and elevation (76 m) rather than a regional average.
74 weather points cover California, and the model shifts their answer 3 days later, which is what it takes to match 3 published peak dates from monocounty.org and explorefall.com. How the forecast works
When to go to The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park
You get about 22 days of color here, from the first turn through to roughly December 5. That is about 11 days later than California as a whole. The 249 ft elevation accounts for most of the difference.
It is in San Diego, close enough to reach without planning a drive around it.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of California, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
More things to do in California
Leaves & views
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Frequently asked
- When is The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park open in 2026?
- The 2026 season runs Sep 25 – Nov 1. Most nights, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in late September, then 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays in October. Closed Mondays through October 19.. Dates can shift, so check the official site before you go.
- When does The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for November 24–November 28 (best estimate November 26). Color starts around November 13 and is mostly bare by December 20.
- How do I get to The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park?
- The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is in San Diego. The closest city is San Diego, about 1 mi away (it's right in town). It's part of California's fall lineup.
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