Big Rock Park

Great public park with wonderful trails behind the tennis courts and I just saw a couple talking wedding pictures dressed as Santa and Mrs. Claus

I had a great time hiking up this trail. A huge plus is the abundance of shade at least halve of the time. It took around an hour to get up and an hour to get down. (Guide books may say three hours but that would be at a slower pace than almost all the hikers I saw)This is the East side of the Cowls mountain and the third possible way up to the peak. You wont be able to see downtown or the main parts of San Diego city for the most part going up this trail, as you would on the most popular and most crowded trail on the south side of the mountain. On the other hand you get great views of the enormous landscape of mountains surrounding the city, which you dont get on the south trail.I think this is the best way up the mountain if you are taking kids. Because of the shade on a large part of the trail even during the hottest midday hours, and also because its the least steep trail (other than at the very end on the service road) and well serviced with wooden steps.There are several parts on the trails where you can veer off. For example, about a fifth way up the mountain you can take another trail to to Lake Murray! Imagine hiking up and down the mountain followed by a picnic at the lake :))

Love that its never crazy crowded! Nice place to take a leisurely walk, play some tennis, basketball or just sit and relax in the beautiful weather! Enjoy watching children enjoying outdoor play time during the pandemic. Ground squirrels and small jack rabbits are also good entertainment!

Very nice and relaxing by the creek. the drug deals at night make it extra spicy

Awesome park! Great place for the whole family and theres always plenty of room and space to set yourself up. The trees offer plenty of shade and theres usually a nice breeze. Its great in the spring time because there usually a river flowing.

Due to construction at the nextdoor school, one-half of the parking lot is cut-off, and is difficult to leave in a large vehicle. Other than that, its a good time as always!

This is our favorite local park. It has a seasonal creek, nice large paved loop, dog park, and two structures for different ages. Great for picnics and parties too, lots of tables and areas to choose from. And of course, the big rocks in the middle are fun for the bigger kids to climb on.

Nice quiet neighborhood park with concrete tables and benches. Some areas are shaded with ivy plants. Plenty of parking, and an entrance on next block. Highly recommend.

Great park. Sun, Shade, love it!

I always love this park. Theres a seasonal creek that the kids love to play in. Its dog friendly and in the mornings they allow off leash. Groups of adults often play pickle ball here at the tennis court and it has a gate the leads to the Mission Trails on the backside of Cowels Mtn. Lots of picnic tables and some BBQs. Open space for lounging and my yoga practice. Playground is split between toddlers, small school age kids and larger kids up to age 12 as well. Great place to bring the family, pets, or have birthday parties and get-togethers.

Nice park very relaxing next to a Creek.Nice place to relax or play basketball or tenis.

Cool little park, with a trailhead for Cowles

It has a lot offer besides a playground and swings. For instance it has a tennis court, basketball court, picnic tables, a large lawn to lay on, hiking trails and restrooms

Difficult trail if youre not in shape. Trekking poles are useful. Dont bring your dogs, its too hard on them.

Very nice park. Next to a school. Leads to many hiking trails. Fenced in tennis are. I noticed a dog in their possibly a dog run when not in use of the tennis palyers.

People do not abide the parks rules and regulations.... as well it is a place for wrong dealings...

I like that the toddler area is shaded

Love being able to walk in the shade

Great park for the family and the dogs. From dawn till 9am you dont have to have a leash on your dog or dogs. All week. Right next to cowls mountain trail.

Great little park with tennis courts, jungle gym, and a small dog run,!

Big rock park is a great place to set up an inflatible for a birthday party. There is a fun playground, tennis courts, basketball court and tables. There is an entrance to hike here and a creek that sometimes has water. Kids love to play in it either way. This is also a dog park with off leash and on leash designated times. There is usually parking but the park is next to elementary school so you may want to avoid school drop off and pick up times.

Pretty fun and calm. Also a really good place to play fetch with your dogs

We love this park, been coming here since I was a kid ️

Great hidden gem to take the kids and dogs to. Also a secret passage to cowles mountain.

Beautiful park with a creek for the kiddos

With grandkids at big rock park

Great. One of the best parks. It was almost empty today. Everyone was at the new Mast Park.

Been going here since I was a kid now I go as an adult to look for awesome painTed rocks

Great park with partly shaded playgrounds and woodchips instead of sand. Theres a little stream in front of it for the kids to explore with varying levels of water depending on the rain during the season. There is a bench area with shade and lots of trees. There are also tennis courts and a sand volleyball court to play in. Two playgrounds for younger and older kids. Parking is limited, so you may have to park on the street and there isnt a lot of that either.

Lots of pickleball courts

Good for kids. Good for picnics. They have times set up specifically for dogs

This is a beautiful park with a creek running through it! The playground was very big and is next to the creek so kids can have a variety of activities to do. The restrooms were very clean considering being at a park. There are a lot of tables so if you want to host a birthday party this is a good choice

Of leash dog park from 6-9am. Pickle ballers Conner and play at the tennis courts lists mornings.

For a neighborhood park it is one of the best. Very clean, nicely laid out with picnic tables, playground and trees. We do a church breakfast get together here every year and everyone loves this park. There are also basketball courts and volleyball.

Great park. Lots of room, nice neighborhood, tennis court, hiking trail.

A hidden gem. This park was gorgeous with a fun playground and a small creek. There was also a fun trail around the park, basketball courts and volleyball too. Perfect for birthday parties and other fun gatherings. We definitely will be back to visit.

Great park! Our children love to play on the playground and explore the creek. The many trees provide lots of shade. There are also bathrooms.

Great views. Easy to get to. Nice trails.

I would not call this Big Rock Park...more like Medium Rock Park. Despite the obvious false advertising of big rocks, it is in fact an EXCELLENT park. Lots of places for the little ones to explore and has a great play ground area. Nice gazebo areas for parties etc. Bring rain boots so the little ones can play in the creek.

Many wide open spaces and it is backed up to wild spaces like Cowls mountain . The playgrounds in other picnic areas are well trafficked and should be pretty safe, always vigilant. There are many trails to take you out of sight.Always keep this in mind, because of the snakes and other dangers out there.Knowing this,. Go! Explore! Hydrate! It is Beautiful!!

Great park

Fun for animal lovers

Good for kids at any age!

Great park! Were from the Palm Springs area so our 7 year old loved the little creek that runs through! Tennis courts, basketball courts, and a playground for the kids.

Always crowded. Loved the sweet tea.

This is where I take my pup for little walks. Nice little spot to walk around. Big grass area, a spot for parties with tables. A tennis court and a playground for kids. Nice little park

Love this place really good place to play fetch with your dogs

Nice people, very friendly environment, great dogs of different sizes and not too crowded, be sure to come early as its off leash only till 9:00am

Great place for birthday. Parties with friends and families. Not alot of parking spaces. Yes on public restrooms.. closes early.

This mosquito business is nuts. I thought Bill G. was going to sort them out. Park has a little almost dry creek next to it, plus the entirety of the massive Cowles Mountain, which is covered in flora. So of course there are tons of these little flying terrors ruining everything. The small ones, the big ones, its not a great experience. 5 stars tho because the kid liked the park and its all about the kids

There are plenty of picnic areas, with covers for shade and others with natural shade from big trees. The play equipment is big and provides equipment for kids under 5 as well as a separate area for kids 5 to 12. There is also a small Creek where the kids climb on the rocks and explore nature.

Big Rock park has been a favorite for many years. Ive hung out with many friends here, and also used to visit with my husband before he passed away.

Best park every it very beautyful and it so cool in foto but you look at real life it more beautyful

Basketball and tennis courts. Large grass area as well as play structures and a creek that runs along the park. Cowles mountain access in rear of park also. Ample parking on Mesa Rd. Areas available to reserve for parties as well.

Lots of kids but calm with a stream down from the mtn. Loved it and been here for 67 years never knew it was there would definitely go back.

Love this park. Right off freway. Great trees/shade. NO SAND! Lots of room to run, parking, kids always have fun. There is a nice stream kids can play in, its dry in the summer and little bit of water in winter.

Awesome little hidden spot I didnt know was there. BBQS, Basketball courts, tables etc. Was there for a baby shower and it was nice.

Awesome park. Lots of outdoor feeling.

Grew up here. Too many good memories.

This is a cute little park but theres not enough parking.

Lovely open space park with plenty to do(yoga,tennis,hike,run,basketball,soccer,ride bikes, skate, picnic, etc)or not do(just lay on the grass and take a nap!).Kid area and depending on the season, a lil creek that kids can check out tad pols. Restrooms and vending machines available.

This is one of my daughters favorite parks! There are tons of things to climb and lots of slides. Theres stuff for all ages :)

This is a very clean and good-size park for families. There are tables, grills, and small area for family parties

Great hike to cowles mountain

Big rock is an amazing park. Ive never seen a park that is as safe and has as much to offer.

Its pretty small, kids play yard, bbq place, tennis court, vending machine. But gets crowded very easily.

There is no park available right now . We went and there’s construction going on forever .

Nice and quiet. Good shade. Good for birthday parties.

Its a good park

If we can find a way to get rid of the Flies and the lol!! I probably would have given 5 s.

Had a kids bday here, very good for that what with the tables and open setting. Overall, the least-nice park in Santee, but still good considering I think we have some of the best in the county.

Awesome trail that start off easy and it gradually increases inclination.

Lots of fun things for kids

Nice park but a little dirty. It might have just been the party that was there but there was trash all over the playground

A lot of good memories!!

Lots of friendly and competitive pickle ball players on weekday mornings.

Shady and breezy great for parties or play dates.

Great family park with tons of picnic benches

A great park for dogs. ! Many mobile home parks near here have a no paws on the pavement rule.

The people are friendly and theres enough equipment for my to play on and things to play with.

Clean well maintained and shaded areas.

The best park ever found. I love the shade and the picking area

Lovely and quiet

Nice place for kids to play

Great little park. Parking is so limited

This is a great park for young kids. It is close to a hiking trail as well. There is a tennis court, kids playgrounds, grills, and picnic areas.

The best park Clean safe perfect families a bunch of different slides and swings for kids

Nice bathrooms, big grass area, tennis courts, two different play ground areas. This is a great place for a party like just to let the kids let out some steam.

A fun park for kids of all ages. There are 2 large play structures, one for kids 2-5 and the other for kids 5-12. There are 2 tennis courts, sand volleyball court, basketball, a large grass area and plenty of picnic tables all around. There is a small creek that runs alongside the park, with access to some trails for hiking. Unleashed dogs are allowed. There are restrooms, too, although they are your typical park restrooms, complete with smells.It can get crowded BUT there is plenty of room for everyone without feeling like you are on top of each other. My kids really loved it here, spending over 2 hours without getting bored. That says a lot.

The boys love the park there are several different areas the creek the trees climbing rocks and then they have a fabulous playground thats kept very maintenanced, basketball courts and a picnic area that are fabulous and a wonderful Loop sidewalk that goes in and around the whole thing for riding scooters and walking dogs and Tennis Courts back by the hiking trails all in all its a fabulous place for the family ️

Nice park with trees, a creek and play area for kids

Great to bring the kids

This park has something for everyone!

My kids love this park. We have been coming here for a couple of years now, and we always have a good time. There is a very picturesque stream that runs through the west side, which is a great backdrop for family pictures (Ive done it). There is a trailhead you can take from here that takes you all the way up Cowles Mountain, if you dont want to just stay in the park.

Relaxing and pretty park in santee. This park has something for everyone! Kids can play on the swings and slides, covered picnic area, basketball court, volleyball net, huge grassy area for soccer, restrooms, vending machine, doggy waste bags, big beautiful trees, water drinking fountain, paved walking path around entire park, river rock bed for kids to explore, you can often find “santee rocks” (colorful painted rocks hidden for spreading joy ) and more I know I’m forgetting something!

Nice park, clean and well taken care of. Play equipment for kids of all ages. I enjoyed being with my family.

Its a beautiful park with plenty of shade. However it says that it is an off leash dog park. Which it is from dawn to 9:00 am. And then around the time the school lets out, it is just filled with kids. So it is not a very good dog park.

Great place for birthday partys!

Good for bday parties of all ages. Plenty of parking on weekends.

We love this park its kid friendly and plenty of shade for those hot summer days.