About The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park

The Haunted Trail in Balboa Park is probably the single best thing to do for Halloween in San Diego. We go every year and every year it scares the pants off of us. It would scare the pants off of anyone really, even if they told you exactly what to expect. They truly go all out at the Haunted Trail and create the best haunted house in San Diego (and possibly the world? You never know). This place is definitely too scary for the little ones so adults and teens only.

Think walking through a narrow school bus of zombie nuns (some of whom are real people who try to murder you), getting chased by a crazed, chainsaw-wielding, zombie redneck, or getting stalked by a creepy clown silently through the entire experience. Think rooms where you cannot see your feet or what is rubbing against your leg. Think terror. You will not want to be last in line. Or first. Just stay in the middle of the pack and hold on to the person in front of you and close your eyes. That’s the best way to experience it really.

The trail opens in late September and runs through Halloween. Go twice and try to make it through the whole thing.

Best Parts

• Kids
• Keeping it low key
• Grandparents visiting

No just kidding – The Haunted Trail is perfect for being aggressively scared by clowns.

Behind The Counter

The Haunted Trail is put on every year by Greg Defatta, local San Diegan who also ran the Haunted Hotel, though this is no longer in business. This is his full time job and he focuses on it year round – which shows. Long may it last.