Have you spotted native wildlife in the city near the San Diego River? It’s possible to sight unexpected wild animals in our urban environment!
At the east end of the SDSU Mission Valley river park, near Murphy Canyon Creek, beside Interstate 15, a sign shows some of the Animals of the San Diego River.
Featured on the sign are: Coyote, Southern Mule Deer, Bobcat, Desert Cottontail, American Badger and Southern Pacific Rattlesnake.
There’s a good chance you’ve observed coyotes, cottontails and even rattlesnakes, but how about those other critters?
Walk near this sign along the Ben & Nikki Clay San Diego River Trail, and you might experience an unexpected wildlife sighting!
Walking from the Stadium trolley station to Snapdragon Stadium, you might have noticed this distinctive structure. It has a name. The Mike and Christine Pack Reflection Pergola offers several tables and a shady resting place in the wide plaza north of the trolley station.
This article, which concerns the SDSU Mission Valley river park, contains a description of the pergola:
The central focal point of the trolley plaza is the Mike and Christine Pack Reflection Pergola, which draws inspiration from the river and ewaa (dome-shaped shelters) used by the early Kumeyaay. These shelters were built from branches and covered with leaves from willow, tule or other plants.
I was surprised to discover a small but beautiful mosaic near one table!
I love how the lighting structures in my next photograph appear organic–like tall grass bending in the wind, or trees with slender stems.
The SDSU Mission Valley river park has become a favorite place to walk on a sunny San Diego day.
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Have you been inside the San Diego Library’s branch in Mission Valley? The library offers beautiful views, particularly from the second floor mezzanine and the adjacent outdoor patio.
These first few photos are from the Mission Valley Library mezzanine, where there are desks perfect for quiet reading or study. Artistic ceiling supports appear like trees with spreading leafy branches.
One can gaze down at the interior of the library. Aesthetically, it’s quite pleasing. The silvery gray metal and light brown wood makes the space feel very clean, orderly and open.
Now we’re looking from the interior mezzanine toward the outdoor patio. Much natural light comes through those windows.
Outside, the partially enclosed patio is a wind-sheltered place where anyone can lounge in the sun, breathe fresh air, and gaze out over the trolley tracks and the Fenton Parkway Station toward trees along the San Diego River. The grassy SDSU Mission Valley river park stretches to the east, where people walk and play sports.
Wouldn’t you like to hang out here?
Finally, here’s what the south side of the Mission Valley Library looks like from outside. That’s the semi-circular patio up above.
The library building opened in 2002. It has received the award for Best Institutional Design from the American Institute of Architects.
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Walking down one of the dirt paths off the main trail at the SDSU Mission Valley River Park, you might encounter this sign. It features birds you could see along the San Diego River.
Birds described in words and photos include California Scrub-jay, California Quail, Anna’s Hummingbird, Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl and American Coot.
Of course, it’s possible to sight egrets, cormorants, different types of ducks, gulls, blackbirds, swallows and many, many different species. The San Diego River, stretching from the mountains of East County to the Pacific Ocean, supports enormous biodiversity. The river is also part of the Pacific Flyway, a major route of migratory birds.
The sign includes a paragraph about the Bird Songs of the indigenous Kumeyaay people. It concerns the bird-inspired singing and dancing in traditional Kumeyaay ceremonies and celebration.
How about my recent walk through the river park? I spotted small sparrows flitting about near the path, saw soaring crows and seagulls, and heard the calls of various birds in the trees beyond the fence that protects the river habitat from human intrusion.
If you love to walk, head down to the river park. There is sunshine, fresh air, people playing sports on the wide grass areas, easy access by trolley, and, best of all, it’s beautiful. (Bonus: look for the mile markers on the main walkway that were designed by James Hubbell!)
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If you’ve recently traveled on the Green Line of the San Diego Trolley between the Morena/Linda Vista and Fashion Valley stations, you’ve seen renewed construction activity to the north of the tracks. That half of the old Riverwalk golf course is being replaced by Riverwalk San Diego, a massive project now under development!
I saw all this activity through the trolley window a couple days ago and took several photos.
If, like me, you’re curious about this project in the heart of Mission Valley, check out their website here and see a map of what is coming. Riverwalk San Diego will include 4,300 homes (including 430 affordable homes), 152,000 square feet of retail, one million square feet of office, and 97 acres of parks and open space, including a restored San Diego River and a 55-acre regional park.
You might notice there will be a new trolley station, too!
During my walk yesterday through SDSU Mission Valley River Park, I was surprised to see members of San Diego State Aztecs Rugby Club getting ready for a game. They would be playing UC Davis out on a wide swath of the park’s grass. It was the second game of their 2026 season.
I remained at the sidelines for a while to watch the beginning of play. Other fans would gradually gather with their lawn chairs and umbrellas.
SDSU Aztecs Rugby Club competes in Division 1-A in the California Conference. Founded in 1958, the team has a long and proud history. They won the 1987 National Collegiate Rugby Championship.
The action I observed was fast and exciting! I don’t know too much about rugby, but perhaps I’ll have to become a fan! The Aztecs would go on to win 31-38.
If you’d like to watch this victory on YouTube, click here.
To go to a future game, you can follow SDSU Aztec Rugby at this website.
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Muchas Manos de San Diego, a group of hand embroidery enthusiasts, is celebrating their 50th Anniversary with an exhibit inside the Mission Valley Library. The library’s large display case is filled with carefully stitched examples of very beautiful embroidery!
If you’d like to join the supportive group and have fun creating amazing, exquisite objects like these, here’s their website! They meet once a month.
Five years ago I explored the San Diego River Garden in Mission Valley. Read about my visit here.
The community park, full of native vegetation and art, was developed by the San Diego River Park Foundation. It’s no longer listed on the foundation’s website. For all intents and purposes, it appears to have been abandoned.
I noticed, about a week ago, that people can still enter the old River Garden and walk about on its trails. So that’s what I did.
As you can see, the human-made parts of the park are fading away. Signs, planters and art are weathered and are slowly disintegrating.
While works of the human hand gradually pass away, the forces of nature persist. Plants, trees and natural life grow, renew, overtake.
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Today, down in the San Diego Natural History Museum’s basement Paleo Center, Mary was working on a fossil found in Mission Valley.
Visitors peering through the Paleo Center window could watch her as she removed tiny bits of sandstone from the partial skull (with horn cores and cervical vertebrae) of a Bison Latifrons, found in Ice Age stream deposits, and dating from 100,000 years ago.
She was using a small pneumatic chisel-like instrument to “clean” the fossil. It reminded me of my last dental appointment!
The ancient bison fossil was unearthed in 2020 while workers were excavating the parking lot of the old Qualcomm Stadium, getting ready for San Diego’s new Snapdragon Stadium! The ancient bison would have stood between seven and eight feet at the shoulder! Imagine it roaming eons ago in Mission Valley!
I learned The NAT has numerous unearthed fossils in line waiting to be expertly prepared. Fossils are frequently discovered at different construction sites around the city.
Right now the San Diego Natural History Museum is half open as it undergoes a monumental roof renovation. Fortunately the paleontology center on the lower level of the museum remains open. Follow various signs and you’ll find this Amazement in the Basement!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
I was in Mission Valley today, so of course I had to ride the trolley over to Snapdragon Stadium. I wanted to check out the free-to-the-public FanFest before San Diego FC’s first ever playoff game!
Can you believe it? San Diego FC’s debut season, and they finished in first place in the MLS Western Conference! Can they make it all the way to the championship?
Fans were just beginning to arrive when I swung by the outdoor event, which was officially called the Ford FanFest. I was pretty early. I’m sure the crowds were much larger after I departed.
What could fans do? Kick soccer balls around. Listen to live music. Have their hair cut. Make fun crafts. Drink beer and visit food trucks. Buy classy San Diego FC merchandise. Admire a row of cool lowriders. Visit a photo booth. Spin prize wheels and check out various sponsors…
Yes, there was plenty to do!
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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!
I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X.
Cool San Diego Sights! 