The Otay Valley Regional Park is an 11-mile green corridor running from the salt ponds at the mouth of the Otay River near San Diego Bay all the way east to Otay Lakes. It is jointly managed by the cities of Chula Vista and San Diego and San Diego County, and threads together a patchwork of native chaparral, riparian woodland, and open grassland in an otherwise densely developed landscape.
Trails along the valley floor offer hiking, mountain biking, and equestrian riding with minimal vehicle traffic. The river bottom and surrounding slopes support coyotes, bobcats, great horned owls, and a range of native lizards and snakes. The trail is best in spring when wildflowers are out and the hills turn briefly green. Access points exist along several cross streets through Chula Vista's eastern neighbourhoods.