The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park is returning to San Diego for the Halloween season, bringing two distinct horror attractions to a single venue: a 3,500-square-foot maze and a one-mile trek through the trees of Marston Point.
Celebrating its 27th season, The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park transforms one of the park’s most iconic landscapes into a terrifying experience. Visitors can expect to encounter chainsaw-wielding nuns, bloodthirsty zombies, twisted clowns, and a haunted bus packed with monstrous figures.
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park blends two distinct attractions. Guests begin their journey at the eXperiment Maze, a 3,500-square-foot labyrinth, before venturing onto The Haunted Trail, an outdoor route winding nearly a mile through the trees of Marston Point.
The eXperiment Maze
The eXperiment Maze centers on an experiment that tore a rift in space and time, opening a portal to an alternate dimension. Guests must navigate a series of surreal environments while dynamic characters jump out along the path.
Highlights include a cyberpunk-dominated wasteland, a sinister asylum, the Vortex, and an illusionist’s lair guarded by a giant killer rabbit.
The Haunted Trail
Upon escaping the maze, visitors step onto the trail itself, which features elaborate outdoor set pieces designed around various nightmare scenarios. Key stops include the Ghoul Bus, full of characters waiting for you, a demonic clown village, the Killbilly family campsite, a ghost town overrun by a zombie plague, and the Chainsaw Cathedral, home to the fearsome Sisters of the Saw.
The Dark Carnival Experience
Back by popular demand for its second year, the Dark Carnival area returns bigger than ever featuring new horror-themed interactive games and attractions, roaming interactive creatures, dedicated photo opportunities, and local food trucks and refreshments. In addition, the BOOtique Gift Shop offers exclusive Haunted Trail merchandise.
Because the Dark Carnival does not require an admission ticket, it serves as an accessible gathering space for guests finishing the trail or waiting for group members.
Haunted Trail of Balboa Park: Tickets and Event Info
Timed general admission starts at $34.99 and requires entry within 30 minutes of your scheduled ticket time.
The Fast Pass ($49.99+) grants entry within a one-hour window and access to an express line to cut down wait times.
New for 2026, the Blood Red Carpet VIP experience ($99.99+) offers ultimate front-of-line access, a glow necklace, a VIP lanyard, professional group photo, and a commemorative merch gift bag.
Because nightly attendance is capped and dates frequently sell out, organizers strongly recommend purchasing tickets online in advance by clicking here.
All sales are final. Refunds are not issued for unused tickets, even if a guest or minor decides not to enter the trail due to fear. Parties of 20 or more can unlock discounted advance tickets (blackout dates apply in October).
