Blessed with a nearly perfect year-round climate, San Diego is an ideal place to lace up your boots, and there’s a lot more to see than just palm trees and sandy beaches. At San Elijo Lagoon, coastal estuaries and wetlands are preserved for wildlife and nature-lovers. On the inland side of the county, more than 100 miles of trails await at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, including paths to 5,700-foot Stonewall Peak and 6,512-foot Cuyamaca Peak. Nearby, the Laguna Mountains offer a dramatic setting that overlooks the desert thousands of feet below. North of the Laguna-Cuyamaca range is the smaller Palomar range, where firs, pines, and cedars create a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere. And if you’re craving the coast, San Diego offers 76 miles of beaches, including those at Torrey Pines State Reserve, a popular place for sunset walks.
4 BATIQUITOS LAGOON ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
7 CHAPARRAL INTERPRETIVE TRAIL
9 RANCH HOUSE, BOULDER, AND EAST RIDGE LOOP
12 RAZOR POINT AND BEACH TRAIL LOOP
14 BLUE SKY ECOLOGICAL RESERVE
16 GOODAN RANCH SYCAMORE CANYON PRESERVE
20 WEIR AND LOWER DOANE VALLEY LOOP
21 BOUCHER TRAIL AND SCOTT’S CABIN LOOP
25 FIVE OAKS TRAIL AND VOLCAN MOUNTAIN
26 DESERT VIEW AND CANYON OAK LOOP
31 SILVERWOOD WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
5.6 mi/3.0 hr
in Fallbrook
A few miles north of downtown Fallbrook lies the Santa Margarita River, one of the last free-flowing rivers in Southern California. The river forms a native riparian habitat attracting many kinds of wildlife, particularly birds. There are six miles of marked trail, but the most popular walk is a 2.8-mile one-way hike from the Sandia Creek Drive trailhead. It has only a 400-foot elevation gain, so it is suitable for walkers and joggers, as well as people looking for a longer outing. An equestrian trail runs parallel to the hiking trail. There are several places where you can cross the river, but you’ll have to get your feet wet; there are no bridges. First-time visitors here are amazed by the beauty of the Santa Margarita River Canyon, with its moss-covered rock outcrops, side canyons that branch off the main river, and dense forest canopy. It’s like nothing you’ll find anywhere else in San Diego County.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: For topographic maps, go to the USGS website to download Temecula and Fallbrook.
Directions: From I-15 south of Temecula, take the Mission Road (S13) exit west and drive to De Luz Road in Fallbrook. Turn north on De Luz Road and drive about 1 mile, then turn right on Sandia Creek Drive. Drive 0.5 mile to the parking lot on the right, just before the road crosses the river at Rock Mountain Drive.
Contact: Fallbrook Land Conservancy, Fallbrook, 760/728-0889, www.sdlcc.org/flc.
13.6 mi/2 days
in the Aqua Tibia Wilderness
At the very northern edge of San Diego County lies the Aqua Tibia Wilderness, a land of extreme summer heat, exposed slopes, no available water sources, and thick chaparral-chamise, ceanothus, manzanita, and ribbonwood. The place appears suitable for only the most steadfast of hikers. Or so it seems. Actually, if you hike the Dripping Springs Trail in early spring, when the temperature is just right, the Aqua Tibia is a pastoral place with blooming shrubs and wildflowers, crystal-clear vistas, and flitting butterflies and bees. Trailhead elevation at Dripping Springs Campground is 1,600 feet, and the peak of Aqua Tibia Mountain is at 4,547 feet. The trail leaves the campground, crosses the rocky wash of Arroyo Seco Creek, and starts to climb. In the first three miles of trail, you get views of Vail Lake to the north and the big mountains of Southern California—San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, and San Antonio (Baldy). Another mile passes, and you can see Santiago Peak and the white dome of Palomar Observatory to the south, plus fine views of the Pacific Ocean, the Santa Rosa Plateau, and the rest of the Santa Ana Mountains. The chaparral gets taller as you go, and the trail gets steeper and narrower. When you finally near the peak of Aqua Tibia Mountain, you’ve climbed out of the chaparral and into oak woodland with a few scattered pines, which means—yes!—shade. Remember, hike this on a cool day in early spring, and you’re in heaven. Hike it in summer, and you’re in Temecula’s version of hell.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, and horses. No mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: A free wilderness permit is required for overnight stays and can be obtained at the Dripping Springs station near the campground or from the Palomar Ranger District. Day users should sign the register at the trailhead. A $5 parking fee is charged unless you have a National Forest Adventure Pass or interagency access pass.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Vail Lake.
Directions: From I-15 in Temecula, take the Highway 79 east exit. Drive 11 miles east on Highway 79 to Dripping Springs Campground, on the right. Free parking is available outside the camp entrance. The trail begins at the south end of the campground.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District, Ramona, 760/788-0250, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
3.0 mi/1.5 hr
in Guajome Regional Park near Oceanside
Guajome Regional Park is home to one of the richest riparian areas of any of San Diego County’s parks. The big draw is a spring-fed lake and marsh, which have enticed nearly 200 species of birds to pass sometime in the park. The waterways are also the happy home of many frogs, which you will hear but probably not see. In fact, Guajome means home of the frog. The park’s main hiking trail leads from the parking lot and skirts the edge of midsized Guajome Lake, then continues up to the park’s wedding gazebo and alongside Guajome Marsh. It’s a popular trip for dog-walkers and families. An out-and-back trip will cover about three miles, and along the way you might see a few red-winged blackbirds, a white-faced ibis, or even the rare least Bell’s vireo. Bring your binoculars. Fishing for bullheads, crappie, catfish, and sunfish is also popular at Guajome Lake. If you want to hike farther, additional trails lead into the grassland and chaparral interior areas of the park.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $3 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A free trail map is available for download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Luis Rey.
Directions: From I-5 in Oceanside, take the Highway 76 exit, and drive east for seven miles to Guajome Lake Road. Turn right (south) into the park entrance.
Contact: Guajome Regional Park, Oceanside, 760/724-4489, www.sdparks.org.
3.2 mi/1.5 hr
near Carlsbad
The trail around Batiquitos Lagoon is more of a walk than a hike, and it is only somewhat free from the nearby roar of the freeway, but nonetheless, the lagoon is one of San Diego’s special places. Surrounded by I-5, a golf course, ritzy homes, and a big five-star hotel, the lagoon is a small island of nature amid a sea of development and artifice. It’s a wonderful place to study the peaceful movements of birds and small animals, who go about their daily lives ignoring the surrounding chaos of human activity. This is also a great place to walk your dog after work (just be sure to keep him or her on a leash so the wildlife is not disturbed). From the end of Gabbiano Lane, walk toward the nature center, then pick up the trail that skirts along the edge of the lagoon, heading from west to east. The path runs for 1.6 miles one-way; most people just stroll as far as they please and then turn back. Four other small parking lots off Batiquitos Drive provide additional access points. While you walk, you’ll have a near-guarantee of spotting herons, egrets, mudhens, mallards, teals, and other common water birds, as well as bunnies and lizards galore. Many rare birds can also be seen, including the elegant tern, marbled godwit, snowy plover, and yellow warbler.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Luis Rey.
Directions: From I-5 in Carlsbad, take the Poinsettia Lane exit and head east. Turn right on Batiquitos Drive, then bear right on Gabbiano Lane and drive to its end. Park in the small lot (there is space for six cars) or alongside the road, but do not park in front of the mailboxes.
Contact: Batiquitos Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Carlsbad, 760/931-0800, www.batiquitosfoundation.org.
4.8 mi/2.0 hr
Hellhole Canyon Preserve near Valley Center
Hellhole Canyon Preserve seems a bit misnamed. We didn’t think there was anything hellish about it, except maybe the heat on a summer afternoon. The preserve takes up 1,712 acres on the west flank of Rodriguez Mountain and is bounded by Indian reservations to the north and west. Because of the fire-adapted foliage that blankets this preserve—primarily chaparral and sage scrub plants such as redberry, manzanita, lilac, and monkey flower—the landscape recovers quickly from wildfires, which seem to occur regularly here every five to ten years. But with all this chaparral and no big trees, count on almost no shade anywhere in the preserve. From the trailhead staging area, the only choice is to head steeply downhill into the canyon on Hell Creek Trail. One mile down the trail you’ll reach Hell Creek, which runs with vigor in the wet season and maintains a small trickle in the summer. Beyond the creek, the trail follows the route of the old Escondido flume. You walk alongside the rock-lined bed of this 15-mile-long canal, which was built in 1895 to transport water from the San Luis Rey River to Lake Wohlford. At 1.4 miles you reach a fork, where you can go left or right to walk a pleasant two-mile loop through rolling grasslands and chaparral, then head back up the trail the way you came. And on a hot day, that uphill return will be memorable. Ambitious hikers have the choice of continuing on a steep ascent to the summit of Rodriguez Mountain, where they will be treated to a view of the distant Pacific Ocean.
User Groups: Hikers and horses. No dogs or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A free trail map is available for download at www.sdparks.org. For an interesting hike, download a free interpretive brochure (www.hellholecanyon.org) that describes the plants seen in this preserve. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Rodriguez Mountain.
Directions: From I-15 south of Temecula, take Highway 76 east for 15 miles and turn right (south) on Road S6/Valley Center Road. Drive five miles and turn left on North Lake Wohlford Road. Drive two miles and turn left on Paradise Mountain Road. Drive 3.3 miles to a T-intersection, where you turn right on Los Hermanos Ranch Road and then immediately left on Kiavo Road. Drive 0.5 mile on Kiavo Road to Santee Lane and the preserve entrance.
From Escondido and points south, take East Valley Parkway to North Lake Wohlford Road. Turn right and follow North Lake Wohlford Road for six miles to Paradise Mountain Road. Turn right on Paradise Mountain Road and follow it for 3.5 miles to Kiavo Road. Take Kiavo Road one block to Santee Lane and turn left into the preserve entrance.
Contact: Hellhole Canyon Preserve, Valley Center, 760/742-1631, www.sdparks.org or www.hellholecanyon.org.
1.0 mi/0.5 hr
in Dixon Lake Recreation Area near Escondido
If you are exceptionally lucky, it will be a rainy year in San Diego, and you will be able to see the waterfall flow along Jack Creek at Dixon Lake Recreation Area. We’ve only seen it trickle, but we’ve seen pictures of the 20-foot falls at flood, and it’s quite beautiful. Nonetheless, a stroll on the 0.5-mile Jack Creek Nature Trail is good in any season, although best in winter and spring, when the hills are green and the flowers in bloom. The trail begins just inside the park entrance at the primitive road gate, and travels past a picnic area and along Jack Creek to the lake’s edge. Along the way, many cute bunnies are likely to cross your path. (They are western cottontails, to be precise.) If the creek is flowing strong, be sure to take the right spur to the waterfall’s base; otherwise, just go straight for the northeast side of the lake. At the water’s edge, near the buoy line, the trail connects to the Sage Trail leading into Daley Ranch—a great choice if you feel like hiking farther. Many people choose instead to plunk a line in the water and see if they can catch a largemouth bass, rainbow trout, or catfish. If you do so, be sure to purchase a Dixon Lake fishing permit (a California fishing license is not required here).
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 day-use fee is charged per vehicle on weekends and holidays only.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Valley Center.
Directions: From Escondido, drive north on I-15 and take the El Norte Parkway exit. Drive 3.1 miles east on El Norte Parkway, turn left (north) on La Honda Drive, and drive 1.3 miles to the Dixon Lake entrance, on the right. Turn right, and after passing the kiosk, turn left and park at the Jack Creek Picnic Area.
Contact: Dixon Lake Ranger Station, Escondido, 760/839-4345, www.escondido.org.
0.6 mi/0.5 hr
in Dixon Lake Recreation Area near Escondido
Short and sweet, the Chaparral Interpretive Trail lies on the boundary between Dixon Lake Recreation Area and 3,161-acre Daley Ranch Preserve. The trail is a great place to get an education on San Diego’s natural ecology. It travels through four distinct Southern California plant communities—mixed chaparral, oak woodlands, coastal sage scrub, and a mature riparian area. Interpretive signs along the way identify the foliage you see, including Engelmann and coast live oaks, toyon, various sages, and blue-eyed grass. It is not uncommon for hikers to catch sight of a coyote or a bobcat along this trail, especially when hiking early in the morning. In addition to being an easy stroll, some of this trail is shade-covered, making it pleasant even on warm days.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 day-use fee is charged per vehicle on weekends and holidays only.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Valley Center.
Directions: From Escondido, drive north on I-15 and take the El Norte Parkway exit. Drive 3.1 miles east on El Norte Parkway, turn left (north) on La Honda Drive, and drive 1.3 miles to the Dixon Lake entrance on the right. Turn right, and after passing the kiosk, turn left and park at the Jack Creek Picnic Area.
Contact: Dixon Lake Ranger Station, Escondido, 760/839-4345, www.escondido.org.
7.2 mi/3.5 hr
by Lake Hodges near Escondido
If you’re spending the day anywhere near Lake Hodges, make sure you save a few hours to take this nice hike up to the summit of Bernardo Mountain. The mountain rises 900 feet above Lake Hodges and offers great views of the lake, the nearby Laguna Mountains, much of northern San Diego County, and on clear days, the Pacific Ocean and Mexico. The trail was opened to the public in 2002 as part of the partially completed Coast-to-Crest Trail, which will someday span 55 miles from the ocean at Del Mar to the San Dieguito River’s source on Volcan Mountain. This section of the trail has quickly become well known to Escondido-area hikers and mountain bikers. The route begins with a less-than-promising start on a concrete path that parallels the I-15 freeway. In about 0.5 mile, the concrete turns sharply right and crosses under the freeway, and soon things start to get a whole lot better. At 1.5 miles you’ll cross lovely Felicita Creek, a year-round stream that is lined with oaks and sycamores and provides an excellent place for spotting birds. In another mile you will have circled around to Bernardo Mountain’s north slope, which is covered in tall chaparral. Keep heading uphill, switchbacking your way up the slope on a remarkably mellow grade, until you top out at the summit at 3.6 miles. This is a good spot to say a few words of thanks to the Nature Conservancy, the Trust for Public Land, the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy, and the city of Escondido for purchasing this land and making it available for public use.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Valley Center.
Directions: From San Diego, drive north on I-15 to south Escondido and take the Via Rancho Parkway exit east for about 100 yards. Turn right (south) at the first light on Sunset Drive. Follow Sunset Drive 0.2 mile to its end and the trailhead.
Contact: San Dieguito River Park, Escondido, 858/674-2270, www.sdrp.org.
4.8 mi/2.5 hr
at Daley Ranch Preserve near Escondido
Since its opening to the public in the late 1990s, Daley Ranch has become a favorite park of locals and visitors in the Escondido area. This 3,161-acre park contains a biologically unique landscape consisting of lush oak forests, coastal sage scrub, and native grasslands. The park also has great historical significance, being rich in Native American history as well as the home of English immigrant Robert Daley, who settled here in 1869. The Daley family farmed, raised horses, built a dairy, and later vacationed in this area until late in the 20th century, when the land was purchased by the city of Escondido. This hike follows a meandering loop around the park’s redwood-constructed Ranch House. Follow the Ranch House Trail and the Boulder Loop Trail, then return on the East Ridge and Creek Crossing Trails. Along the way, you’ll enjoy fine views of Escondido, pass by two small ponds, and get a look at the Daleys’ impressive homestead. Pick up a park map at the trailhead; all junctions are well signed. If you’d rather not hike on your own, the park offers a wide range of naturalist-led hikes most Saturdays and Sundays.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: Free park maps are available at the trailhead. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Valley Center.
Directions: From Escondido, drive north on I-15 and take the El Norte Parkway exit. Drive 3.1 miles east on El Norte Parkway, and turn left (north) on La Honda Drive. Drive 1 mile on La Honda Drive and park in the dirt lot on the left.
Contact: Daley Ranch Preserve, Dixon Lake Ranger Station, Escondido, 760/839-4345, www.escondido.org.
5.0 mi/2.5 hr
in Solana Beach
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is bordered by the housing developments and shopping centers of Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Rancho Santa Fe, but the lagoon’s multitudes of resident and migratory birds don’t seem to mind—and neither do hikers and nature lovers. When you first see it, you may find it hard to imagine enjoying a nature experience so close to the freeways and roads. Suspend your disbelief and pay a visit to the lagoon, which is a mixture of freshwater from inland creeks and saltwater from the ocean. The reserve has seven miles of hiking trails with six different trailheads, so there’s a lot to explore here. The south side is a little wilder than the Manchester Avenue side, and the trails are longer, so start there. A gated fire road leads down to the lagoon from the north end of North Rios Avenue, and you can hike either right or left. Birds are abundant, especially great egrets, stilts, gulls, and godwits. Great blue herons occasionally make an appearance, and as you wander inland, you’ll see many songbirds among the chaparral.
If you want to educate yourself about what you are seeing, an intelligent series of interpretive signs is displayed on the Nature Center Trail, a one-mile loop located on the north side of the lagoon (off Manchester Avenue, in Cardiff). The signs explain about saltwater and freshwater marshes, coastal sage scrub, and the wildlife living in these communities.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. The one-mile Nature Center Trail is wheelchair-accessible. No horses or mountain bikes.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A free trail map is available for download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Encinitas.
Directions: From I-5 in Solana Beach, take the Lomas Santa Fe Drive exit and drive west to North Rios Avenue. Turn right and go 0.8 mile to the end of the road and the trailhead. Park alongside the road.
Contact: San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve, Cardiff, 760/634-3026, www.sdparks.org or San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy, 760/436-3944, www.sanelijo.org.
0.75 mi/0.5 hr
in Torrey Pines State Reserve near Del Mar
Torrey Pines is one of the greatest hiking destinations in San Diego, with several short but sweet trails and enough spectacular scenery to keep you coming back for more. The Guy Fleming Loop Trail is the easiest of the trails in the park, with almost no elevation change, so it’s suitable for all levels of hikers. The path has great views of the Pacific Ocean, La Jolla, Del Mar, and Los Peñasquitos Marsh. If you hike the right side of the loop first, you come to the North Overlook, where you can check out the vistas, as well as San Diego’s rare tree, the Torrey pine. The trail then loops around to the South Overlook, where you can sometimes see San Clemente and Catalina Islands. People frequently hold weddings at the South Overlook. If they’re smart, they plan them for spring, when the wildflowers bloom along the trail.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $12-25 day-use fee is charged per vehicle (higher fees apply April to September and on weekends year-round).
Maps: A free map of Torrey Pines State Reserve is available at the park visitors center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Del Mar.
Directions: From I-5 in Del Mar, take the Carmel Valley Road exit and drive west 1.5 miles. Turn south on Camino del Mar and drive 0.7 mile to the reserve entrance. Turn right, drive up the hill 0.7 mile, and park at the first parking area on the right, signed for the Guy Fleming Trail. If this lot is full, you can park farther up the hill, at the visitors center, and walk back down the road.
Contact: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, 858/755-2063, www.parks.ca.gov.
2.5 mi/1.5 hr
in Torrey Pines State Reserve near Del Mar
If you can get a parking spot in the lot by the visitors center at Torrey Pines State Reserve (it’s not easy on weekend afternoons), you can start hiking right away on the Razor Point Trail, cutting over to the Beach Trail from Razor Point and heading to the beach. The Razor Point Trail provides dramatic views of the reserve’s eroded coastal badlands, which would look like something straight out of the desert if not for the ocean beyond. There’s a spiderweb of paths, only some of which are signed, but it’s fine to just wander around at random and visit as many of the overlooks as possible. Windswept Torrey pines grace the bluffs, and wildflowers bloom in the sandy soil in springtime. When you’re in the mood, head south from Razor Point (paralleling the ocean) until you hook up with the Beach Trail, and turn right, squeezing through the narrow, steep sandstone entrance to the beach. It’s great fun. A return uphill on the Beach Trail makes an excellent loop.
Torrey Pines State Reserve
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $12-15 day-use fee is charged per vehicle (higher fees apply April to September and on weekends year-round).
Maps: A free map of Torrey Pines State Reserve is available at the park visitors center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Del Mar.
Directions: From I-5 in Del Mar, take the Carmel Valley Road exit and drive west for 1.5 miles. Turn south on Camino del Mar and drive 0.7 mile to the reserve entrance. Turn right, drive up the hill one mile, and park by the reserve office and visitors center. The trailhead is across the park road from the visitors center.
Contact: Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, 858/755-2063, www.parks.ca.gov.
6.5 mi/3.0 hr
in Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve near Poway
If it is winter or spring and your thoughts are turning to love, there may be no better spot in San Diego for a first date than Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve. The trail that runs from one end of the canyon to the other is wide and level, perfectly built for good conversation and maybe some hand-holding. When the cascades along the creek are flowing, you can find a big volcanic boulder to sit on and watch the reflections of the sky in the water. If not, there are numerous places where you could lay out a picnic blanket under a spreading oak or sycamore tree. Early in the year, the wildflowers bloom and the grasses become verdant. Can this much beauty be found so close to a large urban area? You bet. Although you can hike the trail starting from either end, the eastern trailhead near Poway is preferred, because that end of the path is more shaded. As you wander, keep watching for mileage marker 3, because soon after it, you will see a hitching post and bike rack on the right, where you can veer off the main trail and scramble down to the cascades on Los Peñasquitos Creek. Even when the stream is reduced to a trickle, the car-sized boulders in the creek are fascinating to see; they are remnants of a volcanic island chain formed underwater 140 million years ago.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $3 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A free trail map is available for download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Poway.
Directions: From Escondido, drive south on I-15 for 16 miles to the Mercy Road exit. Turn right (west) on Mercy Road and follow it for one mile, crossing Black Mountain Road, to the trailhead parking area.
Contact: Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, San Diego, 858/484-7504, www.sdparks.org.
4.0-6.0 mi/2-3 hr
in the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve near Poway
The 700-acre Blue Sky Ecological Reserve provides habitat for several rare and threatened animal and plant species, including harried San Diego humans who desperately need a place to stop and smell the flowers. The reserve is home to the San Diego horned lizard and a lovely grove of coast live oaks. It’s a great place to hike on hot days in San Diego because so much of the reserve is shaded by a dense tree canopy. From the trailhead, hike along the wide, flat fire road, or head down onto the Creekside Trail, which connects back to the fire road in a short distance. Deer, rabbits, and birds of many kinds are commonly seen. Poison oak is prevalent, too, but stay on the main trails and you can easily avoid it. At about one mile, turn right on the trail to Lake Poway, a short ascent away. The lake is a fine place to catch catfish and trout or to rent a rowboat and row your hiking partner around the lake (boat rentals are available Wed.-Sun.). You can also walk the perimeter of the lake, which will add two miles and some climbing and descending to this mostly level route. Or just retrace your steps to the main trail, and head back to the trailhead for a four-mile round-trip. Another option is to continue on the main trail to the left fork for Lake Ramona. Follow the fork and you’ll face a fairly steep climb up to Lake Ramona’s dam, but the reward is a lovely view all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
If you enjoy hiking with a naturalist, check the reserve’s website at www.poway.org/bluesky for the dates and times of free guided hikes. The trips are usually only one mile in length—just right for families with young children.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, and horses. No mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Escondido.
Directions: From I-15 near Poway, drive north to the Rancho Bernardo Road exit. Drive east for 3.5 miles on Rancho Bernardo Road/Espola Road to the reserve (on the left).
Contact: Blue Sky Ecological Reserve, 858/668-4781; City of Poway, 858/668-4400, www.poway.org.
3.6 mi/2.0 hr
near Poway
Mount Woodson is the neighborhood summit to climb for the thousands of people who live in the Poway, Scripps Ranch, and Rancho Bernardo areas. The light-colored, rocky mountain—a favorite playground of rock climbers from all over San Diego—is always there in the background, looming over the suburbs below. If you’ve never seen Mount Woodson except from the bottom looking up, maybe it’s time to lace up your hiking boots. The trail has a 1,500-foot elevation gain to reach the 2,894-foot peak, so you’ll get in your workout for the day, but you won’t be so wiped out that you can’t enjoy the vistas or the fascinating rock formations you’ll see along the trail. Hike on the path south of the fire station, and then follow the paved Mount Woodson Road. You’ll reach the top at 1.8 miles, where a ton of electronic equipment is in place. Wander around a bit on the ridge until you find the best spot to look out over the wide blue Pacific, pick out the summits of Mount Baldy and Palomar Mountain, and then congratulate yourself for having bagged Mount Woodson’s peak. If you are looking for more of a challenge on the way to Woodson’s summit, you can take a longer trail (seven miles round-trip) that starts at Lake Poway. This alternate trail is the preferred route for people who can’t stand hiking on pavement. The path is steep and narrow in places, and has a 2,000-foot elevation gain to the summit. It begins on the east side of Lake Poway, so from the lake’s main parking lots you must walk about a half-mile around the lake (counterclockwise) to access it.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 parking fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Pasqual.
Directions: From Poway, drive east on Poway Road for 3.5 miles and turn north on Highway 67. Drive three miles to the Ramona CDF Fire Station, on the left. The trail begins by the fire station.
Contact: Lake Poway Recreation Area, Poway, 858/668-4770, www.poway.org.
3.1-5.0 mi/1.5-2.5 hr
in Sycamore Canyon Preserve near Poway
Are you looking for a good spot to watch the sun set, but you don’t feel like braving the traffic to the beach? A trip to the adjoining Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve could be just the ticket. The terrain is coastal sage scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland (no surprises here), but the path leads into beautiful canyons and offers wide vistas of San Diego County. The preserve’s trails are well maintained and well signed, with trail maps posted at major intersections. From the parking lot, take the winding single-track trail on the left through the chaparral, heading down through Martha’s Grove (a group of ancient oak trees), then out into the open grasslands. Turn right on the fire road and then right again to loop back for a 3.1-mile round-trip. If you want to hike longer, continue downhill on the Martha’s Grove Trail and add on a two-mile loop around the southern half of Goodan Ranch, which is dotted with historic buildings dating back to the 1930s and year-round streams. This will give you a five-mile loop hike. Note: The preserve is also popular with mountain bikers, but the ones we met were extremely courteous to hikers.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A free trail map is available for download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Vicente Reservoir.
Directions: From Poway drive east on Poway Road to Garden Road. Turn right, drive one mile on Garden Road, and turn right on Sycamore Canyon Road. Drive 2.5 miles to the road’s end at the Goodan Staging Area.
Contact: Goodan Ranch Sycamore Canyon Preserve, Poway, 858/513-4737, www.sdparks.org.
6.0 mi/3.5 hr
near Poway
A well-maintained trail leads to the summit of 2,696-foot Iron Mountain, where the view of northern San Diego County is inspiring. The hike is challenging enough for some good aerobic exercise, but short enough that it can be accomplished after work on the long days of summer, assuming the day is not too hot. If you are wondering about the name “Iron Mountain,” its meaning is revealed about one mile up the trail, where a side trail goes very steeply uphill to the remains of an old iron ore mine. A half-mile past this side trail is the right turnoff for the summit, which lies 1.4 miles farther. A hiker’s register can usually be found on top, where most visitors are inclined to scribble a few wise words. Many comments revolve around the pointy summit’s commanding view, which extends all the way to the shimmering Pacific. There are likely to be plenty of other users on this trail, including mountain bikers, hardcore joggers, and equestrians, but everybody is usually friendly. Note: This is one of two possible routes to Iron Mountain. The other route starts just a short distance north of this one at the end of Ellie Lane (just off Highway 67), and is much more challenging. Both trails offer the same reward, but the route described here is easier by far, with an elevation gain of only 1,150 feet.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Vicente Reservoir.
Directions: From Poway, drive east on Poway Road for 3.5 miles to its junction with Highway 67. The trailhead is at this junction, on the east side of Highway 67 at a small gravel parking area. Park there or alongside the road.
Contact: City of Poway, Poway, 858/668-4400, www.poway.org.
2.0 mi/1.5 hr
in Cabrillo National Monument
While everybody else at Cabrillo National Monument is visiting the old Point Loma Lighthouse, having their picture taken by the statue of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, or checking out the wonderful view of San Diego from the visitors center, you can sneak off for a hike on the Bayside Trail and find a surprising amount of solitude. Gorgeous coastal vistas will accompany that solitude, as well as an interesting lesson in native coastal vegetation. This coastal Mediterranean habitat is one of the eight most sensitive in the world.
Take the paved sidewalk trail from the parking lot to the lighthouse, where you can peer inside at the period furniture and imagine what life was like for the lighthouse keeper and his family in the 1890s. Then check out the Lighthouses of Point Loma exhibit in the Assistant Keeper’s Quarters next door and the great views from the overlooks on the lighthouse’s far side. After this short tour, pick up the paved road on the east side of the lighthouse, signed as the Bayside Trail. Take the left fork, which is gravel, and wind gently downhill around Point Loma, occasionally tearing your eyes away from the view so you can read the interpretive signs. If you do, you’ll learn all about coastal sage scrub, local and migrating birds, and fire ecology. On every step of the trail, the whole of San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean are yours to survey. You’ll see huge navy ships sailing out to sea, flocks of gulls following the fishing boats back into harbor, plus sailboats and jet skiers galore. The trail ends 300 feet below the statue of Cabrillo, where a sign says Trail Ends—Return by the Same Route. Darn.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $20 entrance fee is charged per vehicle, which is good for seven days.
Maps: A free brochure and trail map of Cabrillo National Monument are available at the entrance station or visitors center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Point Loma.
Directions: From I-5 South or I-8 West in San Diego, take the Rosecrans Street exit and drive south. Staying on Rosecrans Street, you will turn right on Cañon Street and then left on Catalina Boulevard. The road ends at Cabrillo National Monument. The trail begins by the old lighthouse.
Contact: Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, 619/557-5450, www.nps.gov/cabr.
1.0 mi/0.5 hr
in Cabrillo National Monument
We love tidepools, and the ones at Cabrillo National Monument are some of the best in Southern California. You may want to stop in at the Cabrillo National Monument visitors center before you head straight for the tidepools. A film on tidepool life plays continually in the auditorium and the Cabrillo Store sells brochures and books on how to explore the pools and identify the various creatures that live there. Even more important, you should check your tide table before you visit (or phone the park), or else your hike may be very, very short. A fenced trail leads along the bluff tops for a few hundred feet, but then you descend to the rocky beach and walk a long stretch. (You have to stop below the coast guard station, as that area is closed to the public for restoration.) What will you see? Most likely, you’ll get a peek at mussels, crabs, sea hares, barnacles, sea stars, anemones, snails, and limpets. If you’re lucky, you could see an octopus, an abalone, or a sea urchin. Is it wintertime? Why, we believe a passing gray whale just waved her flipper at you. Gray whales may be seen returning to their breeding grounds in Baja California from late December though early March.
Carbrillo Tidepools
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required, unless you are traveling in a group of 10 people or more. A $20 entrance fee is charged per vehicle, which is good for seven days.
Maps: A free brochure and trail map of Cabrillo National Monument are available at the entrance station or visitors center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Point Loma.
Directions: From I-5 South or I-8 West in San Diego, take the Rosecrans Street exit and drive south. Staying on Rosecrans Street, turn right on Cañon Street, left on Catalina Boulevard, and continue to the monument entrance. After paying the entrance fee, take the right fork (immediately following the entrance station) that is signed as Tidepools Parking Area. Continue down the hill to the parking area.
Contact: Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego, 619/557-5450, www.nps.gov/cabr.
3.0 mi/1.5 hr
in Palomar Mountain State Park
If you’ve never visited before, Palomar Mountain State Park is like a shock to your system—a good shock. At 5,500 feet in elevation, the air is cool, the conifers are big, and suburban sprawl seems far, far away. We kept shaking our heads in disbelief at the Sierra Nevada-like feel of the place. A good introduction to the park is this loop hike on three trails: the Doane Valley Nature Trail, the Weir Trail, and the Lower Doane Valley Trail. From the parking area at Doane Pond (which is always busy with children learning to fish), head away from Doane Pond on the trail that crosses the park road. Start your walk on the Doane Valley Nature Trail and veer left onto the Weir Trail, following pretty Doane Creek under the shade of big pines, firs, and cedars. Cross the creek about one mile out (shortly after the left fork for the Baptist Trail), then follow the Lower Doane Valley Trail as it loops back around a meadow. You’ll probably see deer and mountain quail and hear many birdcalls. You’ll certainly see the evidence of resident woodpeckers in the big old trees. When the trail nears Doane Valley Campground, cross the creek again and make a sharp switchback to the right, on the Doane Valley Nature Trail. The nature trail will close out your trip, bringing you back to the trailhead in 0.75 mile. As you pass the giant conifers and grassy meadows along the way, you will ask yourself again and again, “Is this really San Diego?”
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $10 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A map of Palomar Mountain State Park is available at the entrance station or park headquarters, or by free download at www.parks.ca.gov. For topographic maps, go to the USGS website to download Boucher Hill and Palomar Observatory.
Directions: From I-15 north of Escondido, drive east on Highway 76 for 21 miles. Turn left (north) on Road S6/South Grade Road and drive 6.5 miles to the junction with Road S7. Turn left on Road S7 and drive three miles into the park. Pay your fee at the entrance station, then continue on the park road, turn right, and drive to the parking area by Doane Pond and the school camp.
Contact: Palomar Mountain State Park, Palomar Mountain, 760/742-3462 or 760/767-5311, www.parks.ca.gov or www.friendsofpalomarsp.org.
4.0 mi/2.0 hr
in Palomar Mountain State Park
You may be wowed by the view of Pauma Valley from Boucher Lookout (at elevation 5,438 feet), but start walking on the Boucher Trail, and you’ll be wowed even more. The trail descends from the fire lookout, passing a burn area. It crosses Nate Harrison Grade Road and heads for Cedar Grove Campground. The camp is well named; the cedars are huge and majestic here. Bear right at the fork by the campground, walk a brief stretch on the camp road, and then cross the park road to pick up the Scott’s Cabin Trail, which leads to the cabin site of an 1880s homesteader. Only the base of the cabin remains—it’s a rather sad-looking pile of sticks and logs. From the site, take the right fork to head back to park headquarters and Silvercrest Picnic Area. Walk to your right on the park road for a few hundred yards until you can pick up the Boucher Trail once more and walk back to the lookout. Here the Boucher Trail is the narrow trail that runs between the legs of the driving loop to the lookout. What? You say you forgot your troubles along the way? That’s what happens here at Palomar Mountain.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $1-day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A map of Palomar State Park is available at the entrance station or park headquarters, or by free download at www.parks.ca.gov. For topographic maps, go to the USGS website to download Boucher Hill and Palomar Observatory.
Directions: From I-15 north of Escondido, drive east on Highway 76 for 21 miles. Turn left (north) on Road S6 (South Grade Road) and drive 6.5 miles to the junction with Road S7. Turn left on Road S7 and drive three miles into the park. Pay your fee at the entrance station, then continue on the park road and bear left at the sign for Boucher Lookout. Park at the lookout and begin hiking on Boucher Trail.
Contact: Palomar Mountain State Park, Palomar Mountain, 760/742-3462 or 760/767-5311, www.parks.ca.gov or www.friendsofpalomarsp.org.
4.4 mi/2.5 hr
in Cleveland National Forest on Palomar Mountain
The hike to reach Palomar Observatory is far better than the drive to reach it. Even if you have absolutely no interest in astronomy, the National Recreation Trail to the observatory is just plain fun to walk. From Observatory Campground, the trail is an aerobic uphill climb, but on a well-graded, well-maintained trail with an 800-foot elevation gain. The shade is dense from oaks, pines, and cedars, and you’ll find many giant-sized pine cones along the trail. At 0.5 mile, you reach an overlook platform with a lovely view of Mendenhall Valley, and then you head back into the forest to climb some more. The last stretch of trail brings you out to the observatory parking lot, where you turn right, walk through the lot and past the museum, and head straight for what looks like a big white golf ball—the 200-inch Hale telescope. Be sure to walk up the couple flights of stairs to the telescope viewing area and learn all about how the amazing gadget works. More than 100 billion galaxies like ours are within spotting range of the giant telescope. Every clear night of the year, the scope is scanning the skies in an attempt to unveil the mysteries of the universe. The astronomy museum in the neighboring building is also worth a look.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 parking fee is charged unless you have a National Forest Adventure Pass or interagency access pass.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Palomar Observatory.
Directions: From I-15 north of Escondido, drive east on Highway 76 for 21 miles. Turn left (north) on Road S6 (South Grade Road) and drive 6.5 miles to the junction with Road S7, and then continue north on Road S6 for three more miles to Observatory Campground, on the right. Drive through the camp to the signed parking area for the amphitheater and trailhead.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District, Ramona, 760/788-0250, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
10.4 mi/5.5 hr
on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation near Warner Springs
Lots of people drive all the way out to Warner Springs and hike to the summit of Hot Springs Mountain at 6,533 feet just so they can say they’ve climbed the highest mountain in San Diego County (even though it’s a mere 21 feet taller than Cuyamaca Peak in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park). But if it’s April or early May, another great reason to hike here is to see the wildflower display, which is surprisingly diverse and colorful. Autumn is also scenic; the mountain’s slopes shelter dense stands of black oaks, which turn a brilliant gold in late October. Note: The entrance gate at the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation is only attended on weekends and Monday holidays, so if you plan to visit on a weekday, write or call ahead for permission to visit.
Once you’ve obtained your permit and map at the entrance station, you’ll drive onward to the trailhead near Los Coyotes Campground (inside the reservation boundary) to start hiking on Sukat Road. The hike follows dirt roads the whole way, and the first mile is the toughest, with a 550-foot gain. At the top, you meet up with a better dirt road that runs up the south slope of Hot Springs Mountain. Turn right (west) and ascend higher along the ridgeline, passing by small flower-filled meadows interspersed among groves of Coulter pines and black oaks. There’s a lot more greenery up here than you’ll find in most of San Diego County.
Technically, Hot Springs Mountain has two summits, east and west, and on the latter you’ll find an abandoned lookout tower that has been closed since the mid-1970s but was once used by the California Department of Forestry for spotting fires. The dilapidated old building looks precarious, like a strong wind could knock it over completely. Continue past it on a rough use trail to the eastern summit. You’ll have to do a little scrambling up this chaparral-covered hill. On top is a concrete slab perched on a rock outcrop, a USGS marker, and a register where you can sign your name and read the comments of other visitors. Hot Springs Mountain’s summit offers a fascinating perspective on the immense size of the Salton Sea, the surrounding desert, the Henshaw Valley, and the Pacific Ocean. The total elevation gain for this hike is 2,200 feet. Warning: Four-wheel-drive vehicles are permitted on this road/trail, so it is possible you may be passed by a few gas-guzzlers—but most of the time it’s just you and the mountain.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: An access permit is required and is available at the entrance gate. The entrance fee is $10 per person. The entrance gate is usually attended 8am-5pm on weekends and Monday holidays.
Maps: A trail map is provided when you pay the entrance fee. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Hot Springs Mountain.
Directions: From Santa Ysabel at the junction of Highways 78 and 79, take Highway 79 north for 12 miles toward Warner Springs. Turn east (right) on Camino San Ignacio (about two miles before Warner Springs Resort). Continue for about six miles to the reservation entrance gate. You will be given a map to the trailhead (it’s across from the Los Coyotes Campground sign) when you pay your entrance fee at the guardhouse.
Contact: Los Coyotes Band of Indians, Warner Springs, 760/782-0711 or 760/782-2790, www.kumeyaay.info.
0.5 mi/0.5 hr
in Cleveland National Forest near Santa Ysabel
At 3,200 feet in elevation, you can look down a long way into the steep canyon of the San Diego River. And that’s what you do here on the Inaja Memorial National Recreation Trail, a short but interesting path that begins at the Inaja Picnic Area. The path undulates along the canyon edge, sometimes following stairs and sometimes on a gently graded trail, passing through a brushy landscape of rocks and chaparral. If you pick up an interpretive brochure at the trailhead, you can learn all about the plants that thrive in this area—live oak, scrub oak, wild lilac, toyon, manzanita, and chamise—and the geology of its granitic rocks. Yours for the taking are wide views of both the Santa Ysabel Valley and Volcan Mountain near Julian. The picnic area and trail have an interesting history: They were named to honor the 11 firefighters who lost their lives in the 60,000-acre Inaja forest fire of 1956.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities except at the picnic area.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 parking fee is charged unless you have a National Forest Adventure Pass or interagency access pass.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Santa Ysabel.
Directions: From Julian, drive northwest on Highway 78/79 for six miles (to one mile south of Santa Ysabel). Inaja Picnic Area and the trailhead are on the south (left) side of the road.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District, Ramona, 760/788-0250, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
3.2-5.4 mi/1.5-2.5 hr
in Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve near Julian
Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve is a San Diego County parkland that is open to hiking, mountain biking, and equestrians (sorry, no dogs). The first-rate Five Oaks Trail is for hikers only, and it provides a route along the lower slopes of Volcan Mountain that bypasses most of the alternate multi-use trail, a steep and unattractive fire road. To access it, follow the fire road for the first 0.4 mile, and then cut off onto Five Oaks Trail (watch for the stone steps on the right). Once on the trail, you are dwarfed by dense groves of tree-sized manzanitas. On warm days, you may feel a huge debt of gratitude for their shade. Farther along the trail, black oaks provide a cool canopy, plus a splash of rich color in the autumn. Where the foliage opens up, you’ll gain glimpses of Palomar Mountain and the Anza-Borrego Desert. After 1.2 miles on the Five Oaks Trail, you reach a stone bench on a ridge with a view to the south, overlooking the Julian area.
If hiking this trail has whetted your appetite for a trip to the summit of Volcan Mountain, it’s only another 1.1 mile up the fire road. The view from the top is a wide panorama from the desert to the coast. If you’d like to hike to the summit with a knowledgeable guide, free ranger-led hikes are offered on weekends once a month from April to November (call 760/765-4098).
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs. Horses and mountain bikes are allowed on fire roads, but not Five Oaks Trail. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A free map is available at the trailhead or by free download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Julian.
Directions: From Julian, drive north on Farmer Road for 2.2 miles. Turn right on Wynola Road, drive 100 yards, then turn left on the continuation of Farmer Road. Drive 200 yards and park on the right side of Farmer Road by the Volcan Mountain Preserve sign.
Contact: Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve, Julian, 760/765-4098, www.sdparks.org.
3.5 mi/2.0 hr
in William Heise County Park near Julian
William Heise County Park, a favorite of San Diego hikers, is located near Julian at 4,000 feet in elevation. The park was badly burned in 2003 and 2007 wildfires, but its oak forests and shrubs are regenerating beautifully and it’s often hard to discern where the fire damage occurred. From the trailhead, start hiking through the oaks. You’ll leave the Nature Trail to join the Canyon Oak Trail in 0.25 mile. Bear left on the loop, then bear left on the Desert View Trail. The route is steep, but in 0.1 mile, you reach an overlook with an expansive view of the Cuyamaca and Laguna Mountains. The trail continues upward for another 0.75 mile to a spur trail leading to a higher overlook, Glen’s View. The broad vista here will surprise you—you’ll spy the Anza-Borrego Desert, the Salton Sea, and even the Pacific Ocean. A makeshift scope on top of a stone monument at Glen’s View helps you identify all of San Diego County’s best features.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $3 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A free trail map is available at the entrance station or by free download at www.sdparks.org. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Julian.
Directions: From Julian, drive two miles west on Highway 78/79 and turn left (south) on Pine Hills Road. Drive two miles, turn left on Frisius Drive, and drive two more miles. Frisius Drive turns into Heise Park Road and enters the park. From the park entrance kiosk, continue straight on the park road and drive to near its end. Trail parking is located above campsite No. 64 or next to campsite No. 77. The trailhead is located near campsite No. 87 at the top of the campground.
Contact: William Heise County Park, Julian, 760/765-0650, www.sdparks.org.
4.4 mi/2.5 hr
in Cleveland National Forest near Julian
Since it’s a fantastic waterfall and swimming hole that’s a relatively short hike from the car, Cedar Creek Falls is no secret among San Diego hikers. Word gets around fast about these kinds of great destinations. Additionally, it’s easy to find: the trailhead is well signed and is a major access point for the California Riding and Hiking Trail. The only hard part is the long drive in on a dirt road (about eight miles), but it’s doable for passenger cars (except immediately after the most extreme storms). Begin by hiking downhill and to the right on the wide fire road, enjoying views of the far-off San Diego River Canyon, as well as colorful spring wildflowers on the slopes alongside the road. At 1.4 miles, look for a left fork off the main trail. It may be unsigned, but it’s the first and only left turnoff you’ll see. Follow it southeast, heading up and over a small saddle. When you come down the other side, you’ll see two possible trail options. The left fork takes you to the top of the falls; the right fork continues down to the valley, where you turn left and head upstream to Cedar Creek Falls. It’s worth taking the left fork so you can see what the waterfall looks like from above—it’s like a gorgeous infinity pool with a dizzying 100-foot dropoff—but then you’ll need to backtrack to this junction and take the opposite fork to access the 50-foot-wide pool at the waterfall’s base. (It’s too dangerous to scramble down the waterfall’s cliff to the base; follow the trail instead.)
Note: If you’d like to visit this waterfall without the long drive on a dirt road, it can be accessed via another trailhead in the town of Ramona, off Thornbush Road (take San Vicente Road to Ramona Oaks Road to Cathedral Way to Thornbush Road). The trail from Ramona to Cedar Creek Falls is about five miles round-trip.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Santa Ysabel.
Directions: From Julian, drive two miles west on Highway 78/79, then turn left (south) on Pine Hills Road. In 1.5 miles, bear right on Eagle Peak Road. In 1.4 miles, bear right again, staying on Eagle Peak Road. Continue 8.2 miles on this partly paved, partly dirt road to the signed trailhead just beyond mile marker 9, at a four-way junction of roads. (The road gets a bit rough after the first four miles, but it’s usually suitable for passenger cars.)
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District, Ramona, 760/788-0250, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
4.0 mi/2.0 hr
in Cleveland National Forest near Julian
Three Sisters Falls is a must-see for serious San Diego waterfall lovers, but the trip is not for everybody. The drive to the trailhead is fairly arduous (several miles of bumpy driving on dirt road) and the hike, although fairly short, is mercilessly steep and follows an unmaintained route, not a real trail. It’s mostly downhill on the way in and mostly uphill on the way back, so save some energy for your return trip.
Start at the signboard for the Cedar Creek Trail, an old ranch road. Follow it for 0.7 mile, heading slightly uphill to a saddle where you can see and hear the falls in springtime, and then switchback down to the left for 0.4 mile until you meet up with tiny Sheep Camp Creek. Cross Sheep Camp Creek and pick up the good trail on its far side, heading right. You’ll ascend slightly for 0.3 mile to a second low saddle, where once again you should be able to spot the Three Sisters in the canyon below. This visual incentive is critical, because you’re about to face some remarkably steep downhill scrambling, which might be more accurately called “bouldering.” Wear your best-gripping boots and bring hiking poles if you have them; the footing is loose and/or nonexistent in places. After descending a rugged 500 feet, you’ll finally reach Boulder Creek. Hike, rockhop, or wade upstream for a few hundred yards to get to the base of the falls. Depending on Boulder Creek’s flow, there may be several possible routes, but whatever you do, stay off the slick rock as much as possible. If you have to choose between stepping on these rocks and wading through poison oak, choose the poison oak. Really. So what’s the payoff? A triple set of waterfalls on Boulder Creek, the Three Sisters creates an impressive display of white water on smooth granite. The middle fall is the tallest at about 50 feet, and the large pool at the bottom will tempt you to swim.
User Groups: Hikers, dogs, horses, and mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Cedar Creek.
Directions: From Julian, drive two miles west on Highway 78/79, then turn left (south) on Pine Hills Road. In 1.5 miles, bear right on Eagle Peak Road. In 1.4 miles, bear left (south) on Boulder Creek Road and drive 8.4 miles to a hairpin turn and junction with another dirt road. A Forest Service signboard for Cedar Creek Trail is located there. Park alongside the road and take the trail from the signboard.
From I-8 in downtown San Diego, take Highway 79 north (Descanso exit) for 1.3 miles. Turn left on Riverside Drive and drive 0.6 mile to “downtown” Descanso and its intersection of roads. Follow Oak Grove Drive 1.6 miles to Boulder Creek Road, on the right. Turn north on Boulder Creek Road and drive 13 miles on this part-paved, part-dirt road to a hairpin turn and junction with dirt Cedar Creek Road. Park alongside the road and take the trail from the signboard.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Palomar Ranger District, Ramona, 760/788-0250, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
5.2 mi/3.0 hr
in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park near Julian
A 6,512-foot summit in San Diego? Yes, it’s true. Cuyamaca Peak is the undisputed king of the peaks in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and it’s just shy of being the tallest summit in the county. (Hot Springs Mountain near Warner Springs is a bit taller at 6,533 feet.) The main trail to the summit is the paved Lookout Fire Road that is closed to vehicle traffic. Normally we avoid paved trails like the plague, but this one is so pleasantly graded (1,650 feet of climbing spread out over 2.6 miles) and delivers such a fantastic 360-degree view at the top that it’s worth making an exception. If you like, you can bypass some of the pavement by starting your trip on the Azalea Glen Trail from Paso Picacho Campground, then connecting to Azalea Spring Road, Conejos Trail, and finally the paved summit road. (This will add another mile to your trip.) What do you see when you attain the summit of Cuyamaca? Just about everything that surrounds San Diego: the ocean (see if you can pick out Catalina Island on the clearest days), Mexico, Mount San Jacinto, Mount San Gorgonio, Palomar Observatory, Anza-Borrego Desert, and the Salton Sea. So what does Cuayamaca mean? Roughly, it’s “place beyond the rain.”
User Groups: Hikers and mountain bikes. Leashed dogs are permitted on Lookout Fire Road. No horses. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $10 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A map of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is available at the entrance kiosk or by free download at www.parks.ca.gov. A more detailed map is available from Tom Harrison Maps. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Cuyamaca.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 40 miles to the Highway 79 exit. Drive north on Highway 79 for 11 miles and turn left into Paso Picacho Campground. Park at the day-use parking lot.
Contact: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Descanso, 760/765-0755, www.cuyamacasp.org or www.parks.ca.gov.
3.0 mi/1.5 hr
in Mission Trails Regional Park
Mission Trails Regional Park is a playland for outdoor lovers; the visitors center alone provides enough entertainment to fill an entire afternoon. It’s a huge, architecturally unique building with state-of-the-art displays, and it’s better designed than many museums. If you only have time to hike one trail in the park, you may as well go for the summit of Cowles Mountain, a 1,591-foot peak with a 360-degree view of the city. They say Cowles Mountain is the highest point in San Diego, but they mean the city, not the county. Pick a cool day, because the trail is sunny and exposed, ascending through chaparral and sage scrub, and with a 951-foot elevation gain to the summit. When you reach the top and look out at the city below, consider the temporary state of all you survey compared to the rock you’re standing on, which is nearly 150 million years old. If you feel like hiking some more, you can continue another 1.5 miles from Cowles Mountain Summit to Pyles Peak Summit. If you want to take a somewhat mellower grade to Cowles Mountain, you can start at the trailhead at Mesa Road. From there, it’s 2.2 miles to the top.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No mountain bikes or horses. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A free map of Mission Trails Regional Park is available at the visitors center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download La Mesa.
Directions: From I-15 south of Poway, take Highway 52 east and exit at Mast Boulevard. Turn left on Mast Boulevard and then right on West Hills Parkway. Turn right on Mission Gorge Road, drive two miles, and then turn left on Golfcrest Drive. Follow Golfcrest Drive to its intersection with Navajo Road, where the trailhead for Cowles Mountain trailhead is located, on the left. If you wish to go to the park’s visitors center first, continue past Golfcrest Drive on Mission Gorge Road and turn right at the park entrance.
Contact: Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego, 619/668-3281, www.mtrp.org.
1.5 mi/1.0 hr
in the Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary near Lakeside
The Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, a favorite spot of San Diego bird-watchers, is managed by the San Diego Audubon Society and open to hikers on Sundays only (9am-4 pm). If it’s your first visit, stop in at the Frank Gander Nature Education Center before stepping out on the trails. Exhibits focus on the process of fire ecology and how birds and animals adapt to fire. Late winter and spring are the best times to visit; wildflowers are profuse and many birds, from bluebirds to wrens, make their nests here. Binoculars are a must; more than 160 bird species have been sighted in the sanctuary, including Costas hummingbirds, various woodpeckers, flycatchers, towhees, and an abundance of songbirds. If you are new to birding, show up at 10am or 1:30pm on Sunday for a free, guided hike (Oct.-June). The Audubon Society naturalists who lead the walks are incredibly knowledgeable, and they tailor the walk to the ability of the people who attend. This is a wonderful, educational trip for bird-watchers and non-bird-watchers alike. And if you want more walking to go with your bird-watching, the sanctuary has a total of 5.7 miles of hiking trails. Many people head for the Circuit Trail, which runs along a high ridge and offers great views.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: Hikers must sign in at the trailhead register. Parking and access are free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Maps: Maps are available at the trailhead register. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download San Vicente Reservoir.
Directions: From I-8 in San Diego, drive east to Highway 67 near El Cajon. Drive north on Highway 67 to Lakeside, where you turn right on Mapleview Street. Drive a short distance, turn left on Ashwood Street (which becomes Wildcat Canyon Road), and drive 4.8 miles to 13003 Wildcat Canyon Road.
Contact: Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary, Lakeside, 619/443-2998, www.sandiegoaudubon.org.
4.0 mi/2.0 hr
in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
A great trail for first-timers to Cuyamaca Rancho State park is the Stonewall Peak Trail across from Paso Picacho Campground. Although slightly dwarfed by neighboring Cuyamaca Peak, Stonewall Peak is no slouch in the summit department: its peak towers at 5,730 feet in elevation. Stonewall Peak overlooks the site of the turn-of-the-century Stonewall Mine, as well as a large chunk of the Cuyamaca Mountains and Anza-Borrego Desert. The trail has only an 850-foot elevation gain and is remarkably well-graded. A series of multiple switchbacks whisk you to the summit on a well-graded path. The final 50 yards of trail are cut into an exposed stone ridge; granite stairs and a handrail keep you from going over the edge. The summit view is nothing short of grand, taking in all of the park, Lake Cuyamaca, and the desert far to the east. Squint hard and you can see the Palomar Observatory, Mount San Gorgonio, Mount San Jacinto, and the Salton Sea.
User Groups: Hikers only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. An $8 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A map of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is available at the entrance kiosk or by free download at www.parks.ca.gov. A more detailed map is available from Tom Harrison Maps. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Cuyamaca.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 40 miles to the Highway 79 exit. Drive north on Highway 79 for 11 miles and turn left into Paso Picacho Campground. Park at the day-use parking lot. The trail begins across the highway from the campground.
Contact: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Descanso, 760/765-0755, www.cuyamaca.us or www.parks.ca.gov.
0.5-3.0 mi/0.5-1.5 hr
in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
The Green Valley area in the southern region of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is a lush, cool oasis for park visitors. A trip to Green Valley Falls is an easy walk with a good payoff on a warm day. From the picnic area parking lot at Green Valley Campground, follow the wide fire road along the Sweetwater River to the cutoff for the falls, then hike downhill to your left. By summer, the river’s cascades aren’t terribly dramatic, but there are still many cool pools where you can soak your toes, as well as wide granite ledges where you can lay out a towel and lounge around on the rocks. If you feel like logging a few more miles, you can continue past the falls’ cutoff to the fire road’s junction with South Boundary Fire Road. Turn right and loop back via South Boundary and Arroyo Seco Fire Roads, making a 3.5-mile round-trip.
User Groups: Hikers, horses, and mountain bikes (on the fire road only). No dogs. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. An $8 day-use fee is charged per vehicle.
Maps: A map of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is available at the entrance kiosk or by free download at www.parks.ca.gov. A more detailed map is available from Tom Harrison Maps. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Cuyamaca.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 40 miles to the Highway 79 exit. Drive north on Highway 79 for seven miles and turn left (west) at the sign for Green Valley Campground. Follow the signs to the picnic area. One sign points either straight ahead or to the left for the picnic area; continue straight to reach the trailhead.
Contact: Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, Descanso, 760/765-0755, www.cuyamaca.us or www.parks.ca.gov.
4.4 mi/2.5 hr
in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
The route to Garnet Peak begins on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at the Penny Pines trailhead, where you can see the list of names of the good people who have donated funds to California’s national forests for reforestation. Garnet Peak’s magnificent summit view and the relative ease of this trail have made this a favorite of San Diego hikers. Follow the well-graded PCT to the north (left). The trail has pleasantly little elevation gain, and it hugs the Laguna Mountain rim, offering nearly continual views of Storm Canyon and the Anza-Borrego Desert. You won’t see any trail signs directing you to the peak. Ignore the first two right turnoffs at 1.5 miles out (they lead to expansive overlooks, but they won’t take you to the summit). Instead, turn right at the third right turnoff, signed for the Garnet Peak Trail. The trail makes a rocky ascent, but in less than a mile, you reach the jagged, 5,900-foot summit. There you’re rewarded with mind-boggling views of the Anza-Borrego Desert, Palomar Observatory, Mount San Jacinto and Mount San Gorgonio, the Laguna and Cuyamaca Mountains, and on and on. On a crisp January day, we were able to spot snow-covered Mount Baldy, 90 miles to the northwest, as well. Most remarkable is that the desert floor is 5,000 feet below you, and it appears to be straight down. This summit vista can boggle your mind. Total elevation gain on the trail? A mere 500 feet. Judging by the popularity of this trail on the weekends, it might just be too easy.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. A map of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is available from the Descanso Ranger District or the Laguna Mountain Visitors Center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Monument Peak.
Directions: From Julian, drive south on Highway 79 to the left fork for Road S1/Sunrise Scenic Byway. Bear left and drive south for about 12 miles to the Penny Pines Plantation, between mile markers 27.5 and 27.0. Park along the road.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District, Alpine, 619/445-6235, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
1.5 mi/1.0 hr
in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
The Lightning Ridge Trail is one of the show-and-tell trails of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area, where you can get up high and get a clear view of how beautiful and unusual this tall, cool mountain on the edge of the desert really is. The trail is easy enough for almost any hiker to accomplish, with only 250 feet of elevation gain. It begins at a small stone monument at Laguna Campground’s amphitheater parking lot and follows the edge of a meadow, making several long, sweeping switchbacks uphill through pines and oaks. Kick a few pine cones as you walk. The trail tops out at a water tank at the top of the ridge. The cement tank is uninspiring, but the view is sweet: Laguna Meadow lies directly below, a beautiful, green expanse in spring. If you time your trip for after a good season of rain, you may see a rare sight: Little Laguna Lake, in the middle of the meadow. This is the secret vanishing lake of the Laguna Mountains.
What’s the best time to hike this trail? Unquestionably it’s winter or spring—by Memorial Day, the meadow grasses are often dry and brown. If you’re lucky, you can walk this trail on a clear winter day, when it’s covered with a few inches of snow.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A $5 fee is charged for parking inside Laguna Campground. You can park outside the campground for free.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. A map of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is available from the Descanso Ranger District or the Laguna Mountain Visitors Center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Monument Peak.
Directions: From Julian, drive south on Highway 79 to the left fork for Road S1/Sunrise Scenic Byway. Bear left and drive south for approximately 13 miles to Laguna Campground, on the right, between mile markers 26.5 and 26.0. Turn right on the camp road, and drive 0.75 mile to the amphitheater parking lot. Park there and then look for the small stone monument just beyond the restrooms, on the northeast side of the parking lot. The trail begins there.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District, Alpine, 619/445-6235, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
2.0 mi/1.0 hr
in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
If you don’t have the time for the day hike to spectacular Kitchen Creek Falls, this shorter trip to nearby Cottonwood Creek Falls is a close second choice for scenic beauty. With only a one-mile downhill walk, you’ll quickly be exploring the many small waterfalls and big pools along Cottonwood Creek, or happily counting the bright pink flowers on the streamside cacti. The trail is unsigned at its start, and it usually appears overgrown with brush, but after about 100 yards, the path widens, and the downhill grade becomes less steep. When you reach the canyon bottom, which takes about 15 minutes, turn sharply left and walk alongside Cottonwood Creek, heading upstream. In just a few minutes, you’ll reach the first of several cascades, each about 12 feet high. Hike as far as you like, pick your favorite waterfall or pool, and have a seat alongside it.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. Parking and access are free.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. A map of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is available from the Descanso Ranger District or the Laguna Mountain Visitors Center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Mount Laguna.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 47 miles to the Highway S1/Sunrise Scenic Byway turnoff. Drive north on Highway S1 for about two miles to the large pullout, on the west side of the road (it has an obvious, graffiti-covered rock wall), between mile markers 15.0 and 15.5. Cross the road on foot and locate the unmarked trail at the north end of the guardrail.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District, Alpine, 619/445-6235, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
1.2-3.0 mi/1.0-2.0 hr
in the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area
Wow, what a view. If you’ve never before stood on a conifer-covered mountain and looked down on the vastness of the desert, your first time is something you’ll always remember. That’s what you get on the Desert View Nature Trail, near the summit of Laguna Mountain. Start hiking from Burnt Rancheria Campground, heading east to meet the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Turn north (left) on the PCT, hiking along the mountain rim. The trail hugs the rim, which is perched on the edge of the Anza-Borrego Desert, providing fine views of the desert floor 4,000 feet below you. On a clear day you can see all the way to Salton Sea shimmering in the distance, and to the odd-looking smokestacks of Plaster City. The trail continues north to Desert View Picnic Area and returns via a loop through a shady forest of pines and oaks. When you reach a clearing 0.5 mile out, you’ll find a water fountain with a plaque commemorating the great outdoors. Take the spur trail here, heading east and uphill for a short distance, for the best view of the day. If you hike the nature trail loop only, you’ll have a 1.2-mile round-trip, but most people get so captivated by the views that they wind up walking a bit farther on the PCT to the north. It’s so compelling, it’s hard to stop.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle; fees are $5 for one day or $30 for a year. Interagency access passes are also accepted.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. A map of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is available from the Descanso Ranger District or the Laguna Mountain Visitors Center. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Mount Laguna.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 47 miles to the Highway S1/Sunrise Scenic Byway turnoff. Drive north on Highway S1 for about 10 miles to Burnt Rancheria Campground, on the right, between mile markers 22.5 and 23.0 (near the town of Mount Laguna). Park by the amphitheater at Burnt Rancheria Campground, where the trail begins.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District, Alpine, 619/445-6235, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
4.5 mi/2.5 hr
in Cleveland National Forest near Pine Valley
Kitchen Creek Falls is the most beautiful waterfall in San Diego, a visually stunning 150-foot drop that is hidden just a few hundred yards off the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Thousands of PCT hikers go right past it without even knowing it’s there, although they may shake their heads and wonder where all those day hikers are heading. The hike to reach the general vicinity of the falls is quite easy, since it follows the well-graded PCT from Boulder Oaks, which crosses underneath I-8 and then climbs uphill. The total gain is only about 500 feet. The tricky part comes in finding the unmarked cutoff for Kitchen Creek Falls and then scrambling your way down steep slopes to reach its base. Here’s how you do it: After 45-50 minutes of hiking, start looking carefully to your left for a narrow spur trail. You’ll reach it at exactly two miles up, which for most people is about an hour of trail time. Turn left on the spur and hike a short distance to see if you’re looking down on Kitchen Creek—a fairly flat stream with many good-looking pools. If you are, you’re also right above the waterfall, and to reach it, you must cut down the hillside on one of many use trails, heading downstream. (Keep the creek on your right; don’t cross it.) Use great caution in getting to the waterfall’s base—stay on the dirt trails, and stay off the polished granite, even when it’s dry. Get yourself safely to a spot where you can look up and admire the gorgeous falls, which are a series of tiered cascades that twist and turn over rounded ledges in the bedrock. Plan on staying awhile.
User Groups: Hikers and dogs. No horses or mountain bikes. No wheelchair facilities.
Permits: No permits are required. A National Forest Adventure Pass is required for each vehicle; fees are $5 for one day or $30 for a year. Interagency access passes are also accepted.
Maps: A Cleveland National Forest map is available from the U.S. Forest Service. For a topographic map, go to the USGS website to download Live Oak Springs.
Directions: From San Diego, drive east on I-8 for 50 miles to the Buckman Springs Road turnoff. Drive south on the frontage road (old Highway 8) for 2.3 miles to the Boulder Oaks Campground. Stay on the frontage road; do not turn onto Buckman Springs Road. Park at the campground, at the signed trailhead for the PCT.
Contact: Cleveland National Forest, Descanso Ranger District, Alpine, 619/445-6235, www.fs.usda.gov/cleveland.
