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Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is a 700-acre oak-lined canyon flanked by coastal sage scrub and chaparral-covered hills. The Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Brilliant colors of wild flowers on the hillsides in spring, the songs of birds, and the tree-lined creek provide an inviting escape for a nature walk. Continue reading Blue Sky Nature Reserve Hellhole Canyon Preserve is a 1,907 acre preserve that offers 13.5 miles of moderate to advanced trail opportunities. An equestrian friendly staging area has ample trailer parking, vault restrooms, potable water, an ADA look out point and small amphitheater. The main trail descends from the staging area to the riparian zone astride Hell Creek. Here hikers will find a reprieve from the sun as mature Sycamore and oak trees line the creek bed. The trails beyond Hell Creek began to challenge hikers as they rise out of the creek bed and transition into the chaparral plant community. As the trail continue on into the preserve interior they wind up Rodriguez Mountain and become more advanced, but the serenity and views are worth the effort. On a clear day the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the top of Rodriguez Mountain. The preserve is home to a wide variety of plant life and animals, with dawn and dusk being the best time to spot wildlife. Continue reading Hellhole Canyon Loop Elfin Forest is a wonderful hidden spot in Escondido, as you approach the area you notice the city stops and a rural community begins. The Way Up Trail is the main trail of the area, starting at the parking lot and bringing you straight up the ridge line, about 3/4th of the way up is a small hut with a very nice view of the area. Continue reading Elfin Forest – The Way Up Trail Pick up the wide path heading north and gradually downhill. After less then 1 mile, you reach Racetrack View Drive, across from the southern arm of San Dieguito Lagoon. This is also a possible starting point of the hike. Continue reading Crest Canyon Take along a picnic lunch and a blanket on this hike. There are many fine places, sunny meadows, oak-shaded flats, and the sycamore-fringed stream-side. Continue reading Los Penasquitos Canyon – East Approach El Monte Park is one of the original County parks. The spectacular rocky face of El Cajon Mountain rises high over this 88-acre park, dominating the other mountains that encircle this valley. There are plenty of recreational opportunities, including a ball field and play areas. Seven reservable picnic areas make every size picnic easy to arrange. The “Wedding Tree” in the meadow offers a great spot for a wedding and the “Oak Grove” at the far end of the park is a private wedding location. Continue reading El Monte Park – Flume Trail The trailhead on Sunset Drive is a major access point for the Coast to Crest Trail, which when compelted around 2016 will span 70 miles between the ocean and the crest of the Peninsular Ranges. One branch on the trail trends east for about 10 miles through the San Pasqual Valley. The other branch, the one you want to follow begins as a concrete walkway heading south, parallel to the freeway. Continue reading Bernardo Mountain Mount Woodson’s East Approach is a difficult trail for beginners, this steep trail offers many beautiful views of the lake and other areas. Worth the challenge, but be sure to bring extra water, as summer temperatures can be extreme. Portable restrooms can be found at various locations around the lake, no facilities are available on the steep climb to the peak. Continue reading Mt Woodson East Approach – Fry Koegel Trail Loop Iron Mountain Summit Trail to Ellie’s Lane Trail which forms a loop back to the Iron Mountain Parking Lot. Continue reading Ellie’s Lane Trail (Loop) This is a hike to the top of Cedar Creek falls from the Julian trail head off of Eagle Peak Rd. The hike is relatively short and not very challenging. The distance is approx 4miles with less than 1k elevation change. The numbers from the GPS data I’ve posted include a small “mountain” we trekked up on a little detour that added some significant elevation gain. If you hike on down to the bottom of the falls it will add some more elevation change. Continue reading Cedar Creek Falls – East Approach his is the trail to Cedar Creek Falls from the Ramona trail head. There is not much to it. The trail is pretty much straight out and straight back. There is about 1k elevation change over the course of the 4 mile out and back hike. Continue reading Cedar Creek Falls – West Approach The Big Laguna Trail (or BLT as it is affectionately known by our LMVA Trail Crew that built it) offers a pleasant hike through mountain meadows dotted with pines and large boulders where you can take in the view of Big Laguna Lake, a favorite watering hole for local furry, feathered and four-legged residents. Continue reading Big Laguna Trail Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[1] It is located at the boundary between California’s Inyo and Tulare counties, just 84.5 miles (136.0 km) west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater in Death Valley National Park (282 feet (86 m) below sea level).[5] The western slope of the mountain lies within Sequoia National Park and the summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which runs 211.9 miles (341.0 km) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. The eastern slope lies in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County. Continue reading Mt. Whitney – Whitney Portal Trail Hiking adventure in Sequoia National Park, we backpacked the hiking trail from an open campsite along the lake trail to Alta Peak. It was an amazing hike, one that everyone should take. Continue reading Sequoia National Park Adventures The caves are really amazing, and a lot deeper then I expected them to be. We set out at the big mud cave, and spend 5 or 6 hours crawling around inside it before coming out on top of the caves on the ridge of the hills. Continue reading Arroyo Tapiado Adventure Weekend! Find the trail just beyond the lake entrance, to the left of the park office and concession stand. The trail follows the west shoreline to the rock-fill dam, descends to a creek crossing, and soon reaches a dirt maintenance road. Turn left (north) and stay with the that road for about 100 years, where you will see the Lake Poway Loop trail continuing on the right (at this juncture, if you want, you can make a short side trip down to the “Wilderness Campground”, a walk in or ride in site for backpackers). Continue reading Lake Poway Loop Precisely on that flat spot, there once existed a circular array of stones crossed by an “arrow” of rocks pointing southeast to the exact point on the horizon where the winter solstice sun rises, typically on December 21st. Continue reading Cowles Mountain – South Approach Iron Mountain Distance: 6.4 miles round trip Hiking Time: 3.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 1200′/1200′ Difficulty: Moderate [maptype=G_PHYSICAL_MAP;gpxcheckpointtable=show;ngg_gallery=18;] Directions From interstate 15 take either Scripps Poway Parkway or Poway Road east to highway 67. The Iron Mountain trailhead is 2 miles south on highway 67 Download GPX: Iron Continue reading Iron Mountain Distance: 6.5 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 4.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 1400′/1400′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous Download GPX: Sill Hill Waterfall Directions: Follow highway 79 9.4 miles south from Julian or 13.4 miles north from Interstate 8 at Descanso to reach the trailhead, on the inside of Continue reading Sill Hill Waterfall [maptype=G_PHYSICAL_MAP;gpxcheckpointtable=show;] Directions: 4.0 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 3 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 1000′/1000′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous Directions: From interstate 8, exit at Highway 79(the Descanso Exit) and drive north. After 1.3 miles turn left on Riverside Drive. Continue 0.6mile to the main crossroads (post office, etc.) of the hamlet of Continue reading Three Sisters Waterfalls A southbound hike on the pacific crest trail. We hiked from Mt Laguna to Lake Morena on the Pacific Crest Hiking Trail. Continue reading Pacific Crest Trail Mt Laguna -> South I-5 to Genesee Ave. exit. Head W at end of exit. L onto North Torrey Pines Rd. R onto Torrey Pines Scenic Dr. Park at dirt lot near Torrey Pines Gliderport. Continue reading Black Beach – Torrey Pines State Reserve |
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Sunday, 13th of November 2011 at 04:00:44 PM