Southern California Hiking and Backpacking Trails » San Diego

Blue Sky Nature Reserve

SoCalTrails — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:44 +0000

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.

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Crest Canyon

SoCalTrails — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 03:29:11 +0000

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.

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Los Penasquitos Canyon – East Approach

SoCalTrails — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 22:46:11 +0000

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.

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El Monte Park – Flume Trail

SoCalTrails — Sun, 22 May 2011 00:57:23 +0000

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.

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El Cajon Mountain

SoCalTrails — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 05:39:53 +0000

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Ellie’s Lane Trail (Loop)

SoCalTrails — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 21:08:15 +0000

Iron Mountain Summit Trail to Ellie's Lane Trail which forms a loop back to the Iron Mountain Parking Lot.

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Big Laguna Trail

SoCalTrails — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 03:39:47 +0000

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.

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Lake Poway Loop

SoCalTrails — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 18:56:04 +0000

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).

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Woodson Mountain – West Approach

SoCalTrails — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:54:32 +0000

Begin at the grassy picnic area on the southwest shore of Lake Poway, and follow either of the two wide trails southeast (they soon merge). After skirting the south shore and dipping to cross Warren Canyon, you come to a trail junction at .8 miles. Turn right on the signed Mount Woodson Trail and climb east on a steep grade through sage and scrub and chaparral.

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Cowles Mountain – South Approach

SoCalTrails — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 07:28:25 +0000

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.

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San Clemente Canyon

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:45:04 +0000

San Clemente Canyon - photo via Flickr - driven to capture2

Directions: also called Marian Bear Memorial Park, this trail runs across the 52 freeway off of either Genesee Ave. or Regents Rd . If you are heading south it is just past the 52 freeway and

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Palomar Observatory Trail

SoCalTrails — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:21:20 +0000

Staring from the upper trailhead, walk first through a thicket of chaparral, then past pines, oaks, and incense cedars. About half way down, the trail bends around a ravine, alive with the sound of a stream. Soon after, you come to a wooden platform on the left overlooking Mendenghall Valley.

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La Jolla Caves

SoCalTrails — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:14:06 +0000

South of the wide La Jolla Shores Beach, the sand disappeats and wave-washed cliffs begin. Just offshore, LA Jolla Canyon swallows the sand that normally would migrate down the coast. The western most cave is well-known among tourists and natives alike. It can be reached from above by a long stairway that begins inside the Cave Store and passes through a human-made tunnel. The half dozen or so other grotto's in the series are usually only accessible by water, or very low tides.

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Iron Mountain

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:54:04 +0000

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

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Palomar Observatory Trail.

SoCalTrails — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:18:07 +0000

A hike along Observatory Trail on Palomar Mountain is like a “three-for-one” deal at the supermarket: for the price of sweating out a hike on one beautiful, coniferous, oak-lined trail, you reap the benefits that normally only result from having hiked along at least three other trails: a good aerobic climb, magnificent scenery

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Black Beach – Torrey Pines State Reserve

SoCalTrails — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:47:38 +0000

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.

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