Southern California Trails » Southern California Day Hikes

Wilderness Gardens Preserve

SoCalTrails — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 02:29:27 +0000

The park is open Thursday through Monday, 8 A.M to 4 P.M. The trailhead features a nice picnic area. The nearby Alice Fries Nature Trail loops a sort distance around the north bank of the San Luis Rey River. The hike described here starts by crossing the San Rey River. Just ahead, on the left the Upper Meadow Trail begins. Follow it along an oak-dotted terrace and up some steps to the small "upper meadow" and around the edge of a small, dried-up reservoir at 0.5 miles into the hike.

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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

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San Pasqual Hiking Trails

SoCalTrails — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:59:13 +0000

The trails are divided into two networks, each with its own trail head. To explore the South Trails, start from the South Trail head, 5.3 miles east of the Wild Animal Park entrance. You begin by zigzagging .6 miles to the first marked trail junction. Choose the right branch for a relatively east climb to a 1550 foot knoll. From this vantage, there is often a rather good ocean

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Crest Canyon

SoCalTrails — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 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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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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Los Penasquitos Canyon – East Approach

SoCalTrails — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 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

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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

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Calavera Lake

Matt — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:52:01 +0000

From the I5, take the 78 East and exit College Blvd, make a right. Not too far down make a left onto Lake Blvd. After about two miles you will see Old Riparian Park and head into the parking lot and park. Look for the playground and head south towards a trail, you will need to cross a small wooden bridge.

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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 if you are heading north it is just before the 52, there are parking lots for both entrances.

There are mountain bikers

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Indianhead Mountain

SoCalTrails — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:32:13 +0000

From the trail head proceed up the Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail to the first palm grove (1.5 miles). From here you'll pick up an informal path on the south side of the creek and follow it to a rightward

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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

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Barker Valley

SoCalTrails — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:03:32 +0000

Start off on the old roadway, which gradually descends west down a hillside. Hike for 1.7 miles on a gradual descent until the old roadbed switches back sharply to the

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Arroyo Tapiado & Arroyo Seco del Diablo Loop

SoCalTrails — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:28:28 +0000

Follow the wheel tracks in Arroyo Tapiado north across the low-lying hills. About 2 miles up the wash the canyon walls begin to get huge. Arroyo Tapiado widens after 4 miles and sets up a straighter course northwest. The canyon divides at 6.3 miles; take the right

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Rainbow Canyon

SoCalTrails — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:59:56 +0000

From your parking spot along Highway S-2, head northeast across a sloping alluvial fan towards a nearby mouth of a rocky canyon. Starting at just .3 miles you're inside the canyon proper. At mile .7 you arrive at a major canyon fork - stay right. At mile 1.1 the canyon bends left, widens and becomes less interesting.

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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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Sandstone Canyon – South Approach

SoCalTrails — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:23:40 +0000

From your parking spot head east for .5 miles, take note of your route so you can follow it back to your car. Proceed up June Wash over sand and rocks for 2 miles until the area assumes a canyon like appearance (you should be roughly at 1800 ft), there is also a small tributary here that joins on the left. Wind sheltered campsites can be found on the flat sands about 100 yards up the

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Valley of the Moon

SoCalTrails — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:02:36 +0000

From the parking area, walk up the road to a saddle at 3830 feet. A 4-wheel drive road branches off to hte left to Smugglers Cave. Proceed another .1 miles south and stay

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Eagle Crag

SoCalTrails — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:43:01 +0000

Start off by descending sharply on the Cutca Trail into the depts of Cottonwood Creek. Climb the saddle at 1.2 miles and then descend to the Aguanga Trail junction at 2.1 miles. Continue on the Cutca Trail through Long Canyon, at 5.0 miles you cross Cutca

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Sweetwater Trail

SoCalTrails — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:03:38 +0000

Starting from the North end of Sweetwater Summit Campground, the Sweetwater trail runs east, first passing a fishing access area for the reservoir. After about 1 miles the trail veers sharply right and begins a series of rather tough up's and down's.

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Piedras Pintadas Trail

SoCalTrails — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:37:01 +0000

From the trail head, the well marked trail swings around Bernardo Bay (the south arm of the lake) passing a small waterfall that splashes happily during the wet

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Bernardo Mountain

SoCalTrails — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:50:58 +0000

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

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North Shore Lake Hodges

SoCalTrails — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:38:54 +0000

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. After about .4 miles, the walkway turns sharply right and passes under the I-15 bridge. After swinging north on the far side of the freeway the Cost to Crest Trail joins for a short time on the crumbling

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Dripping Springs Trail

SoCalTrails — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:39:51 +0000

Dripping Springs Trail

Distance: 14 miles round trip, out and back Hiking Time: 8+ hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 3100′/3100′ Difficulty: Strenuous

From Interstate 15 at Temecula, drive 10 miles east on highway 79 to Dripping Springs Campground. 0.4 miles inside is the trail head.

This is an all day (or overnighter) hike. From the register this starts switchbacking. After .1 miles the trail intersects The Wild Horse Trail.

After 1 mile the trail gains the

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Agua Tibia Loop

SoCalTrails — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:02:01 +0000

Agua Tibia Loop

Distance: 20 miles, loop Hiking Time: 12-14 hours (over night possible) Elevation Gain/Loss: 4100′/4100′ Difficulty: Strenuous

Directions: From interstate 15 at Temecula, drive 10 miles east on Highway 79 to Dripping Springs Campground (on the right south side of the road). Inside .4 miles is the trail head.

The first third of the hike is all elevation gain as you walk up the crest of Agua Tibia Mountain. Turn left

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Rockhouse Canyon & Valley

SoCalTrails — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:06:23 +0000

Rockhouse Canyon & Valley

Distance: 19 miles, loop Hiking Time 13 hours (over night) Elevation Gain/Loss 3500′/3500′ Difficulty: Rough

Directions: From Borrego Springs follow Highway S22 generally east for 7.5 miles to miles marker 26.7, turn onto Clark’s Well Road. After 1.5 miles bear left on Rockhouse Truck Trail. 13 miles later you reach your destination.

From the road closure proceed about 1 mile up the canyon to Hidden Spring. Over the next

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Volcan Mountain

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:28:07 +0000

Volcan Mountain

Distance: 3.2 miles, loop Hiking Time: 2 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 200′/200′ Difficulty: Moderate

From your car on Farmer Road, hike the gravel access road going easy, and you soon reach the preserves gateway.

An old fire road continues sharply up the hill ahead. Presently, you swing right and continue climbing along a rounded ridge line leading towards the Volcan Mountain crest.

At 1.2 miles up the fire road take the

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Boden Canyon

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:12:57 +0000

Boden Canyon

Distance: 11.0 miles out and back Hiking Time: 4.5 hours (round trip) Elevation Gain/Loss 500′/500′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Directions: take the 15 to Escondido and follow the signs to the San Diego Wild Animal Park – on highway 78 east of Escondido. From the Wild Animal Park entrance, drive 7 miles east to Boden Canyon’s entrance, a gated dirt road intersecting on he left (north) side, this entrance is 5 miles

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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

# Latitude Longitude Elevation Distance 1 N 32° 58' 34.23" W 116° 58' 21.11" 473 m

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East Mesa Loop

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:45:09 +0000

This is the grand tour of the East Mesa area. From the Sweetwater River Bridge Trailhead, follow the Harvey Moore Trail south and east across a hill side, passing first through a band of oaks and pines and then through a

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Sill Hill Waterfall

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:21:57 +0000

Distance: 6.5 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 4.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 1400′/1400′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

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 a sharp bend in the road. This trailhead is located at mile 10.7 according to the highway 79 mile markers.

This hidden 30-foot waterfall lies within Cleveland National Forest, just outside the west boundary of Cuyamaca

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Upper Santa Ysabel Creek

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:35:17 +0000

Kanaka Flat

Distance: 7 miles, loop Hiking Time: 3.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 1200′/1200′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Directions: From Julian, drive 2 miles north on Farmer Road to Wynola Road, jog briefly right, turn left to remain on Farmer Road. Continue 1.2 miles north to the Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve staging area on the left.

From the staging area head west along side the upper reaches of the Santa Ysabel Creek, on

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Three Sisters Waterfalls

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:00:14 +0000

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Three Sisters Waterfalls

# Latitude Longitude Elevation Distance 1 N 32° 59' 04.57" W 116° 40' 38.08" 888 m 0.000 mi

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Cedar Creek Falls

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:44:13 +0000

Cedar Creek Calls

Distance: 4.5 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 2.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 1200′/1200′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

This is one of San Diego County’s hidden treasures, tucked back in a tributary of the upper San Diego River. Bring plenty of water as the walk back is uphill, and can be quite strenuous.

Directions: Follow Eagle Peak Road for 1.4 miles, veer right staying on Eagle Peak Road. After 8.2 miles

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Caliente Wilderness

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:29:49 +0000

Pacific Crest Trail

Distance: 12 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 7 hours Elevation Gain/Loss 1700′/1700′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

This Section of the Pacific Crest Trail, through lands formerly considered for offical wilderness status. From Lost Valley road walk up the abandoned road (a lateral link to the PCT) 0.5 mile to the point where the true PCT joins from the right. Continue uphill on the sameold roadbed, some-what monotonously,

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Hot Springs Mountain

SoCalTrails — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:04:21 +0000

Distance: 5.5 miles round trip (out and back) Hiking Time: 3.5 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 1250′/1250′ Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Hot Springs Mountain, the highest point in San Diego County at 6533 feet.

El Cajon Mountain

SoCalTrails — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:39:53 +0000

Everything ranging from a easy Class 1 hike to a Class 3 scramble to a large 5.11 wall is found here, and is a jewel for climbers. However, the fact that the mountain is nearly completely surrounded by either private property or an Indian Reservation, the trailhead is difficult to find, the valley below is often quite hot, and there is little or no vegetation(fires sweep through Bi-annually), all contribute to this being

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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 along mostly good trail, and access to a world-famous observatory. The trailhead is easy to find within the Observatory Campground

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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

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Blue Sky Nature Reserve

SoCalTrails — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:53:44 +0000

This was a great hike. It starts off at a parking lot and quickly gets into a wooded area, with in 10 minutes you can no longer hear the traffic. Just before the climb up the hill is a small rest area with picnic tables and a porta-potty. Ascending the hill is fairly quick, it is well

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