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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 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 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 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. Continue reading Wilderness Gardens Preserve 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 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 left. Continue reading Barker Valley 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 left. Continue reading Valley of the Moon 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 season. Continue reading Piedras Pintadas Trail 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 pavement. Continue reading North Shore Lake Hodges 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, Continue reading Volcan Mountain |
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Monday, 15th of August 2011 at 06:36:58 PM