Cuyamaca Rancho State Park has a wonderful system of interconnected trails and fire roads, and we always enjoy cobbling together a new route and exploring sections of trail we haven’t been on before. This 10 mile loop combines the Dead Horse Trail, California Riding and Hiking Trail, South Boundary Fire Road, Blue Ribbon Trail, and Merigan Fire Road for a fun hike with a variety of scenery. Continue reading Dead Horse Trail/Blue Ribbon Trail Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Category Archives: CA Riding & Hiking Trail
Cactus Hill Loop
Sweetwater Summit Regional Park has 15 miles of trails to explore, open to hikers, bikers and equestrians. The nearby Sweetwater Reservoir provides a scenic backdrop to the park’s rolling grass-covered hills. The park is also prime territory for vernal pools – temporary pools of water that form only during the wet season and provide important habitat for endangered and threatened species like the San Diego fairy shrimp. Continue reading Cactus Hill Loop
Stonewall Peak Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Stonewall Peak is one of the most popular hikes in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and with good reason. The trail is easily accessible, beginning just across the street from the park’s main campground, and it provides some amazing views. If you’re looking for a new twist on this popular hike, you can try this variation. After summiting, continue along the Stonewall Peak Trail as it descends the back side of the mountain to meet with the California Riding and Hiking Trail, then continue on the Cold Stream Trail to loop back to the start. This adds about 1 mile to the hike, but will offer significant solitude compared to the busy trail that leads up to the Peak. Continue reading Stonewall Peak Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
West Mesa Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
One of the things we love about Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is the fact that its numerous miles of interconnecting fire roads and single track trails can be combined into so many different hikes. This loop along the West Mesa Trail overlaps a portion of the Airplane Monument/Arroyo Seco Loop, but begins at the West Mesa trailhead and travels south towards the monument. Continue reading West Mesa Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
La Cima Trail/Soapstone Loop
“La Cima” means “the top” or “the summit” in Spanish. While this hike doesn’t involve summiting any peaks, it still has some fantastic scenery to enjoy as it passes from the edge of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to neighboring Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and back again. Continue reading La Cima Trail/Soapstone Loop
Airplane Monument & Arroyo Seco Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
On December 7, 1922, a twin-seat model biplane carrying Col. F.C. Marshall and Lt. C.L. Webber crashed into a ridge near Cuyamaca Peak. Despite extensive searches, the wreckage and pilots’ remains weren’t discovered until May the following year. A monument to the two men was built and today is an interesting bit of history residing in the western portion of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Continue reading Airplane Monument & Arroyo Seco Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Lucky 5/PCT Loop
The Lucky 5 Ranch area is a relatively recent addition to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, thanks to the efforts of the Anza Borrego Foundation. The land lies on the western edge of the park along the Sunrise Highway, so its actually more mountainous than desert. Its location between Anza-Borrego, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, and the Cleveland National Forest makes it an important wildlife corridor. Continue reading Lucky 5/PCT Loop
Azalea Glen Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
The Azalea Glen Loop begins at Paso Picacho Campground and combines several single track trails with wider fire roads. The surrounding area was hit heavily by the 2003 Cedar Fire, and while there has been considerable regrowth of low-lying brush, large expanses of dead trees still stand as a quiet reminder of the fire’s devastation. More recent controlled burns and replanting efforts in the area continue to alter the landscape. Continue reading Azalea Glen Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Rice Canyon
As much as we love San Diego’s back country, we don’t always have the time and energy to drive out to the mountains or desert to hike. Fortunately, even the more developed areas of the County are rich with opportunities for hiking and exploration. Chula Vista’s Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve is home to a two-mile section of the California Riding and Hiking Trail (CR&HT) in the middle of a large suburban residential area. The canyon provides a peaceful patch of natural beauty you can enjoy with minimal effort. Continue reading Rice Canyon
Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock is perhaps the most aptly named rock formation I have ever encountered. Found along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) just a few miles from highway 79 in Warner Springs, this awesome pile of granite bears an astonishing resemblance to an enormous raptor with outstretched wings. As an added bonus, this short stretch of the PCT travels through a startling variety of landscapes, including a gorgeous riparian oak-lined creek, exposed chaparral expanses, and rolling grass-covered hills. There is something in this hike for everyone! Continue reading Eagle Rock