Cedar Creek Falls is one of San Diego’s most popular back country day hike destinations. Once a little-known place, the rise of the Internet and social media has turned this into a heavily trafficked, must-see selfie spot. There is good reason for this popularity, waterfalls are few and far between in arid San Diego, and not only is this one of the area’s more consistent and dramatic falls, it also has an idyllic pool perfect for swimming. Continue reading Cedar Creek Falls (via Julian)
Photo: North Clevenger Canyon
Hello Hikers!
Who’s excited about precipitation? Looks like we should FINALLY see some rain during the early part of the week, and be back to clear and sunny skies in time for the weekend.
Have you seen the bald eagles at Lake Cuyamaca? The San Diego Union Tribune has a great photo slideshowe of the majestic birds there – best viewing times are early morning and late afternoon.
There have been reports of a woman at the Three Sisters trailhead “checking permits and collecting fees”. There are no permits or fees required at the Three Sisters trailhead, this is clearly a scam. If you encounter such a person, please report her to Cleveland National Forest’s Palomar District at (760) 788-0250. Ask for the Rec Officer or to be directed to the recreation department. It would also be helpful to get photos of her and her vehicle, especially the license plate.
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Photo: Kelly Ditch Trail
Carmel Mountain Preserve, surrounded by dense housing developments, is home to a multitude of unique habitats including southern maritime chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and vernal pools. While the best time to visit is likely in winter or early spring so you can see the vernal pools, it’s also a good spot to visit in summer since its proximity to the coast means you’ll likely enjoy slightly lower temperatures than the rest of the county on a hot day. Continue reading Carmel Mountain Preserve
Photo: Boucher Hill Loop
Hello Hikers!
It’s certainly starting to get warm out there! As a quick reminder, make sure to check the weather report for the area you’ll be hiking in before you head out. Often times its nice and cool near the coast, but can be dangerously warm further inland, so make sure you know what you’re getting into. Hiking early in the morning or in the late afternoon and evening are also good ways to make sure your trek doesn’t end badly.
Starting today, permits to hike Cedar Creek Falls will now cost $10 (formerly $6). They are still good for up to 5 people.
Mark your calendars for the weekends of May 13-14 and May 20-21, for the San Diego River Park Foundation’s 14th Annual River Days! There will be huge array of educational activities, hikes, bike rides, volunteer projects, bird walks, workshops and much more! Visit www.sdriverdays.org for a full schedule of events.
Next Saturday, May 6th, head on over to Mission Trails Regional Park for a Wildlife Tracking Walk. Join experienced MTRP Tracking Team members for an adventure in wildlife tracking. Learn the art of discovering and identifying tracks and other signs left behind by the park’s seldom-seen wildlife. These easy walks are suitable for the whole family.Don’t forget to wear long pants for kneeling on the ground. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and bring along water. A hat and sunscreen are also recommended. Walks are canceled if raining. Visit the Mission Trails Events calendar for more information.
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Photo: The Rim Trail at Mission Trails
Simon County Preserve is one of Ramona’s many excellent hiking destinations. The 650-acre preserve has a number of interconnecting trails to explore, wide open grasslands, and a few small creeks. It is also home to Ramona Peak – a relatively easy climb that still rewards you with some wonderful views. Continue reading Simon County Preserve – Ramona Peak
Photo: Barnett Ranch Preserve
Hello Hikers!
I hope you had a chance to hit the trails while everyone else was inside watching sportsball. It looks like we’ve got a few days of rain ahead of us, but hopefully it will be dry by the weekend.
Next Sunday, join the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers as they hike Fortuna Mountain at Mission Trails Regional Park. From this high vantage point, enjoy a surprising variety of seasonal wildflowers and view an area that once contained ancient beaches. This is a difficult 5 mile hike with an elevation gain/loss of up to 1500 feet. Visit the Canyoneers’ web page for more details, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.
Portions of the Bernardo Bay/Piedras Pintadas Trails are temporarily closed while repairs are made. There are detours in place. Check out the San Dieguito River Park web site for maps and information.
There are also some trail closures in effect at the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve while highway improvement work is conducted. A map of affected trails can be found on the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy website.
NBC San Diego has an article about a rescue this past weekend of an injured hiker on Cowles Mountain.
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Photo: Ghost Mountain
As much as we all love hiking, you have to admit there are a few less than glamorous aspects to the hobby. High on that list are moist, stinky, abused feet. We’re always on the lookout for products that may offer some relief to these discomforts, so we were excited to test out Inkblaat Insoles.
The first thing you’ll notice that is different about Inkblaat Insoles is their extensive selection of fun patterns. These aren’t your grandma’s insoles. There are over 20 different fun and stylish patterns to choose from. We chose Robo Girl and Grandmaster Funk.
Of course, we don’t care how pretty they are if they aren’t effective. So we got right to work putting these things in our shoes. Inkblaat Insoles come in three trim-to-fit sizes based on your shoe size:
The bottom of each insole has a cut line showing you where to trim them to achieve the desired size. You can of course, trim further as necessary to get them to fit comfortably in your shoes. It was easy to cut them down, and with a little finessing we got them comfortably into our shoes.
The insoles are designed to work either in place of or on top of your existing insole. The original insoles in my shoes had significant arch support, so I chose to put the Inkblaat Insoles on top of the existing ones. This made for a somewhat snug fit so you’ll want to plan accordingly – these will probably work best if you’ve got a little extra room in your shoes.
The primary benefit of Inkblaat Insoles is their ability to control odor. They are treated with Aegis Microbe Shield® which prevents odor causing bacteria, and are moisture wicking to help keep your feet dry. These features combine to prevent your shoes from becoming fetid cesspools of stankiness. We found Inkblaat Insoles very effective in reducing odor in our shoes. The ability to help keep your feet dry is also extremely useful if you’re hiking in cold temperatures, because wet + cold = no bueno.
If the insoles do start to get grungy, they are machine washable and dryer safe, so a quick run through the wash will restore their bright colors and odor control properties.
In addition to the odor control benefits, Inkblaat Insoles provide a small degree of extra cushioning, which is always something a hiker can appreciate after a few miles on the trail. They are designed to be worn either with or without socks, so you can wear them around camp while washing and drying your socks.
Best of all, Inkblaat offers a 30 day money-back guarantee. If you’re not fully satisfied, you can return them within 30 days for a full refund plus shipping costs (within the U.S.).
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Inkblaat Insoles for free from Inkblaat Insoles in consideration for a gear review.
The Highland Valley Trail runs along Highland Valley Road, just south of the San Dieguito River near San Pasqual Valley. Despite the nearby road, the trail offers a scenic stroll along gently rolling hills through a mix of coastal sage scrub, grasslands, and riparian woodlands. Views of nearby agricultural farms and the San Dieguito River provide a pleasant backdrop. Continue reading Highland Valley Trail
Photo: Lucky 5 Trail
Hello Hikers!
The National Weather Service is forecasting a slight chance of thunderstorms today and tomorrow throughout the county, so watch out for lightning if you’re headed out. After Tuesday it looks like it should be pretty nice out.
Next Saturday is National Public Lands Day! There will be free admission to National Forest and National Park lands all day.
Also next Saturday is the thrid annual Wildlife Hike-A-Thon at Border Field State Park. All proceeds will benefit the Fund For Animals Wildlife Center in Ramona, allowing it to continue its rescue and rehabilitation services to ill, injured and orphaned wildlife and to provide care to permanent sanctuary residents. This event takes place on a scenic trail from Border Field Park to the Pacific Ocean. Bring the whole family and take the leisurely hike to the half-way point where you can enjoy a refreshing view of the Pacific Ocean and Monument Mesa before turning back to the finish line. Games and activities will be set up before and after the hike, including “Duck Rescue”, Wildlife Trivia and more! Go here for more information and to register.
On Sunday, you can join the San Diego Natural History Museum Canyoneers as they hike the Soapstone Loop from the Sunrise Trailhead in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. This section of ABDSP was acquired in 2001. The lands are adjacent to Cuyamaca Lake and connect the desert park to Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, providing a wildlife corridor between the mountains and the desert. This is a difficult 9 mile hike with an elevation gain/loss of up to 1000 feet. Visit the Canyoneers web site for more information, or check out our Events Page to find even more upcoming hikes and events.
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Photo: Double Peak
Balboa Park has something for everyone. There are museums, theaters, an archery range, and tennis courts. You can see puppet shows, play disc golf, race remote control cars, there’s even a velodrome! So it should be no surprise that there are a number of notable hiking and walking trails throughout the park. Continue reading Florida Canyon (Balboa Park)
