Category Archives: Under 5 miles

Mother Miguel Mountain (aka The Rock House)


Mother Miguel Mountain is a modest prominatory in the shadow of the much more impressive San Miguel Mountain (aka Mt Miguel). Since San Miguel Mountain is sadly not open to the public, Mother Miguel is one of the few easily accessible hikes with notable elevation gain in Chula Vista. This distinction, along with the photogenic Rock House (a large man made pile of rocks complete with flagpole) at the summit, make Mother Miguel Mountain a highly popular trail. Don’t expect to find solitude on this hike, but you will be rewarded with a great workout and fantastic views of the South Bay. Continue reading Mother Miguel Mountain (aka The Rock House)

Gonzales Canyon


Gonzales Canyon has a modest network of trails that explore several connected canyons. The Torrey Pines Loop Trail, which has only a modest stand of Torrey Pines at the very end, explores two adjacent canyons full of mixed chaparral and coastal sage scrub. We combined this loop with a section of the Lagoon Trail, which travels along a lush riparian belt, for a scenic and varied figure-8 dual loop. Continue reading Gonzales Canyon

Oasis Spring


Oasis Spring was once a source of water for several camps and cabins in Mount Laguna, but is now an all but forgotten side trip off the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). The Spring lies at the end of an old, overgrown road, which is slowly fades into an overgrown and unmaintained trail. The trail leads to a lush pocket of vegetation on the edge of the desert, and an old metal pump house is situated among the dense growth. Continue reading Oasis Spring

Hosp Grove


Hosp Grove was established in 1908 as a business venture by F.P. Hosp, who hoped to profit by selling the wood from fast-growing eucalyptus trees for use in the railroads. Unfortunately for Hosp, eucalyptus wood turned out to be unsuitable for construction purposes, and much of the land was eventually sold for residential development. Hosp’s misfortune turned into a benefit for hikers however, when in 1986 the City of Carlsbad purchased the remaining 53 acres of the grove and turned it into a park with several miles of hiking trails. Continue reading Hosp Grove

Rock Mountain


The Rock Mountain Preserve in Fallbrook is a small preserve just north of the Santa Margarita River hiking trail. Managed by the Fallbrook Land Conservancy, it is a short, rugged hike to a scenic outcropping of rocks overlooking the river valley. Sadly, there is a significant amount of graffiti around the summit area, but the impressive views and enjoyable rock scrambling more than make up for it. Continue reading Rock Mountain

Del Dios Highlands Preserve

Del Dios Highlands is a 774 acre preserve adjacent to the Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve. The Preserve has one trail, a wide fire road, which begins along the Del Dios Highway and climbs just over 900 feet to an unnamed peak. The road then goes on to connect to the Elfin Forest trail system. Surrounded by a mix of chaparral and coastal sage scrub, the trail offers some superb views of nearby Lake Hodges and Olivenhain Reservoir. Continue reading Del Dios Highlands Preserve

Jerry Schad Memorial Trail (Balboa Park)


Balboa Park has miles of trails and walking paths with something for everyone. A number of predefined routes have been established and labeled with numbered, color-coded trail markers to help visitors explore the many sights the park has to offer. Trail #43, marked with purple square trail markers, explores the western edge of the park. The trail travels primarily across paved sidewalks, passing a number of Balboa Park’s huge array of public facilities and showcasing a diverse array of plant life that can be found in Balboa Park. It is also home to an abundance of camera-ready squirrels. Continue reading Jerry Schad Memorial Trail (Balboa Park)

Otay Valley Delta

The Otay Valley Delta once held farmland, but over the years the land was neglected and soon filled with invasive, non-native plants. In 2012 55 acres were restored, the weeds replaced with native plants and trees, creating a beautiful stretch of riparian habitat. This short loop explores the restored section of the Delta where the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge and the Otay Valley Regional Park meet. Continue reading Otay Valley Delta

Carmel Mountain Preserve

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

Kumeyaay Lake


Kumeyaay Lake in Mission Trails Regional Park was once a series of gravel pits along the San Diego River. After being mined out in the 1970’s, the area was restored and has since become an important nesting ground for the endangered Least Bell’s Vireo. The lake is also open to recreational fishing, and lies immediately adjacent to the Kumeeyaay Lake Campground, open on weekends and certain holidays. Continue reading Kumeyaay Lake