Back when they were naming mountains in San Diego, apparently no one bothered with a deconfliction log, because we somehow ended up with two Black Mountains. We’d hiked the smaller Black Mountain near Rancho Penasquitos earlier in the year, and this day I set out with one of my Facebook friends to tackle the more imposing Black Mountain of Ramona. Continue reading Black Mountain (Ramona)
Category Archives: Cleveland National Forest
Los Pinos Peak
We first learned of Los Pinos Peak last winter when we hiked to Corte Madera Mountain. Not to be confused with the Los Pinos Peak located in the Santa Ana Mountains, San Diego’s Los Pinos and neighboring Corte Madera are offshoots of the beautiful Espinosa Trail in the southern reaches of the Cleveland National Forest. Many people combine the two destinations into a single 10-mile hike, but since we hadn’t had time for both on our first excursion, we finally made plans to get back out there and do the Los Pinos hike. Continue reading Los Pinos Peak
Oak Grove to High Point
High Point, the top of Palomar Mountain, is home to one of the few fire lookout towers in San Diego that is still currently in use. The tower is staffed by volunteers from the Forest Fire Lookout Association during fire season. While the tower itself is only open to authorized personnel, you can still visit the peak and enjoy the fantastic views. Volunteers and less ambitious visitors make the journey via dirt road with a 4-wheel drive vehicle, but the fun route is a calf-busting 13 mile hike up the northeastern side of the mountain. Naturally, that’s the route we took. Continue reading Oak Grove to High Point
Cedar Creek Falls (via Ramona)
Temperatures in the river gorge frequently reach well over 100 degrees. While hiking out to the local swimming hole for a refreshing dip may seem like a good idea on a hot summer day, each year dozens of hikers regularly succumb to heat exhaustion while trying to hike back out to the trailhead. Several heat-related fatalities have occurred on this trail. In the summer, the waterfall does not flow, and the little water that is in the pool is usually stagnant and green with algae, so its really not worth risking your life for. |
Cedar Creek Falls is an extremely popular hike, and for very good reason. The hike itself offers breathtaking views of the San Diego River Gorge and surrounding mountains, and the destination is an idyllic swimming hole at the base of an 80 foot waterfall. As there’s a considerable lack of freshwater playgrounds in San Diego, its easy to see why this uniquely beautiful spot gets so much attention. The drawback, however, is you will likely have to share this gem with others during your visit, especially if you go on a weekend. The swimming hole is often erroneously referred to as the Devil’s Punchbowl. The real Devil’s Punchbowl lies to the east on private property along Boulder Creek. Continue reading Cedar Creek Falls (via Ramona)
Guatay Mountain
Guatay Mountain is an unassuming peak on the northern edge of the Pine Creek Wilderness. It is also home to the rare Tecate cypress tree. The trail here is largely unmaintained, making for a somewhat challenging ascent, but the advantage is that its also not widely used, making it a great spot for some quiet solitude. Continue reading Guatay Mountain
Corte Madera Mountain
Corte Madera Mountain is a great hike if you’re looking for some quiet solitude. A somewhat long drive, rugged dirt road, and limited parking means not too many people venture out for this trek. But should you undertake this adventure, your effort will be rewarded with a peaceful trail that takes you through dense creekside oaks, hills covered in chaparral and speckled with colorful boulders, thick swathes of manzanita, a respectable showing of Coulter pines, and finally some expansive views of the southern portion of the Cleveland National Forest. Continue reading Corte Madera Mountain
Monument Peak (via Desert View Picnic Area)
One of the most effective ways to beat the heat while hiking is to get an early start. So when we decided we were going to hike Monument Peak, we figured why not get the earliest start possible, and enjoy a scenic sunrise? It just so happens that there is an awesome view point just a couple miles south of Monument Peak at the Desert View Picnic Grounds, right along the Pacific Crest Trail. Thus, our plan began to emerge: get to the picnic area for sunrise, then pick up the PCT and head north to the unsigned use trail that led to Monument Peak. Continue reading Monument Peak (via Desert View Picnic Area)
Garnet Peak via Pioneer Mail Picnic Area
After last year’s Chariot fire ran through Mount Laguna, I wasn’t sure what would be left along this section of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). But I’ve always enjoyed this hike, and was optimistic that a year would have been enough time for some recovery to have taken place. I’m happy to report we were not disappointed. It looks as though the fire only hit patches of this area, and those parts that did burn are showing plenty of new life. Continue reading Garnet Peak via Pioneer Mail Picnic Area