Stonewall Mine was once the most productive gold mine in San Diego County. Nowadays, it’s a fenced-off archaeological site with accompanying picnic area in a beautifully wooded section of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. You can just drive to Stonewall Mine, but of course we prefer the much more scenic option of hiking some of Cuyamaca’s beautiful trail system to reach the mine. This route follows the Marty Minshall Trail along the southern edge of Lake Cuyamaca and through some of the few remaining dense forested areas of the park before finally reaching the Stonewall Mine site. Continue reading Stonewall Mine Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
Category Archives: Mines
El Cajon Mountain (“El Cap”)
El Cajon Mountain, or “El Cap” as its often referred to, is a major landmark in Eastern San Diego. The prominent granite ridge can be easily identified from many of southeastern San Diego’s trails and draws your attention as you drive east on Interstate 8. Located in the the County’s El Capitan Open Space Preserve, the trail up El Cajon Mountain is one of the most challenging in San Diego. It is often frequented by individuals training for adventures such as hiking Mount Whitney or competing in Iron Man triathlons, as well as ambitious day hikers. Continue reading El Cajon Mountain (“El Cap”)
Noble Canyon
The Noble Canyon trail is very popular among mountain bikers due to its challenging, technical descents and beautiful scenery. If you don’t mind dodging bikers, and can arrange a car at either end, it also makes for an epic 10 mile hike through a variety of ecosystems. The trail begins among the pines and meadows of Laguna Mountain, travels down through an oak-lined, riparian creekside, and then traverses an arid, rocky canyon down into Pine Valley. North to south is the preferred direction of travel, since its mostly downhill. Continue reading Noble Canyon