Category Archives: Trail Write-Ups

Dog Friendly, North County, Ramona, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Dos Picos County Park

Primarily catering to campers and picnickers, Dos Picos is a fairly small park in Ramona with two designated nature trails, several roads, and informal meandering pathways to explore. There is a small but scenic pond where you can fish or watch the birds. And despite the ravages of drought and gold spotted oak borer beetle, there are still lush groves of oak trees creating a quiet, sylvan paradise. It’s a great choice for those with young kids or anyone looking for a short, easy hike that still provides a significant dose of nature. Continue reading Dos Picos County Park →

10+ miles, Lakes, North County, Peaks, Poway, Trail Write-Ups

Mount Woodson (Potato Chip Rock) via Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

Mount Woodson, perhaps better known as “Potato Chip Rock,” is a tough hike no matter which route you take. The least hard route starts from Highway 67 and climbs a steep and winding fire road up the eastern side of the mountain. Even more grueling is the route from Lake Poway up the western side. For those looking for even more mileage and elevation gain, we suggest this route that begins at Blue Sky Ecological Reserve and connects to the Lake Poway route. Continue reading Mount Woodson (Potato Chip Rock) via Blue Sky Ecological Reserve →

Cleveland National Forest, Julian, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles, Waterfalls

Three Sisters

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Three Sisters Waterfall is one of many remote backcountry destinations in San Diego that has become increasingly popular thanks to the publicity of social media. With three successive, cascading waterfalls and pools of cool, flowing water to swim in, Three Sisters is indeed an alluring destination. But the trail to the falls has long been a bit sketchy and until recently involved a very steep descent down a heavily eroded hillside, often requiring the use of ropes. Fortunately the US Forest Service has recently cut a new section of trail that takes a much easier and more environmentally friendly route to the falls. Continue reading Three Sisters →

Chula Vista, Dog Friendly, South County, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Otay Lakes County Park


Otay Lakes County Park is a small park on the southern shore of Lower Otay Lake in Chula Vista. In addition to the usual playground and picnic areas to enjoy, there are some nice views to be gained by hiking to the top of a small hill on the southeastern edge of the park. Hopefully someday Otay Lakes County Park will be connected to the extensive trail system at nearby Otay Valley Regional Park, but for now this little summit is still a fun hike. Continue reading Otay Lakes County Park →

Cleveland National Forest, Dog Friendly, Mt Laguna, Pacific Crest Trail, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Foster Point


Just a few hundred feet off the Pacific Crest Trail in Mount Laguna stands Foster Point, a fantastic vantage point from which to take in views of the nearby Anza-Borrego desert and many of the area’s prominent peaks. To aid you in identifying these peaks, there is a rustic direction finder that was installed by the Sierra Club. Foster Point is an easy side-trip if you happen to be hiking this stretch of the PCT, but it also makes a fun hike all on its own if you’re looking for something easy with a big payoff. Continue reading Foster Point →

5 miles, Daley Ranch, Dog Friendly, Escondido, North County, Trail Write-Ups

Jack Creek Meadow Loop (Daley Ranch)


Once slated for a large housing development, Daley Ranch was set aside for conservation and recreation in 1997, and has since become a favorite spot for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. With over 20 miles of trails, there are lots of options for hikes of varying lengths and difficulties. The Jack Creek Meadow Loop travels the paved Ranch House Road to the historic Daley Ranch House, then makes a loop around the Jack Creek Meadow through a mix of non-native grasslands and riparian oak woodland. Continue reading Jack Creek Meadow Loop (Daley Ranch) →

5 miles, Cleveland National Forest, Julian, Trail Write-Ups, Uncategorized, Waterfalls

Cedar Creek Falls (via Julian)

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) →

5 miles, Coast to Crest Trail, Dog Friendly, Escondido, North County, Trail Write-Ups

San Pasqual to Ysabel Creek


We had slowly been tackling small segments of the portion of the Coast to Crest Trail that runs through the San Pasqual Valley, and were down to the final leg. The segment that runs from the San Pasqual Staging Area just off of Highway 78 to the Ysabel Creek Staging Area a few miles away is at the eastern end of a 22-mile contiguous stretch of the Coast to Crest Trail. Hopefully someday, we’ll be able to continue east through the valley to connect with the Santa Ysabel truck trail near Boden Canyon. For now, we were just happy to check this one off the list. Continue reading San Pasqual to Ysabel Creek →

Coast to Crest Trail, Dog Friendly, Escondido, North County, San Dieguito River, Trail Write-Ups, Under 5 miles

Ysabel Creek to Raptor Ridge


Someday the Coast to Crest Trail will run continuously from the summit of Volcan Mountain to the ocean, but for now the longest contiguous segment of the trail is the 22-mile span between Highway 78 and Santa Fe Valley. A 22-mile point-to-point hike makes for an awfully long day hike, so we’ve been tackling this section in smaller segments. Continue reading Ysabel Creek to Raptor Ridge →