Meadows and pine forests can be hard to come by in San Diego County, but the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area is one spot where there’s plenty of both. This loop takes the Big Laguna Trail around the edge of the expansive Laguna Meadow and Big Laguna Lake, passing in and out of mature pine trees. Continue reading Laguna Meadow Loop
Category Archives: Trail Write-Ups
Morrison Pond
Sweetwater Regional Park in Bonita has an extensive network of trails along the Sweetwater River. While much of those trails are adjacent to roadways, this short loop around Morrison Pond provides a slightly more quiet and secluded spot to enjoy nature and watch the birds. There are plenty of options for extending your hike along some of the connecting paths if you’re so inclined, but even this little loop can make an enjoyable excursion. Continue reading Morrison Pond
Mount Woodson (Potato Chip Rock) via Highway 67
Mount Woodson has become an extremely popular hiking destination due to the famous Potato Chip Rock – a fragile looking granite shard which, from the right angle, can look like its extending into nothingness, making for some creative photo opportunities. On warm weekends, you will likely encounter throngs of hikers making their way up the popular summit via one of two main routes: up the western flank of the mountain via Lake Poway, or this shorter, easier approach up the eastern side of the mountain starting from Highway 67. There is a less-traveled, quieter route that also starts near Highway 67 and traverses the northern flank of the mountain – the Fry Koegel Trail. We combined the fire road and the Fry-Koegel Trail for an enjoyable 5.6 mile loop. Continue reading Mount Woodson (Potato Chip Rock) via Highway 67
Equine Incline Loop/Mount Israel (Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve)
The Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve is a popular spot for both hikers and mountain bikers. The Way Up Trail, the main path into the Reserve, is a busy, well traveled trail. Once at the top of the Way Up Trail, however, one can choose from a number of destinations. The Equine Incline Trail on the west side of the reservoir is one of the quieter sections of the Reserve. This loop can also lead you to the Elfin Forest Overlook point – also known as Mount Israel. Continue reading Equine Incline Loop/Mount Israel (Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve)
Lake Poway Loop
Most hikers know Lake Poway as the starting point for the famous Potato Chip Rock (Mount Woodson) hike, but there are some other adventures to be had there. If you want to enjoy the scenic views and rugged landscape that surrounds Lake Poway but avoid the Mount Woodson crowds, this loop around the lake is a good choice. There is little shade and some steep hills, so an early start during warm weather is advised. Continue reading Lake Poway Loop
Old Coach to Raptor Ridge
This segment of the Coast to Crest trail through San Pasqual Valley picks up where our last hike, from Mule Hill to the Old Coach connector trail, left off. This segment starts off almost perfectly flat as it continues along the San Dieguito River, then ascends to the Raptor Ridge Viewpoint where you have fantastic views of the San Pasqual Valley below. As you can guess from the name, it is an excellent spot to view hawks soaring by as they hunt. Continue reading Old Coach to Raptor Ridge
Mule Hill Trail to Old Coach
History buffs will enjoy this easy hike along the Coast to Crest Trail which passes Mule Hill, site of an historic battle in 1846. A number of interpretive signs along the trail tell the story of a group of US soldiers surrounded by enemies after the Battle of San Pasqual. In addition to Mule Hill, the trail passes the Sikes Adobe Farmstead, one of the area’s oldest adobe homes. Continue reading Mule Hill Trail to Old Coach
Oakzanita Peak Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
One of my favorite things about Cuyamaca Rancho State Park is its extensive, interconnected network of trails that lets you make hikes as long or as short as you like. If you just want to bag a peak, you can do it as a quick out and back. If you want to do a long, meandering route that includes a peak, you can do that too. We had previously hiked Oakzanita Peak as a simple out and back, and found it to have outstanding views with considerably fewer people than the more popular Stonewall Peak. We decided to revisit Oakzanita but make a longer hike out of it and ended up with this 9.2 mile loop. Continue reading Oakzanita Peak Loop (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)
William Heise County Park
William Heise County Park in Julian has a number of shorter trails running throughout. We had previously explored the Kelly Ditch Trail, which runs from Heise to Lake Cuyamaca, and several trails on the northern side of the park including the Desert View Trail. That left us with three remaining trails to explore: the Fern Trail, the Potter Loop, and the Cedar Trail. Since all three of these trails connect, we elected to combine them into one larger loop. The result was this moderate 3.2 mile hike with a wonderful variety of scenery. Continue reading William Heise County Park
Cactus Hill Loop
Sweetwater Summit Regional Park has 15 miles of trails to explore, open to hikers, bikers and equestrians. The nearby Sweetwater Reservoir provides a scenic backdrop to the park’s rolling grass-covered hills. The park is also prime territory for vernal pools – temporary pools of water that form only during the wet season and provide important habitat for endangered and threatened species like the San Diego fairy shrimp. Continue reading Cactus Hill Loop