As 2015 winds down, its time to take a look back over the past year. We’ve had an amazing year exploring trails in San Diego. From the coast to the desert, and the many mountains in between, we’ve visited a plethora of beautiful spots. In no particular order, here are our 10 favorite hikes we did in 2015:

McGinty Mountain

McGinty Mountain is a moderately strenuous 5 mile out and back in Jamul. I like this hike for several reasons. First of all, its not very busy. I can only assume that people think Jamul is just too far out of the way, but its actually a pretty reasonable drive if you’re in East County or South Bay. The second reason is the awesome views you get, starting just a short way up the trail. You can easily see from downtown San Diego to Cuyamaca Peak, and everything in between. Finally, it’s a good workout with some steep and rugged ascents, so you feel like you’ve accomplished something when you finally reach the peak.

Los Jilgueros Preserve

Los Jilgueros Preserve is an easy 1.3 mile loop in Fallbrook. This is a fun little stroll with a variety of scenery. The highlight of the Preserve is a small pond full of ducks, coots, and other birds. Another major point of interest is the Firescape Garden – a demonstration garden showcasing fire resistant and drought tolerant plants. The short length, abundance of wildlife, and easy terrain makes this a good choice for young children.

Kanaka Flat Loop (Santa Ysabel East Preserve)

The Kanaka Flat Loop is a moderate 7.4 mile combination out and back/loop trail through the Santa Ysabel East Preserve in Julian. The trail traverses rolling hills and the oak-lined Santa Ysabel Creek. This hike was memorable due to the gorgeous scenery, with grassy fields and tree-covered slopes stretching out in every direction. It gets bonus points for bovine encounter opportunities, since the Preserve doubles as grazing land for a large herd of cattle.

Oak Grove to High Point

Sure, if you have 4WD vehicle you can just drive up to Palomar Mountain High Point, but where’s the fun in that? This strenuous, 13.9 mile out and back ascends 3600 feet from the small hamlet of Oak Grove to a fire lookout tower high atop Palomar Mountain. It’s a tough hike with some great views, and there’s a good chance you’ll have it all to yourself.

El Cajon Mountain

This strenuous 11 mile out and back is one of the most challenging hikes in the county. If you’re tough enough to hike the mountain that’s uphill both ways, you’ll be rewarded with some fantastic views from one of eastern San Diego’s most iconic landmarks, and earn some serious bragging rights as well.

Laguna to Cuyamaca

While the logistics of point-to-point hikes can be challenging, this moderately strenuous 13 mile hike is well worth the hassle. Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area are two of my favorite hiking spots in San Diego County. Not coincidentally, they happen to be right next to each other. Both of these areas feature long miles of accessible trails where one can find a quiet solitude that is hard to come by in much of the county. This hike connects both areas together in a long, but beautiful journey that showcases some of the best of each park.

Torrey Pines Extension

This easy-moderate 4.3 mile hike follows a network of looping and out-and-back trails through rare Torrey Pine trees and beautifully sculpted sandstone cliffs. While the main Torrey Pines Reserve is usually packed, the extension is a quiet and peaceful refuge. While there’s no beach access, you can still get some beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and Penasquitos Lagoon.

Stonewall Creek and Soapstone Grade Loop

This moderate 9 mile loop explores the northeastern section of Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. It includes a nice variety of scenery including riparian creeksides, oak and pine woodlands, and open grasslands. There’s not a lot of elevation gain, so you can just relax and enjoy the fantastic views.

Moonlight Canyon

This is a short (1.5 mile) but incredibly beautiful hike at Agua Caliente County Park out near Anza-Borrego. The canyon itself is breathtaking with its multi-colored rock walls towering above you on either side. We also ran into a pair of Bighorn sheep along the trail, which made for an even more memorable experience.

Eagle Peak

This moderately strenuous 4.4 mile out and back begins at the Three Sisters trailhead. It branches off (leaving the crowds behind) to ascend several rocky false summits before finally reaching the Eagle Peak. It has what many consider to be some of the best views in the county, and we’re going to have to agree with that assessment!

Thanks to all of our readers for following us this year and sharing our journeys with us. Here’s to another year of outdoor exploration!