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)
Photo: Cactus Hill
Hello Hikers!
Looks like this week will be starting off warm, with high temps on Monday and Tuesday. Things should start cooling off mid-week.
There’s been lots of reports of rattlesnake activity lately as the weather begins to warm up. While rattlesnakes are present year-round in San Diego, they are much more active during the summer. Rattlesnakes are an important part of the local ecosystem, and while they can be scary, with a little common sense we can all share the trails amicably:
If you’ve got some time, I highly recommend watching this informative YouTube video on the subject.
April 21st marks the first day of National Park Week, and there will be free admission to National Parks to celebrate. Head on over to Cabrillo National Monument for a hike or to check out the tidepools!
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Have a good week!
Photo: Sycuan Peak
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
Photo: Historic Flume Trail
Hello Hikers!
Looks like this nice hiking weather should continue for a little while – mild temps and morning clouds are forecast for most of this week, with a small chance of rain on Saturday.
If you missed, 10 News has some cool video a local driver caught on his dash cam of a mountain lion running across the road in San Carlos near Cowles Mountain. It’s a good reminder that these critters are out there, so make sure you know what to do if you encounter one on the trail.
The San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy (SDRVC) will be holding a photo scavenger hunt throughout April. Participants must submit pictures of ten specific items and locations and submit them by April 30 to win SDRVC swag, REI discount coupons, Adventure-16 bucks, and more. Visit their website for all the details.
Now that spring is here, the San Dieguito River Park staging areas will be open until 7:30 pm. Mission Trails already switched to later hours after Daylight Savings, with most parking areas now open until 7pm (although the Visitor Center parking lot still closes at 5). So get out there for some after-work hikes!
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Photo: Canyon Oak and Desert View Loop
Hello Hikers!
Looks like we’re done with the rain for now, this week should bring us clear weather and warmer temperatures.
The US Forest Service – Cleveland National Forest has announced that the new trail to Three Sisters Falls is open for use, although it is not yet 100% complete. The new trail has a safer and more direct route to the falls than the previous unofficial trail had, and should help with erosion control. Additional work will continue over the next few months.
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Photo: Rock Mountain
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
Photo: Barnett Ranch Preserve
Hello Hikers!
Are you tired of rain yet? Not me! It looks like we’ll have a couple of nice days before the next event on Thursday when we’ll see some more rain.
All you amateur naturalists out there should mark your calendars for April 27-30, when City Nature Challenge 2018 will take place. This is a worldwide competition to see which city can make the most observations of their local plants and animals over a 4 day period using the iNaturalist app. The San Diego Natural History Museum is spearheading our local effort and has instructions on how to participate and a number of scheduled events.
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Photo: Mule Hill Trail
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
Photo: Corte Madera Mountain
Hello Hikers!
More rain is on the way! Heavy precipitation is possible for Wednesday through Sunday as some storms roll through the region.
A small fire burnt half an acre near Kumeyaay Lake in Mission Trails Regional Park last week.
Mark your calendars for March 28, when co-author Don Endicott will be conducting a 45-minute presentation at Adventure 16 in San Diego on the revised 2nd edition of 50 Best Short Hikes, San Diego. This updated edition of Jerry Schad’s last book contains 50 local day hikes from 1 to 8 miles in length.
NBC 7 has a nice report on a current project to restore native vegetation along the Walker Preserve Trail in Santee.
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Have a good week!
Photo: North Fortuna via Oak Canyon
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
