Santa Rosa Mountain is a sky island amidst a sea a scorched rocks and barren valley. This offshoot of the peninsular ranges demonstrates the spectacular biodiversity of Southern California while affording some of the best views in all of Southern California.Distance: 7.2 MilesElevation Gained: 1260'Difficulty: ModerateCritters: Squirrels, ravens, hawksTime: 3:15Get there like this.Note: You will …
Mt. Wilson
Mt. Wilson is one of the more well-known "peaks" in the San Gabriel Ranges due to its accessibility, visibility, its significant astronomical history, its campus of telescopes, and the presence of a small city of communications arrays. This long, flat ridge isn't a summit in the traditional sense, but any hike to the top is …
Caspers Wilderness Park: Juaneno Loop
Caspers Wilderness Park is a fine patch of preserved wilderness featuring broad canyons supporting oak and sycamore savannas, as well as sage-scrub covered ridges and ocean views. The trail network ranges from easy to strenuous, and the park offers several campgrounds and equestrian staging.Distance: 10.5Elevation Gained: 1,800Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 3:25Critters: Bunnies, hawks, ravensGet there like …
Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve West
Everybody knows that happy cows come from California. However, many of them live of polluting and foul smelling feed lots in the Central Valley, which, upon approach, fill the unsuspecting traveler with disgust and nausea. The real happy cows hang out at Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve, which have all of the rolling hills, trickling …
The Forest Trail
The Forest Trail is the hidden gem of Malibu Creek State Park. This .5 mile trail branching off of Crags road feature dense stands of bay, oak, and willow, as well as some planted coast redwoods from which the trail gets its name.Taken from the Grasslands Trail, the south bank of Century Lake is a …
Stanley Peak
Stanley Peak is the high point of Daley Ranch, which also makes it one of the highest points in Escondido. There are many ways to the top, but this route travels up the Caballo Trail from the parking lot near the Escondido Humane Society. There might be good views here, but I didn't get any …
Inaja Memorial Trail
This brief trail memorializing fire fighters who died fighting the 1956 Inaja Fire scrambles around a rocky, chaparral studded promontory that offers good views of the San Diego River Canyon, Santa Ysabel Valley, and the Volcan Mountains.Distance: .5 MilesElevation Gained: 100'Difficulty: EastTime: 20 minutesCritters: NoneGet there like this.Details:The Grand Canyon of the San Diego River?Next …
Kelley’s Ditch Trail
Kelley's Ditch Trail is a trail through a remote park of the Cuyamaca Mountains that connects Cuyamaca State Park and William Heise County Park. The route travels through forests incinerated by the 2003 Cedar Fire along the west slopes of North Peak before dropping down into Heise Park. The views, though partially obstructed by dead …
Kearsarge Pass
Kearsarge Pass is one of a number of points where trails cross over the Sierra Crest, which runs as a spine along the east side of the Sierra Nevadas. The trail leading up from Onion Valley crosses over the crest into Kearsarge Basin, where a network of lakes ultimately gives way to one of the …
The Piedras Pintadas and Bernardo Bay Trails
The Piedras Pintadas and Bernardo Bay Trails are part of the San Dieguito River Park, which includes a significant chunk of the Coast-to-Crest Trail, Bernardo Mountain, and Lake Hodges. Both trails travel through former Kumeyaay land, and there are many interpretive signs, especially on Piedras Pintadas, that will explain Kumeyaay ways.Distance: 5.5Elevation Gained: 600'Difficulty: ModerateTime: …
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scott turner hikes 