Wildcat Creek Road - Havey Canyon Trail - Nimitz Way - Conlon TrailDistance: 6.0 Miles (+1 Mile)Elevation Gained: 1,040 FeetDifficulty: ModerateTime: 2:35Critters: Bovines!, a garter snake, wild turkeys, and a very smelly dog.Pros:- Wide open views of Berkeley, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, San Pablo Resevoir, and Marin County- Rolling, green hills- Lovely riparian vegetation- …
Berry Creek Falls Loop and Pine Mountain
Campground Connector Trail - Redwood Trail - Sunset Trail - Berry Creek Falls Trail - Skyline to the Sea Trail - Bubbs Creek Trail - Pine Mountain Trail.Distance: Berry Creek Falls Loop - 12 Miles Pine Mountain - 5.2 MilesElevation Gained: 700', 1,200' Difficulty: Strenuous, ModerateTime: 6:15 (Berry Creek), 3:12 (Pine Mountain)Critters: NonePros: - Great trees, …
Backpacking on the Skyline to the Sea Trail
Skyline to the Sea Trail - Redwood Loop - Campground Connector TrailDistance: 13.8 Miles (Day 1) 13 Miles (Day 3)Elevation Gained: 1,300' (Day 1) 300 (Day 3)Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 6:57 (Day 1) 6:17 (Day 2)Critters: 28 Newts, Banana SlugsPros: - Stunning scenery from the beach, the transition from beach to redwood forest, and a deep, old-growth …
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Caliente Creek and the Agua Caliente Wilderness
Pacific Crest TrailDistance: 19 MilesElevation Gain: 2,100'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 6:50Critters: Nothing in particularPros:- Beautiful riparian vegetation featuring cottonwoods, Coulter pines, live oaks, and willows- Large patches of carpet wildflowers and great wildflower blooms all around- Great views of the peninsular ranges (Palomar, Santa Anas, Volcans)- Remoteness and isolation give the place a very wild feelingCons:- Long …
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Cuyamaca Rancho State Park
Lookout Fire Road - Burnt Pines Trail - West Mesa Trail - Monument Trail - West Side Trail - Harvey Moore Trail - Granite Springs Trail - East Side Trail - Upper Green Valley Fire Road - Cold Spring Trail - Cold Stream TrailDistance: 20.7Elevation Gained: 3,600'Difficulty: MasochisticTime: 9:15Critters: 17 deer, 7 wild turkeys, one …
Santiago Peak
Trabuco Creek Road - Holy Jim Trail - Main Divide Road - Holy Jim Falls TrailDistance: 18.8Elevation Gain: 4,100'Difficulty: Strenuous (but you should call a therapist about that masochistic streak)Time: 6:50Critters: A salamander, a gopher snake, hawks, rabbits, squirrels, teenagers.Pros:- From a central location in the SoCal area, you can experience epic views of every …
High Point
High Point Truck Trail - Palomar Divide Trail - High Point Lookout TrailDistance: 22.1 Miles (+1 mile)Elevation gained: 4,000'Time: 8:30Difficulty: MasochisticCritters: none to speak ofPros: - Epic views of mountains in Riverside, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Orange Counties, including San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Baldy, Santiago Peak, Cuyamaca Peak, Laguna Mountains, Hot Springs Peak- Tremendous sense …
Los Penasquitos Canyon
Penasquitos Canyon TrailDistance: 11 MilesElevation Gain: 300 feetTime: 3:50Difficulty: ModerateCritters: A coyote, woodpeckers, various verminPros: - Close to urban and suburban areas of San Diego- Long stretches of oak and riparian woodland- Nice waterfall stop halfway can cut the distance in half- Accessible on the the east and west ends- Surprisingly remote feeling despite how …
Cheeseboro Canyon
Modelo Trail - Palo Comado Connector Trail - Shepherd's Flat Trail - Albertson Fire Road - Cheeseboro Canyon TrailDistance: 13.2 milesElevation Gain: 1200'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: 4:45Critters: A roadrunner, a crow that hovered over my shoulder, squirrels, rabbits,Pros:- Long stretches of oak woodland- A nice transition from rolling green hills and oak woodland to sun-drenched chaparral …
Palomar Mountain and Lopez Canyon
Hike 1:Scott's Cabin Trail - Cedar Trail - Doane Valley Trail - Chimney Flat TrailHike 2: Observatory Trail Hike 3: Lopez Canyon TrailDistance: 4.6, 4.4, 4.4 miles, respectively.Elevation Gain: 600, 750, negligableDifficulty: Easy, Moderate, EasyTime: 2:14, 2:43, 1:57Critters: 25 mule deer, squirrels, chipmunks, hawks, bluebirds, jaysPros (Palomar):- Reasonably easy access to a mixed conifer forest, mountain, …
scott turner hikes 