Cuyamaca Rancho State Park: Oakzanita Peak, Granite Springs, East Mesa, Dyar Springs

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park comprises one of the largest public parks in Southern California. It features mountains topping out at 6,500', rolling meadows, shady canyons, rare cypresses, and a plethora of wildlife. There is a vast network of trails that can create easy hikes, masochistic hikes, and everything inbetween.Distance: 12 MilesElevation Gained: 1,600'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousTime: …

Tokopah Falls – Sequoia National Park

Distance: 3.4 MilesElevation Gained: 400'Difficulty: EasyTime: 2 hours?Critters: Deer, marmot, rumors of a bearPros:- Easy hike through a beautiful glacial valley- Enormous cascading waterfall- Towering rock cragsCons:- Close to Lodgepole Campground, which is a noisy madhouse Details:Tokopah Falls is one of the landmark trails in Sequoia National Park. The trailhead is located within Lodgepole Campground …

Redwood Canyon – Kings Canyon National Park

Distance: 7.1 MilesElevation Gained: 1,200'Difficulty: ModerateTime: 2:50Critters: An armada of butterflies, two deer, one bearPros:- Sequoia Trees- Less traveled than Giant Forest- Flowers and butterflies- Cold, clear creeks- Mountain viewsCons:- We can pretty much leave out cons when we're talking about the Sierra Nevadas, okay?Details:Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park are two of my favorite …

Torrey Pines Beach and Preserve

Torrey Pines Beach - Beach Trail - Parry Grove Trail - Guy Fleming TrailDistance: 8 MilesElevation Gained: 300Difficulty: ModerateTime: 2:38Critters: Roadrunners, gulls, hawks, godwits, and a naked man doing jumping jacks Torrey Pines beach and reservehttp://www.everytrail.com/swf/widget.swfEveryTrail - Find the best Hiking near Del Mar, Californiahttp://www.everytrail.com/trip/widgetimpression?trip_id=1531373Pros:- Miles of undisturbed coastline and cliffs- Rare Torrey pinesCons:- Very …

Black Mountain

Santa Ysabel Road - Black Mountain Truck TrailDistance: 14.2 MilesElevation Gain: 3100'Difficulty: StrenuousTime: 4:50Critters: A bobcat, a flock of quail, hawks, a momma duck protecting her nest, squirrelsPros:- Unique views of east San Diego County mountains, including Palomar, Volcan, Cuyamaca, Woodson, and Hot Springs Mountain.- Great early spring wildflower display- gentle incline for much of …

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