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 …
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 …
Elfin Forest
The Way-Up Trail - Lake Hodges Overlook TrailDistance: 6.4 MilesElevation Gain: 700 feetDifficulty: Moderate Time: 2:20Critters: lots and lots of poochesPros:- Good views of east San Diego CountyCons:- Crowded- Very little shade- Aside from the views, wildflower blooms, and the crossing of Escondido Creek, there's really not much to seeThe Details:I had a little spare …
Boney Mountain
Big Sycamore Canyon Fire Road - Serrano Canyon Trail - Serrano Valley Trail - Backbone Trail - Chamberlain Trail - Old Boney TrailDistance: 22 milesElevation gained: 3,100'Difficulty: MasochisticTime: 8:25, including 30 minutes worth of breaks Critters: Feral parrots, hawks, two deerPros:- Experiences every ecosystem in the Santa Monicas, excluding valley oak woodlands.- Expansive views of …
Mt. Woodson
Lake Poway Trail - Mt. Woodson TrailDistance: 7.6 MilesElevation Gain: 2,800'Difficulty: Moderately StrenuousCritters: Coots!Pros:- Fairly challenging workout- Good views of San Diego County- Boulders, boulders everywhere! Cons:- Very crowded- Full sun exposure from start to finish\- Hot, even when it's cool out. Details:Mt. Woodson looms pretty large over central San Diego County. It is a …
Backpacking in Santa Anita Canyon
First Water Trail - Gabrielino Trail - Rim Trail - Sturtevant Trail - Lower Winter Creek TrailDistance: Day 1 - 5.2 Miles              Day 2 - 13.5 MilesElevation Gain: 4,100' totalDifficulty: StrenuousCritters: A thriving grey squirrel populationPros: - Easily accessible from Los Angeles- Beautiful forest set along a stream- A sense of being a world apart …
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 …
scott turner hikes 