Guides
6.1 mile trail near Rancho Penasquitos, California
Los Penasquitos Canyon is about 6.1 miles roundtrip from the staging area to the waterfall and located near Carmel Valley/Rancho Penasquitos and Mira Mesa, California. The trail is great for hiking, mountain biking, and horse back riding, and can take 2-4 hours. This is a generally flat hike that you can make as long or as short as you like. There...
Moderately strenuous 7.3 mile summit trail near Escondido, California just off I-15.
San Bernardo Mountain is about 7.3 miles long and located near Escondido, California. The trail is great for hiking, mountian biking and bird watching and normally takes 3-4 hours. Great hike just off the I-15 in Escondido. Hike past Lake Hodges and up a mountain for views of the surrounding area. We hiked on a misty/hazey morning so the weather...
This is the Cowles Mountain Region of the Mission Trails Regional Park. This is an intermediate to advanced ride.
Mission Trails Regional Park is a short distance from downtown San Diego and provides easy access for those who live near San Diego. With over 40 miles of trails, it is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. In this ride guide, I describe the trails in the Cowles Mountain Region. I rate this ride as intermediate to advanced due to the...
11.8 mile trail near Lakeside, California
This is an out and back hike of 11+ miles with a nice side trip to the El Capitan cliff area if you've still haven't had enough (14 miles with the side trip). There are some nice views and some interesting points along the trail including an old mine shaft and what looks like either an old military or fire vehicle.
5.3 mile trail in Mission Trails Regional Park near San Diego, California
This hike is about 5.3 miles long and located near San Diego, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day
6.8 mile trail near Escondido, California
Elfin Forest Hike is about 6.8 miles long and located near Escondido, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours
5.2 mile trail near San Pasqual, California just east of the Wild Animal Park.
North Clevenger Canyon Trail is a 5.2 mile long out and back hike and is located near San Pasqual, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. This hike is about 5 miles east of the Wild Animal Park directly off the 78 Hwy. You start off heading down to a creek and then up up up to great views of the surrounding mountains...
1.3 mile nature trail near Carmel Valley, California.
Dust Devil Nature Trail is about 1.3 miles long and located near Del Mar/Carmenl Valley, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1 hour or less. An easy, flat walk near the San Dieguito Ecological Preserve. The trail is flat and hard packed so good for kids and older folks with limited mobility. There are a couple ponds which...
0.75mi geological walk through a sandy trail down to the beach
The beach trail brings you from the parking lot across the lodge from the bluff down to the beach. You can choose to visit the Red Butte, the Razor Point and the Yucca Point trails along the way. Of the other trails, this trail seems to provide the most complete walk through of geological features discussed in the park's "Geology Walk" article; it...
Whitaker Garden and then 0.5mi steep hike up and down the hill at Torrey Pines State Park
The Parry Grove trail is a short 0.5 mile loop that starts on the side of the Torrey Pines Park Road, across from the stairs leading to High Point. Starting from the trailhead, walk through the Whitaker Garden area, where you will find the names of many plants in the area. The loop part of the trail is a steep descent down to the grove with a bench...
A walk from La Jolla Shores Beach to Scripps Pier, across a pedestrian bridge to two hidden tree swings.
La Jolla is the jewel of San Diego County. There are pristine beaches, tourist-friendly seals, world-class restaurants and theatre and great architecture. On this tour, we start at the Kayak Launch site and travel north to Scripps Pier, duck into the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, climb some (OK, a lot of) stairs, cross a beautiful bridge and...
Typical San Diego terrain, 7.5 mile hike near Ramona, California. Share the trail with a few friendly horseback riders.
Mt Gower Open Space Preserve is about 7.5 miles long and located near Ramona, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes a half day. The trail starts off pretty flat with a shorter option to head to the view point (also tracked here). There weren't very many people on the trail but a few friendly horseback riders. After the first mile...
Easy 3.8 mile trail near Escondido, California.
Hellhole Canyon Preserve is about 3.8 miles long and located near Rincon, California. The trail is great for hiking or horseback riding and normally takes 1-3 hours. An easy hike in an area with blooming flora to enjoy. At the beginning of the hike there are signs that give you information about the area. There are a few loops or hikes you can do...
This San Diego beach is popular for surfing, fishing, skin diving and camping. This guide takes you from end to end.
South Carlsbad State Beach is a great stretch of bluff-lined beach that makes a beautiful place to amble about, exploring the beach, enjoying the sunshine and the ocean breezes. At low tide, the beach becomes a broad, almost level expanse of sand strewn with seaweed, sea shells, well worn beach stones and other treasures. This walk will take you...
Moderate 5.1 mile hiking and riding trail near San Miguel Ranch/Bonita, California.
Sweetwater Reservoir to Cactus Hill is about 5.1 miles long and located near San Miguel Ranch, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. A great hike close to town but with the wide open spaces and views most hikers crave. The trail starts at the Sweetwater County Park and parking for day use is free. While you feel...
Challenging 4.7 mile hike up to the top of San Miguel Mountain near Eastlake, California with great views of San Diego.
San Miguel Mountain is about 4.7 miles long and located near Eastlake, California. The trail is great for hiking and normally takes 1-3 hours. This is one of the most challenging hikes I've done in San Diego. They way up is very steep and there aren't any switchbacks. This is a hot hike, as there is no shade, so best to do it on a cool day and start...
A beautiful canyon just east of San Diego, California
This trail is out-and-back, not a loop, and is 2 miles in one direction, or 4 miles round trip, and it is easy to moderate. If you are hiking after recent rains, the landscape will be green and lush, but also make the creek crossings (3 total) treacherous. The trail continues past the recorded route if you wish to extend the hike. The whole area...
5.4 mile trail near Oceanside, California
El Camino Real Award Hike for Cub Scouts from San Luis Rey de Francia to Guajome is about 5.4 miles long and located near Oceanside, California. The purpose of the El Camino Real Award is to encourage Scouts and Scouters to learn about the history of the California Mission System and the way of life of our earlier settlers. One of the requirements...
Trips
We took the long way up to Iron Mountain, via the Ellie Lane Staging trail. The trail goes North past a small pond then East up a valley. After cresting over the hill, we dropped down towards Ramona lookout. From there we could see Iron Mountain.It was more scenic and a better workout than the regular trail. We spent about 20 minutes at the top enjoying the view. We saw a fellow...
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
Escondido, California, United States
Hiking | 5.5 miles (10.7 miles away)
Hiking | 5.5 miles (10.7 miles away)
Our 5.5 mile hike (1330ft elevation change) was in the Elfin Forest. Didn't see any elfs, but it was a moderate hike in typical chaparral environment common to the San Diego Area. The trail head is located off Harmony Grove rd in Escondido, ca. Water, maps, and restroom facilities are available as well as plentiful parking. There were no fee's for the park. The hike starts out over a small bridge, crossing...
