Palomar Mountain State Park

The nature trail begins at the Doane Pond parking lot and ends in the campground. The 3/4 mile, mostly shaded trail occasionally stocks a self-guided brochure that might be picked up at the trailhead. With an elevation gain/loss of only 100 ft, the nature trail offers an opportunity for young and old to glimpse the variety of the park. Hikers cross the stream in several places via rock and wooden bridges. The trail passes through the forest, from where the meadow of Lower Doane Valley may be viewed.

This is also the trailhead for Weir Trail.

Weir Trail to French Valley Trail is a three-mile trail that starts at the Doane Pond parking lot at the same trailhead as doane valley nature trail. The trail is fairly level, with only a 100 ft elevation gain/loss, and follows along doane creek underneath forest growth before it opens out into views of the lower doane meadow and continues to the Weir historic site.

Baptist Trail leads one farther into Palomar's network of trails.

Scotts Cabin Trail is an uphill, shaded trail. It was historically an old wagon road and passes the remains of a pioneer cabin. The area was temporarily closed at the time of the visit in December 2010.

After Adam Trail crosses Nate Harrison Grade Road, it becomes Boucher Trail

The Weir, a low dam, creates a small, refreshing pool of water surrounded by very slippery rocks, beware. The small stone building was built in the 1920s to measure water flow. To continue on the loop, backtrack to the Lower Doane Trail junction and veer left to connect to French Valley Trail.

After hikers cross Doane Creek, they emerge into the sunny meadow of Lower French Valley. A trail continues some distance along French Creek.

A large grove of very old, gnarled, interlocked oak trees can be found at this site. Kids and kids-at-heart can clamber among the trees and boulders. The largest of these trees, the fallen "Murrieta Tree," forms an arch over the trail; it had grown over a rock, over which it eventually slipped off. The two principal oak species in the area are canyon live oak and black oak. In the fall and winter, one can differentiate the species by leaf presence; canyon live oak is evergreen, whereas black oak, a "true" member of the Quercus genus, is deciduous. Black oaks were prized by the Luiseno tribe for their acorns, which are large and low in tannins compared to other varieties. Indeed, one can see grinding rocks all around the silver crest picnic area.

This mostly shady 4 mile loop begins on the far side of doane pond on the south side of upper doane valley. This moderate-to-difficult hike involves a 700 ft elevation gain/loss. Start by hiking along thunder spring trail, which follows alder-fringed Doane Creek. Turn right onto chimney flats trail, which follows an uphill switchback route along part of chimney creek, and past a small waterfall. Dogwood trees bloom in may and western azaleas bloom in may and june.

The trail climbs out briefly in a meadow area known as chimney flats, the site of an old homestead. From here the trail becomes a dirt road which climbs steadily through the forest until crossing a paved road and joining the scotts cabin trail. Here hikers can see century-old apple trees planted by palomar pioneers. The remnants of a settler's cabin are also located along this trail.

Unfortunately the cabin was vandalized in recent years, and little remains of the historic structure. This downhill grade will junction with cedar trail. Turn right onto cedar trail as you pass through lush fern and azaleas on your return to doane pond.

The loop hike starts and ends near silvercrest picnic area. Boucher is a beautiful trail that gradually climbs to Boucher fire watchtower and its outstanding views to the north, west, and south. The trail is mostly shaded with an exposed summit.