Guides and Trips
Trips
Been wanting to check out Elfin Forest for quite a while, and picked about the hottest day I've hiked in years. That aside, Elfin Forest is a lovely example of Coastal Sage and Chaparral. Wildflowers were still blooming, and there were a lot of people throughout the hike. Even some brave mountain bikers. The Interpretive Center was top notch as well, very impressive. I be back, on a nice winter day, to...
Juaquapin Trail and Dyar Springs Trail loop is one of the more shaded trails on the East Mesa. Starting from Park Visitor Center Parking, take the trail into the trees, next to the handicap parking spot, and turn left on Cold Stream Trail following the creek, past the horse corrals, toward the eastern hillsides. Cross the Sweetwater (ease depends on the season), and follow the trail up the hill to the East...
Decided to head out in the late afternoon. Got to Hollenbeck's parking lot a little after 5 pm. There was only one other car in the lot. Took off on the normal route, but wanted to do the loop section in the opposite direction, climbing the the long gradual fire road and coming back via the single track along the canyon. Probably not the best day to chose this route, as the...
Most of my hikes in Cuyamaca so far.
Great hike south of Green Valley Campground. I picked the coldest windiest day in May to do it, but it would be a tough hike on a hot summer's day.
Falls Fire Road to Boundary Fire Road to Pine Ridge Trail
Hulburd Grove, California, United States
Hiking | 4.8 miles
Hiking | 4.8 miles
Another volunteer hike in Cuyamaca State Park. Perfect cool, cloudy hiking weather for a new favorite hike in the park. Starting off with a quick detour down to a pretty heavy flowing Green Valley Falls, then up to the lush and beautiful Falls Fire Road. Still damp, the dew clung to wildflowers and spiderwebs all day. A steep but relatively short climb up the Boundary Fire Road, through granite and chaparral, put...
Just collection of my hiking routes in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, without repeats. Really for my own entertainment. Some omissions for lack of GPX, or GPS, or whatever.
Been wanting to bag Oakzanita Peak for years, took a shot in the fall, but it was unexpectedly hot, and I failed. So when I saw the temp was going to drop this weekend, I figured this was it. When I first skimmed the description in my fave hiking book, I misunderstood the route he mentioned, then read it again and got it straight, but did the hike the way I thought...
Great, mildly wintery day to hike Stonewall Peak. Today was one of my volunteer roves in Cuyamaca, and my hiking partner and I decided to see how many "contacts" we could make. We spoke to around 35 people on the way up and around the peak. Plenty of folks out enjoying (my idea of) perfect hiking weather. Parts of the trail were snow covered, parts mud bogs, but it was an interesting...
Hollenbeck Canyon is a State Wildlife Area. It's also a great place to get in a hike relatively close to some of San Diego's biggest suburbs. Winter is a perfect time to visit this normally hot canyon. Right now the hills are green, the creek is swollen, and the rattlesnakes are dozing. Additionally, the cool temps allow for exploring some of the surrounding hills.
Needed to get a hike in today, for my mental health, and I guess physical health. Got a friend involved, and we decided to go for a series of geocaches in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Kind of a weird, not cold, not warm, sunless, windless silvery day out in the mountains. Found 7 of 8 geocaches, hid one, saw a bobcat, made to the car a little before dark, had a swell...
Had to get outside today, after complaining about the heat all week. I got interested in the Liverpool v Chelsea match, and got a late start, but it was a very nice day to hike through Hollenbeck. Didn't see or hear another soul until I got back to the trailhead - then I saw a dove hunter, and a guy who looked like he was going snake hunting. Weird. Great day to...
In the morning we pitched in on a benefit mountain bike poker ride, then decided to hike the Milk Ranch Road, Black Oak Trail combo in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Fairly mellow grade up Milk Ranch Road, never too steep, and the loop around the peak, Black Oak Trail, is pretty interesting. One section was prescribe-burned last spring for replanting, and is a moonscape. Good hike, and tried out my new daypack...
I got a wild hair this afternoon, and sitting around the house wasn't going to cut it. I've been jonesing for a hike and Laguna Mountain Recreation Area was just the place to satisfy my craving. I did some drive-by geocaching prior to arriving at the the trailhead around 4 pm. The sun was already low and filtering through the trees, and it didn't take long to discover I'd left my camera...
Thought it was about time I revisit Torrey Pines. I haven't been there since I was a college botany student. Today was a great day to snap some photos and enjoy the unbelievable display of wildflowers and native plants in the reserve. Driving up the hill was a little tricky due to the mass of humanity walking and biking up and down the hill. For a little bit I wasn't sure if...
This was a beautiful day to do this loop I've been eyeing for a while. A little windy on the peak, and a bit cold, but out of the wind was great. Nice Spring day.
Been thinking about this trail for a while. I was turned back by bad weather about a week ago, but it seemed like it'd be better today. It was better, but not a lot. It was cold and windy, but at least it wasn't raining this time. I wasn't sure how long this hike would be, well, I wasn't even sure what my exact route would be. I had intended to grab...
Deciding to clean up some caches in Florida Canyon before it rains tonight and on the weekend. DNFed a couple. Warm day.
