2016 Adventure Series 52 Hike Challenge

BorregoWrangler

Adventurist
Founding Member
So apparently, this is a thing...

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Are You Ready For The Adventure Series?
The Adventure Series is the original 52 Hike Challenge with some objectives in mind. We added the Adventure Series for 2016 because we wanted you to have a well rounded experience, going to beautiful places and connecting with the people who care for making this planet more sustainable. We believe this list will enrich your life and make this 52 Hike Challenge journey memorable for years to come - hopefully something you tell your grandchildren about.

  • 5 Waterfalls (even if they are dry)
  • 1 Forest (if not possible, go to National Park/ Site)
  • 1 National Park, Monument, Preserve, Recreation Area or Historic Trail
  • 2 Hikes to bodies of water: Lakes, Rivers, or Ocean
  • 1 Stewardship hike (pick up trash or join group to help with a restoration project)
  • 1 Group hike (if you are regular to one group, visit a new group to meet new people)
  • 1 Introduce someone new to hiking (on an easy trail)
  • 1 Hike from your Bucket list (somewhere you have always wanted to go)
  • 3 Reflection hikes (journal at the beginning, middle, and towards the end of your challenge).
http://www.52hikechallenge.com/
 
#1 Cottonwood Creek Falls
2 miles | +530'

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Cottonwood Creek Falls is a little hidden gem of a waterfall tucked away at the base of the Laguna Mountains, just off Sunrise Highway in San Diego county. This 2 mile round trip hike really isn't difficult but there is a steep, loose decent and some thick brush to negotiate near the beginning. It's a mini adventure with a nice reward, especially if you go in spring or after a good rain. Plenty of small waterfalls await. If you're feeling adventurous you can go as far as you can up the creek to explore more cascades, but be careful as the rocks can be slippery.
 
#2 Cowles Mountain via Barker Way & Mesa Service Road
3.75 miles | +950'

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The highest point in the City of San Diego and by far the most popular trail in the entire county. I took the alternate route to avoid the hordes of people along the main trail. Cowles Mountain is also the highest summit within Mission Trails Regional Park, which features four other peaks- Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay Peak, South Fortuna Mountain, and North Fortuna Mountain.

www.mtrp.org
 
#3 Oak Canyon Falls
4 miles | +300'

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My third hike of the year and second waterfall trek!

Oak Canyon, a sycamore and oak-lined ravine tucked into a scenic corner of Mission Trails Regional Park just west of Santee, hides a small but beautiful seasonal waterfall. In fact, the whole canyon comes alive with a thin stream of babbling water after some decent rains. After making your way along the banks of the trickling creek, passing small cascades and rock-bound pools, you'll eventually see State Route 52 passing high above the canyon. Here water flows along a rocky creek into a mini-chasm of water-polished rock, with a deep, narrow pool.
 
#4 Kitchen Creek Falls
6.25 miles |+985'

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At Kitchen Creek Falls, water from about 20 square miles of drainage upstream tumbles a total of 150 vertical feet over several cascades of various heights. Found in a remote canyon off the south flank of the Laguna Mountains, this waterfall is easily accessed by the well-trodden Pacific Crest Trail. A short stretch of scrambling over jagged boulders is required to reach the cascades. This is a fun place to walk along and across the stream, as well as clamber over water-polished boulders. A short but steep, loose decent is required to reach the base of the falls. After you've had your fill of all the natural beauty of the area, return the way you came along the PCT.

3/5 Waterfall Hikes
 
#5 Goat Canyon Trestle & Indian Hill
14.75 miles | +1700'

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Carrizo Gorge at the southern edge of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is a spectacular chasm and home to the Goat Canyon railroad trestle. Two hundred feet tall and 750 feet long, it's the tallest curved wooden trestle ever built.

The construction of the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad began during World War I in the steep-walled Carrizo Gorge near the town of Jacumba. Many people were convinced at the time that it couldn't be done, but John D. Spreckels didn't rest until the "impossible track" was completed in November, 1919, at a cost of $18 million. The Goat Canyon trestle was built in 1932 after an earthquake collapsed one of the tunnels.

Despite damage to the lines from heavy rainstorms, landslides, fires, and vandalism the line stayed in operation for over 50 years. In 1976 hurricane Kathleen caused widespread flooding and damage in this area. Three trestles belonging to the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railway were destroyed, and five others were damaged. At more than 50 other locations, tracks were buried by mudslides or had the ground under them washed away. After assessing the damage from Kathleen, the Southern Pacific Transportation Company decided in 1977 to abandon most of the SD&AE railway, but in 1978 the Interstate Commerce Commission disallowed this plan and the railway was restored.
 
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#6 San Diego River Trail (Walker Preserve & Lakeside River Park)
6.5 miles | +90'

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Lakeside’s River Park Conservancy was formed in 2001 to acquire lands along the San Diego River through purchases or donations and to restore the habitat and develop trails for the benefit of Lakeside residents. This section of the San Diego River Trail is a huge step forward towards the overall goal of a 52-mile trail ranging from Julian down to Ocean Beach.
 
#7 Carrizo Gorge Backpacking Trek
13 miles | +800'/-2500'

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"You need special shoes for hiking- and a bit of a special soul as well."


A north-south trending fault zone is responsible for the series of ridges and canyons at Anza-Borrgo's southern end. Carrizo Gorge, the most dramatic of these, divides the Jacumba Mountains to the east from the In-Ko-Pah Mountains to the west. These mini-mountain ranges are links in the Peninsular Ranges from the Laguna Mountains in the northwest to the Sierra Juarez of Baja California. Carrizo Gorge is best known for the railroad that threads along its eastern wall: the San Diego & Arizona Eastern. Built in 1907-1919, the railroad carried freight, and for a time passengers, between San Diego and Imperial Valley. At its heart it is a remote and rugged wilderness area.

A trek down the length of Carrizo Gorge is long, rugged, and memorable. It is one to be taken cautiously, with the right equipment and clothing. Essential are long pants to protect you from the sharp thorns of mesquite, catclaw, and the needle-like tips of a particularly wicked type of bunch grass. Thick growths of tamarisk, cactus gardens, and slippery rocks will all conspire to hinder your progress. Feral cattle used to keep paths through the vegetation clear, but they were airlifted out of the canyon in the late 1980's.

Fortunately, the California Conservation Corps has been involved in a project to eradicate the invasive tamarisk from the Carrizo Creek watershed. Past forays into the gorge from the north end have been relativity easy due to the removal efforts. However, I was curious to see how passable the southern section was. So after dropping off a vehicle at the north end of the gorge, we made our way into Carrizo Gorge from the southern end, near the small high desert community of Jacumba. We only made it in about 2 miles before all forward progress was halted due to the tamarisk. A detour along the railroad tracks was necessary if we were to make camp before nightfall. The next day we made the descent back down into the gorge and eventually to where we had parked the other vehicle. There is still much more to be explored in this area. I'll be back for sure.
 
Is the Pacific Imperial Railway still running freight on those tracks? I've heard they were shut down due to some illegal activity.
When did you do your Carizzo Gorge hike? The reason I'm asking is because my husband and I want to take our rail bike out there and ride the tracks.
 
Is the Pacific Imperial Railway still running freight on those tracks? I've heard they were shut down due to some illegal activity.
When did you do your Carizzo Gorge hike? The reason I'm asking is because my husband and I want to take our rail bike out there and ride the tracks.

Ive heard it was shut down but I don't know for sure. We always see folks riding or walking along the tracks out there so I think you'd be okay.
 
#8 Stonewall Peak
4 miles | +800'

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This hike is one of my favorites in San Diego county. Nice easy trek up on a well maintained trail in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. The summit rewards you with a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding park and landscape. To the east is Granite Mountain, Anza-Borrego and the Salton Sea, to the North is Palomar Mountain and the observatory, on a clear day you can see the ocean and to the South Mexico. The park isn't the same as it once was due to fires but it's still a great way to get away from the city to breathe some fresh air and stretch your legs.
 
#9 Devil's Canyon & Myer Creek
14 miles | +1300'

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Devils Canyon runs from Mountain Springs, off Interstate 8, to Ocotillo just East of the San Diego/Imperial County line. It was a transportation route for freight and wagons heading west. The trail was opened in the 1860's as a toll road. With the construction of Old US 80 in 1910 and then I-8 in the 1960's, the old route was forgotten.

In 1976 a massive tropical storm washed out the canyon bottom, as well at the area's surrounding infrastructure. It was the most powerful tropical cylone ever to hit San Diego and Imperial Counties. With winds up to 90 miles an hour, Hurricane Kathleen dropped a foot of water on Mt. Laguna and sent a wall of water 10 feet high through the town of Ocotillo in neighboring Imperial Valley, destroying most of the town.

The powerful storm killed 13 people in California and Mexico. It also washed out sections of Interstate 8, and destroyed a bridge at Meyer Creek, leaving a gully in its place some 35 to 40 feet deep.

Devils Canyon was "rediscovered" in the early 2000's by local off-highway enthusiast and the route was made passable again by 4WD vehicles for a time before it was unfortunately closed down by the BLM. After a finding of "no signifigant impact", access to the canyon was again allowed but only via a special use permit.

I think our hiking buddy, Robb said it best- "Mouths parched. Skin beaten, scratched, and sunburnt. Muscles aching and shoes full of coarse desert sand. They hike, not because they want to, but because they have to. Exploration is in their blood. It's what they do. It's who they are."
 
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#10 Sycuan Peak
2.25 miles | +800'

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Sycuan Peak, midway between the inland communities of Alpine and Jamul, rises 2801 feet above sea level and overlooks miles of thinly populated valleys and hills. As part of a countywide effort to preserve native sage-scrub and chaparral habitats, much of the mountain's higher slopes are being managed as a California Department of Fish and Game ecological reserve. Hikers are welcome to try the single trail that darts up Sycuan's south slope. You'll waste no time in climbing a vertical 800 feet over the one-mile length of this trail.
 
#11 Lawson Peak
4.5 miles | +1600'

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The trail to Lawson Peak, a granite boulder heap on the southern end of the Cleveland National Forest, can be either a moderately steep hike or an extremely difficult rock-climbing adventure. The first leg, along a two-mile stretch of the dirt Carveacre Road, offers views of backcountry mountain ranges to the south. This used to be a popular trail for the 4WD crowd, but unfortunately the city put up a gate at the trail head ending all motorized access.

The peak reaches approximately 3,600 feet above sea level. As you ascend the slabs and boulders, the temperature will drop significantly. Soon, the road crosses with another and the highest boulder atop the peak is clearly visible. Heading straight will take you into thick bushes and eventually lead to the chaotic mound of boulders on top.

The slabs and rocks are heaped atop each other like a pile of dirty laundry. Sorting your way through them is a slow process. Expect a little bushwhacking.

Only one major challenge remains: a tall, vertical rock cave that you will have to climb up and through.

Placing your left foot back on the rock behind you and your right foot on the foothold toward the far right, you will have to reach up as high as you can to locate a ledge for a grip. If you are unable to pull your body up with the leverage of your back foot, the trail will end for you here.

If you continue, a ledge a few boulders above provides an impressive view of the backcountry below. I few years ago I didn't have the skills or the confidence to negotiate the summit boulders. I was more than happy to return.
 
#12 East Shepherd Canyon
3 miles | +200'

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The area of Shepherd Canyon was first inhabited by the Kumeyaay and then was managed from 1769 to 1833 by the Mission San Diego de Alcalá Franciscans. In the late 1840s, the old mission lands fell under the use of the U.S. military.

In the 1940's it was encompassed by Camp Elliot. Use of the area included tank and artillery training plus communications training for the WWII Navajo Code Talkers.

Later in 1960, 13,277 acres were annexed into San Diego with different land-use plans finally evolving into East Shepherd Canyon, which became one of San Diego County’s first community parks in the 1980s. Take seriously the warning sign at each point of entry stating there is a possibility of unexploded shells that might still surface in the park.



 
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#13 Sloan Canyon
5 miles | +840'

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Ever since hiking Sycuan Peak a few weeks ago I've been eager to get back out and experience some of the rugged beauty of the nearby canyons. The California Riding and Hiking Trail, a designated, regional multi-use (hiking/biking/equestrian) trail that strikes a southwest-to-northeast course through the middle of San Diego County, is still a work in progress. Here, a particularly pleasant stretch of the trail takes you two miles downhill, with a loss of 800 feet of elevation, into beautiful Sloan Canyon, where a riparian strip of vegetation accompanies the winding Sweetwater River. This hike presents a fine look into the backcountry where the Sweetwater River carves its way through some lofty mountains.

The terrain here is largely undeveloped, save for a small enclave of trailer homes near the bottom of the canyon. From the beginning of the trail at an elevation of about 1,575 feet, you can see all the way down to the riparian ribbons of cottonwoods, oaks and willows that line both sides of the Sweetwater River. At the trail head looking towards the west and you can also spy Point Loma and Cabrillo behind downtown’s skyline.

 
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