Such a great thread John - thank you for sharing!
Thank you!
Not All Who Wander Are Lost: Exploring San Diego County, SoCal, & Beyond- 2017 Edition
- Thread starter BorregoWrangler
- Start date
Thank you!
#15 Kwaay Paay Peak
2.25 miles | +900'
Lead my sister and her family up Mission Trail's shortest but steepest peak. Now she only has one more mountain to complete for the 5 Peak Challenge. Lesson learned on this hike: when you hide in the brush to scare your niece, the ticks will get you!
2.25 miles | +900'
Lead my sister and her family up Mission Trail's shortest but steepest peak. Now she only has one more mountain to complete for the 5 Peak Challenge. Lesson learned on this hike: when you hide in the brush to scare your niece, the ticks will get you!
#16 Sunset Cliffs
1 mile | +50'
Family fun in the sun along our favorite San Diego beach. It's hardly ever too crowded and there's plenty of tide pools for the kids to explore.
1 mile | +50'
Family fun in the sun along our favorite San Diego beach. It's hardly ever too crowded and there's plenty of tide pools for the kids to explore.
#17 Black Mountain
4 miles | +800'
Black Mountain is a relatively small yet scenic peak in the Rancho Penasquitos area. It’s antenna clad crest stands out prominently amid its lower lying surroundings, and can be easily seen and identified from other nearby San Diego peaks like Mt. Woodson and Iron Mountain.
There are several possible routes up Black Mountain. For this trip, we began at Hilltop Community Park and climbed the southern slope of the mountain along the Nighthawk trail. While most of the distant views were obscured by the haziness, it was a pleasant climb to the top.
4 miles | +800'
Black Mountain is a relatively small yet scenic peak in the Rancho Penasquitos area. It’s antenna clad crest stands out prominently amid its lower lying surroundings, and can be easily seen and identified from other nearby San Diego peaks like Mt. Woodson and Iron Mountain.
There are several possible routes up Black Mountain. For this trip, we began at Hilltop Community Park and climbed the southern slope of the mountain along the Nighthawk trail. While most of the distant views were obscured by the haziness, it was a pleasant climb to the top.
#18 Tecate Peak
7 miles | +1700'
Tecate Peak is a prominent landmark mountaintop overlooking Tecate, Mexico, and even featured on their iconic beer cans. However, the peak lies barely over the border, in the United States. Because of its height and prominence, it is a natural location for summit towers and a perch for the Border Patrol to keep an eye on things. There is a solid hard-pack dirt road all the way to the top, which is open to hikers. Purists may moan about there being a road in the first place, but without the road, climbing this peak would be an awful bushwhack up rocky, brushy slopes. From the top, you get excellent views of Tecate and Tijuana, Mexico, and all sorts of peaks south, the ocean west of San Diego, and the myriad of summits in southern San Diego County.
#19 South Fortuna Mountain
5.5 miles | +1400'
Tecate in the morning, South Fortuna in the afternoon. My sister has now completed the Mission Trails Five Peak Challenge. So proud of her!
7 miles | +1700'
Tecate Peak is a prominent landmark mountaintop overlooking Tecate, Mexico, and even featured on their iconic beer cans. However, the peak lies barely over the border, in the United States. Because of its height and prominence, it is a natural location for summit towers and a perch for the Border Patrol to keep an eye on things. There is a solid hard-pack dirt road all the way to the top, which is open to hikers. Purists may moan about there being a road in the first place, but without the road, climbing this peak would be an awful bushwhack up rocky, brushy slopes. From the top, you get excellent views of Tecate and Tijuana, Mexico, and all sorts of peaks south, the ocean west of San Diego, and the myriad of summits in southern San Diego County.
#19 South Fortuna Mountain
5.5 miles | +1400'
Tecate in the morning, South Fortuna in the afternoon. My sister has now completed the Mission Trails Five Peak Challenge. So proud of her!
Last edited:
#20 Spooner's Mesa
2 miles | +340'
A quick lunch break hike to explore part of a new trail.
"While most of the trails in the Tijuana River Valley traverse the valley's broad, flat floor, the trail to top of 400-foot-high Spooner's Mesa rewards visitors with an impressive binational view." -Jerry Schad and Scott Turner, Afoot & Afield San Diego County
2 miles | +340'
A quick lunch break hike to explore part of a new trail.
"While most of the trails in the Tijuana River Valley traverse the valley's broad, flat floor, the trail to top of 400-foot-high Spooner's Mesa rewards visitors with an impressive binational view." -Jerry Schad and Scott Turner, Afoot & Afield San Diego County
#21 Hosp Grove
1.75 miles | +220'
Hosp Grove was founded by a group of investors called The Hosp Eucalyptus Corp in 1908. They planted 219 acres of trees hoping they could be harvested & sold to the Santa Fe Railroad as railroad ties. Unfortunately, eucalyptus is a brittle wood and cracks easily, therefore was unsuitable.
Since the beginning, much of the grove has been sold off, but what remains are fun, forested trails with plenty of inclines and twists & turns. Part of the trail is parallel to the Buena Vista Lagoon and offers great views.
1.75 miles | +220'
Hosp Grove was founded by a group of investors called The Hosp Eucalyptus Corp in 1908. They planted 219 acres of trees hoping they could be harvested & sold to the Santa Fe Railroad as railroad ties. Unfortunately, eucalyptus is a brittle wood and cracks easily, therefore was unsuitable.
Since the beginning, much of the grove has been sold off, but what remains are fun, forested trails with plenty of inclines and twists & turns. Part of the trail is parallel to the Buena Vista Lagoon and offers great views.
#22 'Iliahi (Sandalwood) Trail
1.25 miles | +200'
I guess this would be the "beyond" aspect of my hiking thread here. Get ready for some Big Island adventures!
The prized and fragrant sandalwood tree once grew in such abundance in Hawaii that the Chinese knew the islands as Tahn Heung Sahn or the Sandalwood Mountains. By the 1830's much of the sandalwood forests had been decimated. Hawaii’s largest grove of sandalwoods can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii on the slopes of Mauna Loa. This beautiful rainforest trail can be found a short distance away from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor center. Feel the heat from the active steam vents and peer across the steaming floor of Kīlauea Caldera and the erupting Halema`uma`u Crater while enjoying the comforts of this mostly shady loop trail.
1.25 miles | +200'
I guess this would be the "beyond" aspect of my hiking thread here. Get ready for some Big Island adventures!
The prized and fragrant sandalwood tree once grew in such abundance in Hawaii that the Chinese knew the islands as Tahn Heung Sahn or the Sandalwood Mountains. By the 1830's much of the sandalwood forests had been decimated. Hawaii’s largest grove of sandalwoods can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii on the slopes of Mauna Loa. This beautiful rainforest trail can be found a short distance away from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park visitor center. Feel the heat from the active steam vents and peer across the steaming floor of Kīlauea Caldera and the erupting Halema`uma`u Crater while enjoying the comforts of this mostly shady loop trail.
#23 Thurston Lava Tube
0.5 miles | +60'
Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube is one of the main attractions for visitors as they explore the park . Like veins leading from the central 'heart' of the volcano, lava tubes direct molten earth toward the ocean.
As the lava flows the outer crust begins to harden while the inner lava continues to flow. Once the flow stops, the tunnel formation remains. Thurston Lava Tube could date back some 350-500 years. The tube is named for Lorrin Thurston, a newspaper publisher that played an instrumental role in creating the park.
0.5 miles | +60'
Located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube is one of the main attractions for visitors as they explore the park . Like veins leading from the central 'heart' of the volcano, lava tubes direct molten earth toward the ocean.
As the lava flows the outer crust begins to harden while the inner lava continues to flow. Once the flow stops, the tunnel formation remains. Thurston Lava Tube could date back some 350-500 years. The tube is named for Lorrin Thurston, a newspaper publisher that played an instrumental role in creating the park.
#24 Punalu'u Beach (Black Sand Beach)
0.75 miles
Due to the constant volcanic activity, you'll find white sands, green sands and black sands on Hawaii Island. Located on the southeastern Kau coast, Punaluu Black Sand Beach is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii. Although the shoreline can be a bit rocky and places, the water was pleasantly warm and it was wonderful to float and relax just beyond the breaking waves.
Located between Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the small town of Naalehu, Punaluu Black Sand Beach's jet black shores are an unforgettable sight. Coconut palms fringe the upper edge of sand and you may also discover turtles, basking on the beach. Although it may be tempting, do not touch these protected turtles and do not remove any black sand from the beach. The area is a well-known nesting place for hawksbill and green sea turtles, both endangered species and the target of many conservation efforts.
0.75 miles
Due to the constant volcanic activity, you'll find white sands, green sands and black sands on Hawaii Island. Located on the southeastern Kau coast, Punaluu Black Sand Beach is one of the most famous black sand beaches in Hawaii. Although the shoreline can be a bit rocky and places, the water was pleasantly warm and it was wonderful to float and relax just beyond the breaking waves.
Located between Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the small town of Naalehu, Punaluu Black Sand Beach's jet black shores are an unforgettable sight. Coconut palms fringe the upper edge of sand and you may also discover turtles, basking on the beach. Although it may be tempting, do not touch these protected turtles and do not remove any black sand from the beach. The area is a well-known nesting place for hawksbill and green sea turtles, both endangered species and the target of many conservation efforts.
Last edited:
#25 Makalawena Beach
2.25 miles
Adventuring with my sweet Hawaiian beauty to Makalawena Beach. It's said that this might be the best beach on the Big Island that can't be reached by road. There are several bays scooped out of the Kona Coast with gorgeous white sand and plentiful shade from palm trees. The hike out to Makalawena keeps the crowds away, especially on weekdays. This "off the beaten path" beach is so perfect that you may never want to leave!
2.25 miles
Adventuring with my sweet Hawaiian beauty to Makalawena Beach. It's said that this might be the best beach on the Big Island that can't be reached by road. There are several bays scooped out of the Kona Coast with gorgeous white sand and plentiful shade from palm trees. The hike out to Makalawena keeps the crowds away, especially on weekdays. This "off the beaten path" beach is so perfect that you may never want to leave!
Last edited:
#26 Honokohau Beach
1.5 miles | +50'
Honokohau is one of the many beaches that form the Kalolo-Honokohau National Historic Park. This 1160-acre park boasts some of the best archaeological sites and artifacts in the state, including ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), temples, burial sites, trails, house platforms and three fishponds – Aiopio, Aimakapa and Kaloko – all of which is evidence that this area once supported a Hawaiian settlement of several hundred people.
Honokohau Beach, located on the Big Island’s west shore, is a long salt-and-pepper sand beach, with fragments of ground-up seashells, coral and lava rock. There’s a low lava shelf at the water’s edge that lines most of the shore. The nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and rocky, and an offshore fringing reef shelters the beach from strong surf and currents. This is a good place for snorkeling. Numerous sea turtles frequent the beach to feed on the limu (algae) and bask along the shore.
1.5 miles | +50'
Honokohau is one of the many beaches that form the Kalolo-Honokohau National Historic Park. This 1160-acre park boasts some of the best archaeological sites and artifacts in the state, including ancient petroglyphs (rock carvings), temples, burial sites, trails, house platforms and three fishponds – Aiopio, Aimakapa and Kaloko – all of which is evidence that this area once supported a Hawaiian settlement of several hundred people.
Honokohau Beach, located on the Big Island’s west shore, is a long salt-and-pepper sand beach, with fragments of ground-up seashells, coral and lava rock. There’s a low lava shelf at the water’s edge that lines most of the shore. The nearshore ocean bottom is shallow and rocky, and an offshore fringing reef shelters the beach from strong surf and currents. This is a good place for snorkeling. Numerous sea turtles frequent the beach to feed on the limu (algae) and bask along the shore.
Last edited:
#27 PCT Desert Divide
15 miles | +3150'
Taking in the views from Lion Peak, just off the PCT along the Desert Divide. Named by the USFS in 1960 after our native California Mountain Lion. Lion Peak avails its summit as an easy access off the Pacific Crest Trail. Being near the southern most end of the San Jacinto range at an elevation of 6868 feet, this peak affords clear views of Pinyon Flat and the Santa Rosa Mountain range more than San Jacinto. Neighboring Pine Mountain and Devil’s Rockpile are in constant view and provide a significant landmark
The Pacific Crest Trail winds and wiggles northward through the San Jacinto Mountain Range; making its way from the oaken forests, chaparral, yucca, and cacti desert highland and eventually sub-alpine forests of pine and fir. This southern section of the San Jacinto Mountain Range is known as the Desert Divide, and on its eastern flank, you'll find several deep, eroded, boulder-strewn desert canyons. Rock composition mainly of batholithic rock and granite. The perennial "Grand Old Man of the Mountains" of the Hundred Peaks Section, Sam Fink single-handedly constructed a trail along the crest of the Desert Divide in the southern San Jacinto Mountains that became known as the "Sam Fink Trail." The views along this section of the PCT are breathtaking; the entire Santa Rosa range to the south, the San Jacinto Wilderness to the north, the Coachella Valley to the east, and Garner Valley, Thomas Mountain along with Lake Hemet to the west all seen quite clearly year-round. Many of the Hundred Peaks Section peaks in the 7000’ range are found here and easily accessed off the PCT.
15 miles | +3150'
Taking in the views from Lion Peak, just off the PCT along the Desert Divide. Named by the USFS in 1960 after our native California Mountain Lion. Lion Peak avails its summit as an easy access off the Pacific Crest Trail. Being near the southern most end of the San Jacinto range at an elevation of 6868 feet, this peak affords clear views of Pinyon Flat and the Santa Rosa Mountain range more than San Jacinto. Neighboring Pine Mountain and Devil’s Rockpile are in constant view and provide a significant landmark
The Pacific Crest Trail winds and wiggles northward through the San Jacinto Mountain Range; making its way from the oaken forests, chaparral, yucca, and cacti desert highland and eventually sub-alpine forests of pine and fir. This southern section of the San Jacinto Mountain Range is known as the Desert Divide, and on its eastern flank, you'll find several deep, eroded, boulder-strewn desert canyons. Rock composition mainly of batholithic rock and granite. The perennial "Grand Old Man of the Mountains" of the Hundred Peaks Section, Sam Fink single-handedly constructed a trail along the crest of the Desert Divide in the southern San Jacinto Mountains that became known as the "Sam Fink Trail." The views along this section of the PCT are breathtaking; the entire Santa Rosa range to the south, the San Jacinto Wilderness to the north, the Coachella Valley to the east, and Garner Valley, Thomas Mountain along with Lake Hemet to the west all seen quite clearly year-round. Many of the Hundred Peaks Section peaks in the 7000’ range are found here and easily accessed off the PCT.
Last edited:
Oh yeah, they were all over the place. They would swim right on next to us and munch on the algae growing on the rocks.
It was! Those tubes are all over the island. You can access some by boat right above the ocean and crawl through them for quite a ways.
#28 Rock Climber's Loop
3.25 miles | +600'
Getting up early for outdoor activities is so much easier than getting up early for work. But I still need my coffee. Enjoyed a 5am rise for a Mission Trails trek along Deerfield Trail/Oak Grove/Rock Climber's Loop/Visitor Center Trail with family and friends. My sister took a pretty hard hit to her knee when she fell but she held back the tears and kept on truckin'. What a trooper! Shared the trail with plenty of hawks and bunnies.
3.25 miles | +600'
Getting up early for outdoor activities is so much easier than getting up early for work. But I still need my coffee. Enjoyed a 5am rise for a Mission Trails trek along Deerfield Trail/Oak Grove/Rock Climber's Loop/Visitor Center Trail with family and friends. My sister took a pretty hard hit to her knee when she fell but she held back the tears and kept on truckin'. What a trooper! Shared the trail with plenty of hawks and bunnies.
#29 Circling Sail Bay
5 miles | +100'
Another outing featured in Jerry Schad's 50 Best Short Hikes in San Diego. We enjoyed a 5 mile group walk around the upper extremity of west Mission Bay, Sail Bay- sharing the path with bicyclist and other pedestrians and enjoying fine views of the blue waters and colorful neighborhoods surrounding them.
5 miles | +100'
Another outing featured in Jerry Schad's 50 Best Short Hikes in San Diego. We enjoyed a 5 mile group walk around the upper extremity of west Mission Bay, Sail Bay- sharing the path with bicyclist and other pedestrians and enjoying fine views of the blue waters and colorful neighborhoods surrounding them.
#30 Mount Tule
2.5 miles | +900'
At an elevation of 4,647 feet, Mount Tule is the highest point along the In-Ko-Pah Mountain range. The summit affords fantastic views of McCain Valley, Anza Borrego, Carrizo Gorge and the old San Diego & Eastern Arizona railroad tracks, and even on out to the San Jacinto Mountains. Strong winds kept our visit to the summit a brief one. On the way down we came upon a gopher snake, warming itself on the road. Third snake sighting this year.
2.5 miles | +900'
At an elevation of 4,647 feet, Mount Tule is the highest point along the In-Ko-Pah Mountain range. The summit affords fantastic views of McCain Valley, Anza Borrego, Carrizo Gorge and the old San Diego & Eastern Arizona railroad tracks, and even on out to the San Jacinto Mountains. Strong winds kept our visit to the summit a brief one. On the way down we came upon a gopher snake, warming itself on the road. Third snake sighting this year.