blue sky ecological reserve

My Top 6 Hiking Trails in San Diego County

July 20, 2020 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

With summer in full swing, now is the perfect time to try out a new hike in San Diego! Luckily, San Diego has lots of great trails throughout the county, for all hiking levels to enjoy. Check out a few of my favorites that you can try this summer with family and friends. And be sure to check for park and trail closure updates during COVID-19 before heading on your hike!

Mt. Woodson | Poway

Mt. Woodson is more commonly known by locals as Potato Chip Rock- named for the unique rock formation that sits at the top of the mountain. This is an “in and out” trail totals 6.9 miles round trip and is a long and strenuous trail. Be sure you bring plenty of water, snacks, and are dressed appropriately for this hike.

Most people access this trail from the Lake Poway side. However, if you go on a holiday or weekend and you are not a resident of Poway, you will have to pay to park in the lot. For a shorter hike, you can also access Mt. Woodson from Highway 67 going toward Ramona.

I recommend arriving early to beat the heat and the crowds! There is usually a line at the top to take pictures on Potato Chip Rock. Once you’re there, you’ll see why!

Daly Ranch | Escondido

Daley Ranch offers some of the best hiking opportunities in San Diego County! The Ranch is open for hiking daily, from dawn to dusk and has trails available for beginning, intermediate, and advanced hikers.

The La Honda Drive entrance to Daley Ranch is the most popular starting point and offers the least-strenuous trails. This hiking trail allows dogs on leash on the trail, as well as horseback riders and mountain bikers; be sure to be alert for others as you hike!

Mission Trails Regional Park | San Carlos

Mission Trails Regional Park in San Carlos is the host of the 5-Peak Challenge in San Diego which encourages hikers to complete the trails at Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, South Fortuna, and North Fortuna.

Mission Trails Regional Park covers more than sixty miles of trails to explore! The most popular trail in this park is Cowles Mountain, which has beautiful 360-degree views of the city of San Diego, mountains, Lake Murray, and the Pacific Ocean from its peak! This trail can get very busy, especially on weekends and holidays, so get there early to avoid the crowds and find a good parking spot.

Double Peak | San Marcos

If you enjoy a challenging trail, try Double Peak Trail in San Marcos! This hike offers beautiful views to enjoy from the summit. This hike a little over 4.5 miles roundtrip from the parking lot at Discovery Lake.

If you enjoy tails that are less crowded and offer a good workout, Double Peak will be great for you. Be aware that this trail does not offer any shade, so get an early start and bring plenty of water!

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve | Poway

Located north of Lake Poway, the Blue Sky Ecological Reserve offers access to the Mt. Woodson trail as well as Lake Ramona.

This is an “out and back” trail that only has one access point from Espola Road. Start on Green Valley Truck Trail, which will take you to a sign for the Ramona Dam. Turn left at the sign for the dam and go towards Lake Ramona. If you take this route, the trail is 4.8 miles round trip. Along the Green Valley Truck Trail you will also have the option to turn off for the Mt. Woodson Trail. If you go this way, it adds another mile onto the Mt. Woodson hike.

Finally, there is a third small trail called the Creekside Trail that branches off near the trailhead and parallels the Green Valley Truck Trail. If you take this trail, be aware that dogs and horses are not allowed.

Torrey Pines State Reserve | La Jolla

Nothing says San Diego like a hike by the beach! This hike offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, maritime chaparral, and the Torrey Pine. There are several trails you can take here, but the most popular is the Beach Trail, which offers beach access via a flight of stairs. This trail is ranked moderate. Once on the sand, you can climb in and around the rocks and explore the tide pools filled with their very own ecosystems.

For an easier hike, the Guy Fleming Trail or Razor Point Trail go through the coastal vegetation near the top of the cliffs where you can still take in the beautiful scenic views!

Which hiking trail will you try out this summer? Leave me a comment below!

San Diego Health and Fitness Guide 2019

December 28, 2018 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

Do your New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, getting fit, or simply spending more time outside? Luckily, San Diego offers tons of outdoor activities that will get you off the couch and help you work up a sweat. To inspire you, I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite ways to stay active in North County San Diego!

Kayak or Snorkel in La Jolla

Kayaking is a great way to get outside and enjoy San Diego! There are seven caves you can kayak through in La Jolla. And if you’d rather get in the water, La Jolla Underwater Park is a great place to go snorkeling. There are lots of fish, leopard sharks, and other sea creatures living in and around the cove.

Hike Torrey Pines

Torrey Pines offers two different hikes that both offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. You can choose to hike The Razor Point trail (1.3 miles) or the Guy Fleming Trail (0.7). You can also just choose to walk the length of the beach if you’re in the mood for a beach stroll. This is a great hike to do with your out-of-town visitors because of the stunning ocean views!

Surf Encinitas

Are you into surfing? Some of the best surfing in San Diego can be found in Encinitas at Swami’s, Moonlight, Beacons, or Grandview breaks. Enjoy the waves and then make your way into the heart of Encinitas for a tasty, healthy treat at Swami’s or Lotus Café.

Bike the Carlsbad Coastal Rail Trail

Part of a plan to connect 44 miles of trail along the coast from Oceanside to downtown San Diego, the 0.7 mile coastal rail trail segment in Carlsbad is a great option for walking or biking with your family. The wide, flat path runs parallel to the train tracks, but is fully fenced which makes it the ideal place for young children to learn to bike. Leashed dogs are also allowed on this trail.

Explore the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve

The San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve is a 979-acre reserve that offers visitors seven miles of hiking trails to explore. Most of the trails are moderately strenuous except for Annie’s Canyon Trail, which is more difficult than the other trails in the reserve. As you exercise, you’ll enjoy views of the lagoon, marsh, and ocean.

Stand Up Paddle Board in Oceanside Harbor

If you’re been wanting to give up Stand Up Paddle Boarding a try, Oceanside Harbor is the perfect spot for beginners. The water is normally calm and if you start early enough, you might not encounter many boats entering or leaving the harbor. SUP is a great workout and you can’t beat the views of the ocean, pier, and local wildlife!

Adventure at Lake Hodges

While most people know that you can boat and fish on Lake Hodges, you can also hike, bike, or horseback ride along the 65 miles of dirt trails! The North Shore and the Del Dios Gorge paths are part of the longer Coast to Crest trail which will encompass 70 miles from Del Mar to Volcan Mountain in Julian when complete.

Visit Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

Blue Sky is another fantastic ecological reserve in North County San Diego. Encompassing 700 acres, there’s plenty to see and explore inside the reserve. I wrote about the hikes inside the reserve on my blog about great San Diego hikes, but this is a wonderful place to go hiking, biking, or walking with friends or family. If you want a really tough workout, you can take the turnoff from the Green Valley Truck Trail for Mt Woodson!

Hike Iron Mountain

Located just east of Poway, Iron Mountain is a challenging hike that rewards you with panoramic views over San Diego County from the top! About 6 miles round-trip, the hike is tough enough for athletes to work up a sweat, but not so difficult that casual hikers can’t enjoy it. Just make sure to bring enough water as this hike can get hot! On your way back, stop for a coffee at Poway’s hidden gem, King’s Craft Coffee.

Bonus:

Bike the Bayshore Bikeway in San Diego

Willing to travel south for something a little more challenging? The Bayshore Bikeway is a 24-mile trail that takes you from the Coronado Ferry Landing to Imperial Beach and back to Downtown San Diego. This path also offers beautiful views as you pass by Hotel Del Coronado, Silver Strand State Beach, and the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

We truly live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country – it’s a shame not to take advantage of all San Diego has to offer! Yes, you can buy a gym membership to melt away the holiday pounds, but with so much to see and do, consider saving your money and opting outside!

5 Great San Diego Hikes

September 4, 2018 by Danielle Negroni Leave a Comment

With cooler fall weather on the way, now is the perfect time to try out a new hiking spot in San Diego! We have so many great trails to choose from, but these five include some of my personal favorites that I’ve done with my family and friends:

Torrey Pines State Reserve

(La Jolla)

Does it get more San Diego than hiking by the beach? But unlike other beach “hikes”, the trails at Torrey Pines are actually challenging and you will definitely work up a sweat. While spending time in the reserve, you’ll be treated to views of the ocean, maritime chaparral, and the rare Torrey Pine.

The most popular trail in the reserve is the Beach Trail, which offers beach access via a flight of stairs. Once on the sand, you can climb in and around the rocks to explore tide pools filled with living sea creatures.

For an easier hike, the Guy Fleming Trail and Razor Point Trail meander through the coastal vegetation near the top of the cliffs and offer great scenic views.

Mt. Woodson

(Poway)

Mt. Woodson is more commonly known as Potato Chip Rock – named for the peculiar rock formation that sits at the top of the mountain.

Most people access the trail from the Lake Poway side. If you go on a weekend or holiday and you are not a resident of Poway, you will need to pay to park in the lot. The trail itself is an out and back trail that is 6.9 miles round trip. It is long, strenuous, and rugged so make sure you are dressed appropriately and bring plenty of water!

There’s usually a line at the top to take pictures on Potato Chip Rock so go early or be prepared to wait. Getting on and off the rock can also be a bit difficult and is not recommended if you are afraid of heights.

For a shorter hike to Potato Chip Rock, you can also access Mt Woodson from Highway 67 going toward Ramona.

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve

(Poway)

Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is also located in Poway. Situated north of Lake Poway, it offers access to the Mt Woodson trail and also to Lake Ramona.

This is another out and back trail that only has one access point from Espola Road. You will start on the Green Valley Truck Trail, which takes you all the way out to a sign for the Ramona Dam. If you turn left at the sign for the dam and go up the hill towards Lake Ramona, the entire route will be 4.8 miles round trip.

Along the Green Valley Truck Trail you will also have the option to turnoff for the Mt Woodson trail. Going this way adds about another mile onto the Mt Woodson hike.

Finally, there is a third small trail called the Creekside Trail that branches off near the trailhead and parallels the Green Valley Truck Trail. If you take this route, know that it is off-limits to dogs and horses.

Mission Trails Regional Park

(San Carlos)

Mission Trails Regional Park offers visitors more than sixty miles of trails to explore. They also the host the 5-Peak Challenge which encourages hikers to climb to the summits of Cowles Mountain, Pyles Peak, Kwaay Paay, South Fortuna, and North Fortuna.

The most famous of all the trails in the Mission Trails system is Cowles Mountain, which offers stunning 360-degree views of the city, mountains, Lake Murray, and the ocean from the peak. This trail is normally very busy so come early to find parking. Or for a fun change of pace, bring a flashlight and hike to the peak under a full moon!

Double Peak

(San Marcos)

If you live further north, Double Peak in San Marcos offers a nice challenging hike with breathtaking views from the park at the summit! Round trip, you will cover more than 4.5 miles from the parking at Discovery Lake.

This is more of a residential hike as it brings you along the back of some of the neighborhoods in San Marcos, but it is still a real trail that offers a great workout and it’s not that crowded. There’s no shade on this hike though, so start early and bring plenty of water!

Which hike in San Diego County is your favorite? Leave me a comment below!