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Anyone know of any hiking routes around the San Diego area? I've already explored camp pendleton and all (in the marines). Looking for some other routes not traveled as much.

Anyone got some suggestions?

When I used to live in S. California a couple of my friends went to - Anza Borrego Dessert Park- they noted incredible hiking as well as camping. You should check it out.


Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is the largest state park in California. Five hundred miles of dirt roads, 12 wilderness areas and many miles of hiking trails provide visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the wonders of the California Desert. The park is named for Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza and the Spanish word borrego, or bighorn sheep. The park features washes, wildflowers, palm groves, cacti and sweeping vistas. Visitors may also have the chance to see roadrunners, golden eagles, kit foxes, mule deer and bighorn sheep as well as iguanas, chuckwallas and the red diamond rattlesnake. Listening devices for the hearing impaired are available in the visitor center.

The Park is located on the eastern side of San Diego County, with portions extending east into Imperial County and north into Riverside County. It is about a two-hour drive from San Diego, Riverside, and Palm Springs.

Many visitors approach from the east or west via Highways S22 and 78. From the coast, these highways descend from the heights of the Peninsular range of mountains with spectacular views of the great bowl of the Colorado Desert. Highway S2 enters the park from the south off of Interstate 8.

There was a guy named Jerry Schad who used to write about hiking trails for the SD Reader. He published a few books you should be able to find either online or in local book stores.

Here's a link to his archived articles at the Reader.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/roam-o-rama/

50 Best Hikes in San Diego (his final book):
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Short-Hikes-San-Diego/dp/0899976298

up in north county San Diego there's the elfin forest recreational reserve..

check it out

http://olivenhain.com/index.php/about-us/elfin-forest-recreational-reserve/maps-and-guides

Here's one I like to do...not just because of the Stonewall connection:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080518/news_1t18stonem.html

There really are some amazing trails in the Anza Borrego desert, might be an all day ordeal if you live on base. You can visit the town of Borrego Springs and such.

Iron mountain (Near Poway and Ramona) is a beautiful hike.

Check out Torry Pines too, hiking hear the beach is awesome and you can hit the beach after.

erik911sd saidThere was a guy named Jerry Schad who used to write about hiking trails for the SD Reader. He published a few books you should be able to find either online or in local book stores.

Here's a link to his archived articles at the Reader.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/roam-o-rama/

50 Best Hikes in San Diego (his final book):
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Short-Hikes-San-Diego/dp/0899976298

thanks. will read on the kindle.

The site seems to be down right now, but when up it has some spectacular hikes: http://www.sandiegohikers.com/

Sadly, my favorite hike in all of San Diego County, the one to the Ramona waterfall, is not accessible any longer. Sad face.

Torrey Pines State Park near del mar, its great right by the ocean. I'll take ya :0

frazer19 saidAnyone know of any hiking routes around the San Diego area? I've already explored camp pendleton and all (in the marines). Looking for some other routes not traveled as much.

Anyone got some suggestions?

I'm in San Diego. If anyone wants to go hiking, email me.

Meanwhile, in response to the question, there are many great hiking trails, both short and long, in San Diego.

Here are only a few suggestions.

Bayside Trail, Cabrillo National Monument (City of San Diego) has stupendous views of San Diego and its bay.

Hollenbeck Canyon Trail (Jamul, east San Diego County) winds through an impressive grove of oaks and along a lengthy canyon.

Ellie Lane Trail (Poway, north San Diego County) is a moderately difficult trail with wonderful views of mountains, it eventually joins the Iron Mountain Trail.

I recently hiked the last one with a gay outdoors group called Great Outdoors San Diego. Our leader was very knowledgeable of hiking generally and this trail specifically.

For further info, read the detailed, very helpful Afoot and Afield: San Diego County by Jerry Schad.

You can also visit the site of Great Outdoors San Diego at:
http://www.greatoutdoorssandiego.wildapricot.org/

And if you want to hike in San Diego, shoot me an email.