4 min
Overview
“You can tell who the old man is here.” That’s what the elderly gentleman on the trail said as he turned to see me gaining on him as we came up the Sage Trail toward Stanley Peak. The gentleman introduced himself to me as a 70 year-old retiree who had found himself gaining too much weight and was now walking for his health 4-5 mornings a week at Escondido’s Daley Ranch. He told me that there was a time when he could barely walk to the mailbox without feeling out of shape, but now he was able to get in 4-5 miles without too much of a problem. In deep appreciation and respect for somebody pushing his body back into shape at an advanced age, I said “The only old man is the one who’s still asleep in his bed.” Mist-shrouded Caballo Trail It is impossible not to have a lot of respect for a person to dive so enthusiastically into hiking, and you can expect to encounter folks like this among the long parade of hikers pushing through their Sunday morning sleepiness to reach the 1,983′ peak and its expansive North County views. You will also see chaparral-covered slopes, oak woodlands – including some rare Engelmann oaks, a large meadow, and a rocky peak with excellent views over the north half of San Diego that stretch as far north as Cucamonga Peak. Sun breaking through the marine layer While many people attempt Stanley Peak from the park’s main entrance at La Honda Drive, this trip starts from the less-visited but no less-scenic Caballo Trail near the Escondido Humane Society complex. The Caballo Trail starts out by switchbacking up the side of a hill through fragrant chaparral. You’ll see some short-cutting, as well as a sign that requests you avoid adding to the shortcuts, the process of which erodes the hillside and ruins the trail. As the trail climbs up into a small canyon, it will pass a few side trails that either lead nowhere or are officially closed. As long you continue to go straight and avoid turning onto one of these overgrown “illegal” trails, you will do just fine in reaching the next junction. Junctio
Trail Stats
11.2 km
457 m
597 m
219 m
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