5 min
Overview
Ask the average person what they envision when it comes to San Diego’s open spaces, and you’re likely to hear about long, sandy beaches stretching endlessly under bluffs studded with Torrey Pines. You might hear about sun-blasted boulders protruding out of a carpet of chaparral on the way up to the summits or Iron Mountain or Mt. Woodson. Or perhaps you might hear about the Bayside Trail on Point Loma offering views of Coronado and Downtown. What you you may not expect to find down here is a lush forest with trickling springs and streams, shimmering ponds, grassy meadows dotted with wildlife, deciduous trees that put on a colorful show in Spring and Autumn, air so clear that Caltech still runs a world-famous observatory here, and superlative views from Mexico to the San Gabriel Mountains. All of this can be found at Palomar Mountain, a long, flat-ish range in the northeast corner of San Diego County. Palomar’s southeast to northwest orientation and moderate elevation act as a barrier for Pacific Winter storms, which stall out and dump copious amounts of precipitation during wet years. While most of San Diego County receives around 10-15” of rain per year, Palomar averages double that, and the park has been known to reach rainfall totals more consistent with the Sierra Nevada. This 9 mile hike takes a comprehensive look at most of the highlights of the State Park, which will include the Boucher Hill Lookout, Doane Pond, both Doane Valleys and French Valley, Chimney Flat, the old apple orchard, and Scott’s Cabin. While this long loop is achievable for most hikers, shorter loops visiting each destination are possible. I recommend purchasing a map at the ranger station for to construct smaller loops based on any of the above destinations. This trip begins at Silvercrest Picnic Area, which offers nice views over a part of the county as well as a picnic area and restrooms. After you’ve paid and parked ($10 as of 3/19/2018), you’ll walk along the road heading north to reach the Boucher Hill Trail. Follow this moderat
Trail Stats
15.8 km
380 m
1664 m
1349 m
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a hiker stands in cool water in Palomar Mountain State Park
a hiker stands in cool water in Palomar Mountain State Park
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Palomar Mountain trails
Palomar Mountain trails
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