legend.
To select hikes based on elevation, please note that the “Elevation Range” in each hike profile’s at-a-glance information refers to the highest and lowest elevation reached on that hike. For hikes involving a substantial amount of cumulative elevation gain and loss during the trip—meaning that you’ll walk up and down a lot—such ascents and descents are noted in the main hike description.
STAYING SAFE
Every route in this book is safe in the sense that it is a designated public trail or access route, and it is typically popular with other users. Still, you must always be mindful of trail conditions that can change over time and due to weather.
Trails profiled herein vary from dead flat and paved to steep, rutty, and rocky. Please carefully read each trail description before you set out on any of these 50 hikes, and prepare for all of those on uneven surfaces by wearing hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes. If you know that you do not have a good sense of balance, please avoid hikes that could put you at risk of falling.
An example for such caution is the popular route up Cowles Mountain (Hike 42), the highest point in the city of San Diego. Though there are well over 100,000 separate ascents yearly up the 1.4-mile main trail, the billions of past footsteps on the unpaved path have worn deep grooves into the bedrock of the mountainside, creating an obstacle course of jutting rocks. The danger of tripping and falling isn’t such a factor on the ascent, but it is more so on the descent, where stepping down on an uneven surface can result in a fall or a twisted ankle.
A narrow boulder passage on Woodson Mountain
In general, you should be as mindful of precautions for these hikes as you are for any trail trekking:
For all but the very short hikes, wear a lightweight backpack for carrying plenty of water and some snacks. Lack of adequate drinking water can sometimes be a critical issue on any of the hikes located in the hotter, inland areas. It’s best to avoid inland hikes anytime the sun is high in the sky during the warmer months of the year. Walking will not be enjoyable at those times anyway.
Your backpack is a good receptacle for extra clothing as well. Because inland San Diego County experiences wider swings in day and night temperatures than coastal areas, layering your attire is a good idea: take along two or more middleweight outer garments rather than relying on a single heavy or bulky jacket to keep you comfortable at all times.
Raingear, however, finds only occasional use on the coastal trails of San Diego. Usually, there’s plenty of advance warning when a rainstorm is brewing; it is highly unusual for fair weather to turn stormy within a short period of time. But always check the weather forecast.
When the sun is shining (which is most of the time in this region), use sunglasses, wear long-sleeve tops, and apply sunscreen to your exposed skin. The higher the sun is in the sky, the more intense the solar ultraviolet. A broad-brimmed hat is highly recommended, with any head protection (for example, a ball cap or head scarf) better than none. Also, the greater the sun exposure, the greater the danger of dehydration, so fill up those water bottles and drink frequently!
Don’t forget to charge up and carry a cell phone before you set out on the walk. Still, do not forget that there are occasional dead zones for cell phone signals once you get away from populated places or well-traveled highways. Thus, as with all hiking, it is wise to let someone know where you are headed and when you expect to return.
Hikers on the more remote trails in this book might want to store a flashlight in their backpacks (if there’s any chance of being caught on the trail after dark); a map; a GPS unit or cell phone map application (for fun, as well as for navigation); a whistle (for signaling); and a first aid kit.
Here and there, especially on trails following the small streams and through oak woodlands, poison oak growth can be copious. Learn to recognize poison oak’s distinctive three-leafed structure, and avoid touching it with skin or clothing. Poison oak loses its leaves during the winter (usually December–March in San Diego), but don’t let that catch you unawares. The plant still retains some of the toxic oil in its stems, and it can be extra hazardous in winter because it is harder to identify and avoid.
Valley View Trail at Barnett Ranch
Rattlesnakes occasionally appear along the nonurban trails featured in this book. Typically, these creatures are as interested in avoiding contact with you as you are with them. But watch carefully where you put your feet, and especially your hands, during the warmer months, as you never want to startle a rattler. Most encounters between rattlesnakes and hikers occur in April and May, when snakes are out and about after a long hibernation period.
Ticks also are an occasional problem, primarily on—again—the nonurban trails. They cling to the branches of shrubbery and wait for any warm-blooded host to wander by. If you can’t avoid brushing against vegetation along the trail, be sure to check yourself for ticks frequently. Upon finding a host, a tick will usually crawl upward in search of a protected spot, where it will try to attach itself. If you can be aware of the slightest irritation on your body, you’ll usually intercept ticks long before they attempt to latch on. Consider wearing light-colored long pants if you expect to encounter ticks, as it is easier to spot them quickly and flick them off before they find your skin.
Mountain lion encounters are possible in the San Diego region, but this situation is extremely rare anywhere in San Diego County and especially along the inland-area trails covered in this book. Do, however, keep in mind that you should never run from any predatory animal. Make yourself look large. Gather together any children who are hiking with you. Do not act fearful. Pick up and throw rocks in the unlikely event that a lion doesn’t immediately dash off, as they usually do (not only are mountain lion encounters rare, they typically last only a few seconds). Do anything to convince the animal that you are not its prey.
LEAVE NO TRACE
This guidebook’s focus on short hikes within the radius of a major US city does not disregard the importance of preserving the natural environment. Whether you’re walking less than a mile through a city park or on an 8-mile backcountry route, please don’t overlook your responsibility for your surroundings. Aside from common-sense prohibitions that anyone reading this book likely upholds against littering and vandalism, here are a few pointers:
Never take shortcuts across trail switchbacks. This practice may save you some traveling distance, but it breaks down the trail tread and hastens erosion.
Collecting minerals, plants, animals, and historic or prehistoric artifacts without a special permit is generally prohibited in most jurisdictions. That means common things too, such as pinecones, wildflowers, and lizards. These should be left for all visitors to enjoy—and for the lizards to continue enjoying in their own habitats.
Take note of the signs and information kiosks at the beginning of each walk or hike, and heed all rules and precautions.
