Emerald Hills

After exploring Chollas Lake, I decided to explore nearby Emerald Hill Canyon. The parking lot at the Emerald Hills Neighborhood Park was almost empty and red wooden stairs led the way down the hillside. From there, the trail was actually paved, although it could use some plant maintenance, as the brush was starting to become overgrown. Once the trail reached the canyon floor, the pavement ended, and it then turned east to parallel Hwy. 94. Unlike other canyon hikes I have recently done, this one never left the noise of the city behind. The trail quickly ended at Federal Blvd., so I retraced my route back to the car.

I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and Arizona-Winter). Beyond attempting the San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list a second time, I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.

Chollas Lake

Decided to explore Chollas Lake in the morning. The parking lot was surprisingly full as I pulled into one of the last open spots. I grabbed my gear and headed down to the edge of the lake. I followed the lakeshore for a bit until a side trail called my name. The trail was nicely shaded under the eucalyptus trees as it worked its way up and then back down toward the dam.

From there, I left the lake behind and entered a wide urban canyon. I came to a signpost highlighting various destinations both near and far. While the trail continued along the canyon floor, another trail made the short climb to the top of the mesa. From the mesa, I had a sweeping view of the canyon, as well as a nice view of downtown San Diego. The wide trail looped around the baseball field, where a team was having a practice session.

Once back on the canyon floor, I crossed the parking lot to link back up with the trail. I took the single-track option to make the gentle climb to Gloria’s Mesa, rather than the direct trail along the canyon floor. Once at Gloria’s Mesa, I explored the amphitheater and the lovely wildflowers in bloom. I headed down a flight of stairs past a wooden gazebo near the southwest corner of the lake. Turning east, I followed the wide path back toward the start. I was amazed at the number of picnic tables and pavilions that were located along the lake. This area certainly had plenty of spots to come to enjoy the scenery. When I got back to the parking lot, there were cars actively waiting to park. If this is an issue when you visit, drive down to Gloria’s Mesa, and you will probably not have any issues parking there.

Seven Bridges

When I had my neck issue five years ago, one of the first outings after I recovered was a portion of the Seven Bridges hike. Now after my cervical fusion, it seemed fitting to do this hike again, and hopefully this time I could complete all seven bridges! We found parking near the Spanish Arts Village, and after a fellow dog owner lent us a couple of poop bags (as we forgot ours at home), we crossed our first bridge over Park Boulevard. We then continued north along Park, until we made the short turn onto University and over its small bridge. Then we headed northwest along Lincoln Avenue until we turned south on Vermont, and across our third bridge.

Back along University Avenue, we made a pit stop at Starbucks for a beverage, then continued west to First Avenue. Next up was the Spruce Street Suspension Bridge. Neither Anita nor Rocky enjoyed this one. Once we made it across, we continued onto the Quince Street Bridge. The construction down below in Maple Canyon was quite evident. Next up was the First Avenue Bridge, which also spans Maple Canyon. We continued along First Avenue until we reached Laurel Street and turned eastward back toward Balboa Park. Workers were finishing cleaning up from the Race for Autism that occurred earlier in the day. We crossed the famous Cabrillo Bridge that spans the 163 and into the park. With that, we soon found ourselves back at the car. Overall the neck felt pretty good…

Walker Preserve Trail

I wanted to get something in before the rains came later in the day. So I decided to go explore the Walker Preserve Trail out in Santee/Lakeside. I convinced Jeremy to join me on this adventure. The gates to the parking lot were closed, so we found parking along a nearby street, as all the parking along Magnolia Avenue was taken. I later learned that this parking lot is used for staging for the restoration and clean-up efforts. After passing under a nice trailhead sign, a nice gazebo stood off to the side, along with some picnic benches. Just beyond that, a water fountain for humans and another one for your dog are available. The only bathroom appears to be a port-a-potty. We passed a large group of hikers that were milling about and set off down the nice wide and well-groomed dirt path.

Houses lined the left side of the trail, but the San Diego River would appear from time to time behind the brush. The sound of various birds would fill the air as we cruised eastward. There were several informational panels posted along the way, explaining some of the history of the area, most notably the sand mining that used to occur here. There was a short spur that led to a nice bench and a lovely view of the river. It is possible to access the river at certain points, where you might find some trying their luck fishing.

The trail splits at one point and makes a tiny climb to reveal two more picnic tables under some trees. The trail rejoins again and continues onto toward the Lakeside Baseball Park. There is water here, and when the field is in use, the bathrooms are available. We continued eastward, technically leaving the Walker Preserve Trail and joining the Lakeside River Trail. The houses to the north were now replaced with warehouses. We went under Riverford Road and then passed by a pocket park. The trail made a short dog leg and then passed by the Willowbrook Golf Course. We also came across a nice wooden view deck that has a nice view of the river. There was an unhoused person sleeping there, so we let him be and continued on. When reached Channel Road, we took a short break and worked our way back to the start. On the way back, we saw someone sitting in that pocket park with their binoculars scanning the field to the west for birds. We got back to the car, having beat the rain. The entire hike was 5.9 miles, with a whopping elevation gain of 34 feet (the short climb on the side trail was really something), and we did it in just under 2 hours of moving time.

Shepard Canyon Loop

I wanted to explore another urban trail, so I returned to my old neighborhood and decided to hike Shepherd Canyon. I opted to link up North Shepherd Canyon to East Shepherd Canyon, then onto a trail that would skirt Mission Trails Regional Park and back to the start. I parked on Portobelo Street, right near Sheperd Canyon Mini Park. The trail dropped down into the canyon and headed southwest. It always amazes me how quickly the sounds of the neighborhood disappear and the sounds of nature emerge. The trail reached Villarrica Way after a short bit, and I crossed over to continue on the North Shepherd section. I continued along the trail until it reached Antiqua Boulevard. This was the southern terminus for this portion. But at the corner of Santo Road and Antiqua Boulevard, was the entrance to the East Shepherd Canyon trail. I crossed the street at the stoplight. A bit further south along Santo Road was the entrance to West Sheperd Canyon, but I would explore that another day.

I entered the canyon and learned that this part of the trail is also a nature plant trail. Along the first portion of the trail are about 22 signs that will help you identify the plant life. These information panels were installed about a decade ago by a local Girl Scout Troop. Originally, they were black with silver lettering, but exposure to the weather has stripped the black away. To learn more about this project visit shootingforsilverstars.wordpress.com.

Some of the local residents were out enjoying this wonderful trail. The stream was flowing just a bit, and it meant a few easy water crossings. I came to the turnoff to see Dishwasher Pond. A couple of benches were here to sit and enjoy the canyon view.

I continued on until I climbed out of the canyon and back onto Portobelo. While I could have followed the street back to the car, I was not done exploring. Just past the church, I crossed the street and picked up a trail heading east. Side trails would link to the houses nearby.

Soon the surrounding houses ended as I crossed over into MTRP. A few trails led off into the park, but I headed north until the trail turned west alongside some condos. From there I cruised along until I exited back to where I had parked. This was a lovely loop that should be in a book.

Navajo Canyon Trail

Continuing my exploration of some of our urban trails, I decided to hike the Navajo Canyon Trail. This short hike is tucked away in one of many little canyons near SDSU. I found some parking near the trailhead, grabbed my gear, and headed over to the signboard. Since the weather is starting to warm up, a warning about hiking with your dog was posted. The trail was fairly wide at this point, and the drainage was flowing with some run-off from the recent rains. As I left the trailhead, the sounds of cars faded away. Instead, the occasional chirps from the various birds filled the air.

I soon started to have some simple water crossings, and at one point had to shift to hiking along a narrow path above the stream bed to avoid the water flowing along the rocky main section. There were a couple of side trails, but they were marked as access paths to the utility poles.

As the trail neared its end, there was a small climb to the trail’s end at a church’s preschool. From here, you are provided with a nice view of the canyon you just hiked through. There is another portion of the trail (an additional 0.2 miles) that you can continue hiking on, or simply turn around at this point. I opted to continue, so I walked past the preschool and then past their parking lot, to where the trail picked up again. The trail dipped down and across the drainage, then ended at Carthage Street. With the full trail done, I then retraced my route back to the trailhead. As I drew near the start, a family and their dogs were just heading out. I logged this hike at 2.5 miles, with a nice gain of 250 feet.

Florida Canyon

With my wife and daughter away in Arkansas, I took advantage of that and decided to hike Florida Canyon in Balboa Park. This is all part of my effort to explore more of our urban hikes in San Diego. Somehow, I found parking near the Spanish Village on a Sunday. I grabbed my gear and headed to the pedestrian bridge near the fountain. I took a quick look around the Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden before heading through the Desert Garden and into the trail. The paved trail works its way down Florida Canyon and the road. I crossed over Florida Road and re-joined the trail.

I headed east until I reached a junction that took me up a draw toward the top of the mesa. The trail was moderately busy, walkers, runners, and mountain bikers were all out enjoying the nice spring day. Once on the mesa, I looped around until I reached the trail that would take me back down another draw to rejoin the trail that parallels the road. I then crossed Florida Drive and began hiking back up the switchbacks toward the start. Partway up, I spotted two hikers heading down with packs larger than one would need for this simple trail. I asked if they were training for something, and they replied they were off to Spain shortly to hike the Camino de Santiago. We chatted a bit about their upcoming adventure before parting ways. I reached the cactus garden and crossed back over Park Boulevard. Now, cars were circling for a parking spot. I tossed my gear in and headed home. There is another section of the canyon I plan to come back to and explore at a later date.

Monument Hill

Today’s adventure was a hike to summit Monument Hill, which is a peak listed on the Sierra Club Lower Peaks Committee list. The peak is located in the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve, which for a time was closed due to the Tenaja fire back in 2017. The Reserve is now open again, so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to go explore it. After a one hour drive, I found myself pulling into the gravel parking lot next to the Visitor Center. I knew there was a use fee for the Reserve, but did not see anywhere to deposit the $4. The Visitor Center was closed, so I figured I would try to figure this out when I returned from the hike. I headed south along Waterline Road until I reached the Tenaja Truck Trail. I followed it for a short time until I reached the Vista Grande Trail. Now I switched from the wide trails I had been on to a more traditional single track. This trail climbed up at an easy grade, offering some nice vistas of the plateau. It was here that I spied my first tarantula along the trail.

When I reached Monument Hill Road, I could finally see the summit about ½ mile away. I was back cruising on a wide road again toward it. I came to the cut-off that would take me up the small hill to the top. Once there, and after another tarantula sighting, two benches greeted me. I poked around the area and found the benchmark and two reference marks. It offered more great views of the area. I’m going to have to return some time during the spring, as I can only imagine how lovely it must be.

Once I descended, I opted to continue along Monument Hill Road until it reached the Lomas Trail. If I had more time I might have continued on to the historic Adobes, but I decided to save that for another time. The Lomas Trail was a little steeper than the Vista Trail, so I was glad to have done the loop in the direction I did. The trail ends back at the Tenaja Truck Trail, so I followed it back toward Waterline Road. It was here that I passed some of the first other people out enjoying the Reserve. Once back at the trailhead, the Visitor Center was still closed, so I began walking around the parking lot looking for a place to pay my use fee. I found it in the center of the parking lot, partly behind some shrubbery. I slipped my $4 into the metal box, and headed back to the car. The day had warmed up a bit, so I was glad to be done. The entire hike was 4.9 miles, with a gain of 287 feet and four tarantula sightings!

Pamo Valley

I knew when I hiked this trail with the family that it was a gamble, as it might be included in the 2023-2024 Coast to Crest Challenge. Well, I lost that bet, and this trail is one of the five hikes. I really didn’t mind hiking it again, as it is a very pleasant stroll along the valley. Given how easy the trail is, I had hoped one of my friends could join us, but he had prior commitments, so it was just Ted and I. We pulled into the parking lot, and there were about 5 or 6 cars parked. The skies were overcast again, thankfully not due to an incoming tropical storm, but just some “standard” monsoonal stuff. We grabbed our gear and headed out northward along the trail.

When I did this hike about a month or so ago, portions of the trail were overgrown, but now the grasses near the trail had all been cut. We cruised along the trail at a nice pace. I spent part of the time outlining my upcoming camping and hiking trip to the central coast. Along the way, a trail runner passed us, with a dog following behind. The dog stopped to say hello to us, and we learned that the dog did not belong to the runner and that apparently lived at one of the ranches in the valley. The dog trotted back toward the runner and we continued on. The trail ends at the intersection with the road that goes up “Big” Black Mountain. We had a quick snack, and I took my trip photo at the nearby sign.

We began retracing our route, passing a hiker who was headed up Big Black Mountain for some training for the Grand Canyon. We wished him well and to be careful on the road. A bit later, we spotted the dog again. He had trotted back to us, and for the next couple of miles, mostly hung out with us. He did run ahead and play in the water for a bit at one point. Turns out, he is a fixture on the trail. Larry Edmonds sent me a photo of the dog from a few years ago. He has no collar, so we can’t tell you his name. Soon we reached the parking lot and my final Coast to Crest Challenge was complete. I am thinking of stringing all five together in a point-to-point fashion and doing them in one day, but that is for another time. One other thing to note is I swapped out my pack. I picked up an Osprey Talon 6 for these lighter hikes. My regular day pack just seemed like overkill. The pack worked well, although I will need to adapt to using bottles instead of a bladder. The hike was a pleasant 6.3 miles that we covered in 2:15, with just about 470 feet of gain.

Santa Fe Valley Trail

The past two times I had hiked this trail were after work. Since I was working from home this morning, I decided to do it bright and early. I pulled into the empty parking lot just after 6:30 a.m., grabbed my gear, and headed toward the trail. The skies were overcast as I cruised along the trail with the groundskeepers working the nearby golf course.

The trail crosses quite a few small bridges as it follows the San Dieguito River. Then the trail reaches the other element known for the switchbacks that carry you up from next to the river and toward a hill above it. You certainly are rewarded with some nice views after making the short climb. I snapped my challenge photo and retraced my route. Just one more hike and the 2023-2024 Coast to Crest Challenge will be complete.