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…

Del Mar Mesa Preserve

I found parking at the end of the cul-de-sac under the shade of a tree. Since I normally don’t hike in the mid-afternoon, I had to stop and think about wanting the car to stay cool for my return. When hitting the trailheads in the early morning, that isn’t usually the first thing you think about. I wanted to get out on the trails one more time before I headed into the hospital to have surgery to fuse two of the vertebrae in my neck. So, why not take a stroll through Del Mar Mesa Preserve? We have had some rain recently, and the vernal pools might be filled. I passed the gate and headed south toward the signboard. A notice cautioned users of the preserve not to disturb the pools on the mesa. I started down the service road for the power lines. Off to the west, shimmering in the afternoon light, was one of the catch ponds for Deer Canyon Creek. As I neared the bottom of the canyon, the trail split. Straight ahead, the service road continued up the canyon and is affectionately known as “Cardiac Hill”. To the left, a trail would follow the side of the canyon until it reached “Tunnel #4”. Being midday on a Wednesday, I did not expect to encounter many, if any, mountain bikers, as this is a popular place for them to ride. The trail followed the side of the canyon for a bit until it dipped down and crossed the flowing steam. Once safely across, I was about to start hiking through Tunnel #4. A sign cautioned hikers to be aware of bikers coming down the trail. I don’t hike with headphones, but if one does, this would be where you put them away and keep your ears open.

The trees formed a lovely shaded canopy over most of the trail. It doesn’t take long to figure out how this section of trail got its name. The trail works its way up a side canyon toward the mesa at a much gentler grade than Cardiac Hill. Finally, you break from under the cover of the canopy and stand atop Del Mar Mesa. Before me stood a grove of eucalyptus trees. If you have ever driven on Hwy. 56 near Camino Del Sur, and saw some trees clustered together off to the south, these are those trees. I took a quick water break and looked around. Off to the east, the preserve is completely closed to protect the habitat back there. So, I followed the trail to the west, and there I saw my first of several vernal pools. The water was the color of my wife’s coffee after she put her creamer in, but darting around were tadpoles! I watched them for a bit before heading on.

I came to a junction. The trail heading west is probably the entrance route we will recommend in the book, as there is a park nearby for water and restrooms, as opposed to starting from where I did. The other trail leads back across the mesa, then down Cardiac Hill. As I headed northward, I passed several more pools that almost filled the service road, but there was enough room to the side to properly pass them. I worked my way down the hill until I again reached the stream I had to cross. This time the gap was a bit wider. I made it partway across, but the front of my left shoe did get a little soaked. I followed the service road back up to where I started and called it a wonderful day on the trails.

Update: The surgery went great and should be back on the trails in a month or two!

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.

Tecolote Canyon

A bit of a marine layer hung in the air as I pulled into the parking lot. That was fine as I planned to cover over 6 miles on this hike. I was here early in part to finish up with enough time to drive out to Cabrillo National Monument and hopefully be able to go to the actual top of the Old Lighthouse. The trail was a well-maintained service road. The University of San Diego, and its blue-domed church, stood above the canyon to the south. A work crew was out removing weeds. I chatted with them a bit before continuing on my way.

The trail turned northward and followed the Tecolote Golf Course. The flatness from the beginning of the hike was now replaced with some short ascents and descents. Wildflowers dotted the trail from time to time, as did connecting trails to the neighborhoods or power line towers.

The trail once again made an easterly turn, mostly leaving the golf course behind. While there is a way to link up with the northern portion of Tecolote Canyon, I was planning to stay on the southern portion. The trail now was no longer mostly a service road, but a trail that worked its way back and forth over Tecolote Creek. Thankfully, the water was low enough to allow me to cross. Finally, I reached the trail’s end at Genesee Avenue. One does need to be a bit mindful, as this section does have some poison oak.

While working my way back, I ran into a gentleman with a full Osprey Backpack. I asked him, “Training for something?” He replied he was headed to the Grand Canyon for a few nights. I wished him the best of luck and told him how jealous I was. I started to pass a few more folks, some out walking their dogs, some out for a bike ride.

As I got back to the trailhead, the garden next to the visitor center was open, so I took a quick look around, I wanted to get out to the lighthouse, so I did not linger. I logged the hike at 6.4 miles with about 387 feet of gain, and 5 water crossings.

Pt. Loma Lighthouse

I tossed my gear in the car and headed out to the lighthouse. I scored a ticket and soon found myself standing atop this historic building. The lens is incredible to see up close, but oh… the views from the top!

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.

Sweetwater River Trail

After hiking some of the Sweetwater River Trail the day before, I decided to hike another section today. I started at Eastview County Park, which is next to the Sweetwater Campground. I spoke with the Ranger at the entrance kiosk who helped direct me to the proper parking lot. Several families were setting up for their children’s birthday parties. I wondered if I might be able to get a slice of cake when I get back from the hike? Since I hiked Dictionary Hill earlier, I needed to top off my water bottle before heading out. The trailhead was just a bit north of the entrance kiosk. I scanned the trailhead board for any notices and then paused to let two trail runners come up the trail. The ranger mentioned that I should keep an eye out for any ‘danger noodles’ along the trail, as it was starting to be snake season. With that in mind, I set off down the hill toward the river bottom.

The trail cruised, and just before a bridge that spans Hwy. 125, a connector trail from the actual campground joined. Once across the bridge, a large plaque told the story of Mary Augustine, who was instrumental in getting a trails system in place throughout Bonita. In fact, this bridge was named in her honor. The trail descended a bit more, with another trail joining, this time from the nearby baseball field. Once at the river bottom, the trail passed a set of horse stables before following the Bonita Golf Course. I cruised along the flat, wide trail and did indeed encounter two women on horseback. I stepped aside and hid my trekking poles from view, as I have learned that trekking poles can spook a horse. A few other folks passed by, some running, some on mountain bikes. I came to my turnoff onto the Blue Heron trail which would take me to Morrison Pond, my intended destination. I had hiked around the pond a couple of years ago for the Tour Our Trails Challenge. The trail was now a narrow, sandy one as it drew closer to the water. I reached the junction with the trail that would take me to the north side of the pond, but like yesterday the river was flowing too much to allow me to cross. In fact, there was another hiker on the other side who stopped at the water’s edge. We chatted a bit before we both retreated from the river.

I continued westward, where I knew I would have some nice views of the pond. From there I kept going until the trail turned southward and rejoined the wide trail I was on earlier. I retraced my route, climbing back up the hill to the trailhead. When I reached the trailhead, I went to turn off my tracker, only to discover it had glitched and not recorded. Instead, I snapped a photo to use its timestamp to figure out my hiking time (I had taken one at the start). I would have to draw my route in GaiaGPS to resolve my distance. On the way back home, I stopped at Han’s & Harry’s Bakery for a nice apple strudel, since I did not score a slice of cake from the birthday party.

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.