The Vagabond Hiker

Hiking, trekking, and climbing the world

Day Hiking San Diego County: West to East

Although San Diego County in southern California is no longer as extensive as it once was, having ceded territory to the surrounding counties, at some 4500 square miles in area it offers an amazing diversity of day hikes in an area larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. For four weeks I rented an Airbnb, a former ranch hand’s cabin, in Dehesa Canyon just below the town of Alpine and about 30-40 minutes’ drive east of the city of San Diego. It proved a great location to experience some of the diversity the county offered, as I hope I captured in this “West to East” blog post. A map of the ecological regions of San Diego County may be found here.

Coastal Hikes and Walks

Pacific Ocean Trail vista at Torrey Pines State Reserve. A few minutes north of San Diego, the reserve is wildly popular with urbanites, and for good reason.
A Beach Suncup at Torrey Pines
Torrey Pine Grove. The rarest pine in the US, Torrey Pines are confined to the reserve, the coastal town of Del Mar to the North, and a couple of the Channel Islands off of Santa Barbara.
An impressive Dragon Tree at San Diego Botanic Garden. While the botanic garden was hardly a hike, virtually all the exhibits were outdoors among meandering paths, making for a very pleasant walk.
Turtles sunning at the botanic garden
My brother Clifford swallowed by a Yucca at an the botanic garden
View along the La Jolla promenade. My brother and I enjoyed a tasty vegan lunch on a roof-top deck in La Jolla, just to the north of San Diego.

Valley Hikes

A view of Mission Dam at Mission Trails Regional Park. About 15 minutes East of the city, it features miles of trails for all ability levels. Even mid-week it is a popular destination for the urban masses.
Trailhead view of El Cajon Mountain. This was the hardest hike I did in San Diego County.
The South Slope ascent route on El Cajon Mountain is from the lower left here
Ceanothus in bloom on El Cajon
Clifftop lunch view to the Southwest on El Cajon with the Pacific Ocean in the distant haze. After a 1900 ft vertical scramble in 1 mile, I didn’t feel like the easy (though overgrown) 2 mile walk to the actual summit.

Foothills Hikes

My front garden at the Dehesa Canyon Airbnb. This serene environment was a former cattle ranch, centrally located for all the County had to offer.
View during my ascent of Viejas Mountain in Alpine California. The swish town of Alpine was about 15 minutes from my cabin.
Summit 360 degree panorama on Viejas Mountain
Descanso Cliffs, a fun scramble nearby
Lawson Peak summit block. Most of the hike was a boring one on a disused fire road, but the summit block scramble definitely added some spice!
A view down Hollenbeck Canyon at the eponymous Hollenbeck State Reserve, a popular spot for weekend mountain bikers, dog walkers, and hikers
Pine Creek Wilderness water hole. This small wilderness area is close to the Mexican border, and there were signs of migrants along one of the trails.

Mountain Hikes

A mountain meadow along the Sweetwater Loop trail I hiked at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. I did three different hikes at this State Park, about 30 minutes from my Airbnb.
Evidence of Acorn Woodpeckers at Cuyamaca Rancho SP
Clifford reaching the summit of Stonewall Peak, Cuyamaca Rancho SP
Stonewall Peak summit vista to the North
Laguna Meadows Loop vista, Laguna Mountain

Desert Hikes

Anza Borrego Desert State Park (ABDSP). View towards the isolated community of Borrego Springs from Hellhole Canyon. Returning to this state park after 15 years was the main reason I stayed in the San Diego area.
Clifford under California Fan Palms in Hellhole Canyon. Longtime followers will know that the California Fan Palm, the only palm native to California, is one of my favorites.
Maidenhair ferns in Hellhole Canyon. Ferns in the desert do seem oxymoronic to me.
Borrego Springs view from the California Riding and Hiking Trail on the loop return from Hellhole Canyon
Whiteflower Currant bush from the CRH Trail, ABDSP. Not much was in bloom this early in the year.
The North Grove on the Mountain Palm Springs Loop hike, ABDSP
Filtered sunlight in the North Grove, ABDSP
An Ocotillo in bloom, ABDSP
An Elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) at Torote Bowl, ABDSP. Torote is the Spanish name for the tree. There were about a dozen specimens of this signature plant of the Sonoran Desert scattered around this bowl. A good article on this amazing tree can be found here.
Elephant tree leaf detail. The tiny leaves give rise to its species name, microphylla.
The Vagabond Hiker under an Elephant Tree at Torote Bowl
A Smoke Tree in the Coyote Mountains Wilderness. Clifford and I hiked the “Domelands Loop” in this arid landscape administered by the Bureau of Land Management.
Clifford climbing out of a canyon in the Coyote Mountains
Coyote Mountains Wilderness view of the Carrizo Badlands. An Ocotillo is on the right.
A Ghost Plant (Graptopetalum paraguayense), Coyote Mountains Wilderness
Slots with wind caves, Coyote Mountains Wilderness. Hiking through some of the slot canyons in this maze was a highlight of the day.

I have relocated a few hours northeast to the town of Twenty-nine Palms California for the next 6 weeks. Just to the East of the tourist mecca of Joshua Tree, 29 Palms is an ideal base for hiking in Joshua Tree National Park and the southern portion of the Mojave Reserve, the theme of my next blog post.

Until then, enjoy the great outdoors wherever you are,

The Vagabond Hiker

Comments

  1. Love the colors of the pics of the ocean. You’re looking great and happy. I continue to enjoy your adventures!

  2. Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting back overseas this summer, but in the meantime the Southwest for me is hard to beat. Hope you’re enjoying the Colorado winter!

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