Cedar Creek Falls

About the hike: This is a moderate hike that is suitable for most of the year. Summer would be ideal because you can take a dip in the pool at the base of the waterfall. There is a 9-mile dirt road that ends at the trailhead. The dirt road is mostly navigable on passenger cars. San Diego is the closest big city. The trail itself is between the towns of Ramona and Julian.

Distance: 4.5 miles round-trip, 1200 feet elevation loss/gain

Hiking Time: Approx 2.5 hrs round trip

Driving Directions from San Diego on Google Maps (Click on link)

More information from "Afoot & Afield San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide By Jerry Schad" available on google books (Click on link)

Our Trip: We planned to start off on the hike at around 9am, with 10 people in the group. However, due to various logistical reasons, we ended up leaving San Diego only at around 10am. We started off in two rental cars with 5 people in each. We had a quick stop in Ramona to get some subs and oranges for lunch. We reached the trailhead and started our hike downhill at around 12:40pm. The weather was excellent when we set out, around 60F and sunny.

We took our time walking downhill, stopping every few minutes to take lots of pictures of the wildflowers on the hillsides, and different species of caterpillars and beetles. Some of us saw a small 1-foot long snake that raced into a hole in the ground as we walked by. For the first mile or so, there is an excellent view of the valley through which the creek flows. Most of this section was exposed, but since the day was quite cool, we didn't feel anything.

Close to the bottom of the valley, we came to the point where the trail split between two paths that led to the bottom and top of the falls. If you follow the trail straight down, you reach the bottom of the falls. If you take the trail on the left, you go to the top of the falls. We chose the bottom path.

We took many pictures here and then sat down and had our lunch.After around 0.3 miles, we came across a "No Trespassing" sign, followed by a 3-way intersection on the trail. On the section of the trail heading straight ahead, we saw another "No Trespassing" sign that we assumed was part of private property. We took a left turn at this point towards the third direction where we saw a couple of other hikers emerge from. The trail crossed a couple of streams and went through some trees and shrubs to end at the base of the falls. There was a big pool at the base of the falls that was the origin for one section of the creek.

A family that had arrived at the falls just after we did soon started diving and swimming in the pool. Diving is officially prohibited due to the dangers of injuring yourself due to the shallow depth of the water as well as rocks on the pool floor (they didn't seem to care, however). The father and 3 sons were diving from some rocks on the side of the pool, while his 2 daughters were just generally swimming in the pool. The mother was taking pictures from the edge of the pool. (All above relationships are assumptions on my part, of course)

After lunch, we decided to get a bit adventurous and hiked up a steep path on the left side of the waterfalls to the top. It started off rocky and easy at the bottom, but got really steep towards the top with loose gravel and sand. Some people in the group had a little trouble, but we all got to the top in one piece. We got a nice view of the creek that became the falls. We saw a dead rattlesnake that smelled something fierce. Its body was still decomposing, but its head (and part of its body) was lying separately a few feet away, completely decomposed. We could see a few vertebrae too.

We hiked back to towards the main trail and joined it at the first fork, and hiked back uphill to the trailhead. In the end, our return hike was much faster than our onward one. We were back at the trailhead at around 4:40pm. We had a drink of water and started driving back to San Diego. We reached back home at around 6:30pm.

Pictures:

Cedar Creek Falls Hike

Anza Borrego Pictograph Trail

About the Hike: This is a great hike, the trail becomes unmarked after about a mile, and then it's scrambling on rocks, that was the exciting part. Probably a moderate hike, and definitely involves bouldering, climbing on rocks (no ropes needed). Choose a cool day, since there is no cover from the sun, this is the middle of the desert.

Time: Start: 1.00pm, End: 5:00pm, total hiking time = 4hr

Distance: 3mi one-way (1mi marked, rest is jumping on boulders), elevation: 400ft gain

Driving and other Info: The key is to drive there in a car that has clearance. The approach road is also very uneven, so drive in a car that can handle all that. Follow this map, don't take the other route since it will kill the car. SUV is best. 71mi, 2 hrs from La Jolla.

Our Hike: We had some intresting experiences, both on the hike and driving back. My car has very low clearance, and it was shoveling sand all the way. Another car got stuck in sand while passing us on the opposite side, so we had quite an adventure rescuing it.

The hike was on a cool March afternoon, and you can go as far as you want, we stopped at a cliff / small hill overlooking the Anza Borrego valley, the view was awesome and so was the path there. It gives you a feel of charting your own path through the wilderness without making it dangerous.

Mount Woodson

About the Hike: Moderate hike, gets pretty steep in parts. There is limited vegetation cover during the start of the hike, summers are rather hot, preferred time is spring or fall.

Time: Start: 11.45am, End: 4.15pm, total hiking time = 4.5hrs

Distance: 4.4mi one-way on trail, (about a mile on road and around Lake Poway) 3.4mi along main trail, elevation: 2000ft gain

Driving and other Info:
Lake Poway, 30 minutes from La Jolla

Our Hike: We did this hike at least twice, relatively cool days both times. Pretty easy hike for active folks, is a good hike to start with if you have not been active. We saw a rattler close to the top, so watch out for the shadowy sides.

Elfin Forest

About the Hike: Easy hike. Vegetation on and off the trail, it is part of an ecological preserve, starts off with a small stream and goes uphill, not very steep. Preferred time is spring or fall.

Time: Start: 2.30pm, End: 5.30pm, total hiking time = 3hrs

Distance: 3.2mi roudtrip, elevation: 1200ft gain

Driving and other Info:
Easy to get lost .. we followed google maps which routed through a private community, google seems to have corrected the error. From Highway 78 take Rancho Santa Fe Road south. East on San Elijo Road, turn into Elfin Forest road, and 5.5 mi, pull into the Elfin Forest Receational Reserve parking lot. 40 minutes from La Jolla.

Our Hike: Very pleasant hike, good if you have not had any activity and want to warm up to the tougher ones. We took our time on this, and the day was cool, so overall very enjoyable.

Coyote Buttes

About the Hike: Out of the world location ! Unreal rock formations and brilliant color contrasts.

Time: Start: 9.15am, End: 12.30pm, total hiking time = 2hrs 15min

Distance: 6mi roundtrip, 340ft elevation gain

Our Hike:
Hottest hike ever, 110F must have been the max temp that day, we had about 6l of fluids per person, sunscreen, hat, good hiking shoes and of course the camera ! GPS strongly recommended if this is the first time you are attempting this hike, since it is completely unmarked. We made good time earlier in the morning due to the slightly cooler temperature. We attempted hiking back without the GPS, and it was not too bad, we didn't stray away from the path too much. All formations look alike, so it is important to identify very unique landmarks to make sure you don't lose your way.

Canyonlands

About the Hike: Superb hike even in summer, probably perfect in fall, offers expansive vistas and red rock terrain.

Time: Start: 1pm, End: 3.30pm, total hiking time = 2hrs 30min

Distance: around 5mi roundtrip, 1200ft elevation gain

Driving and other Info:
Take 211-W from 191 in Utah, and take Beef Basin road (left) after crossing the visitor center, it becomes a car-navigable dirt road after a short distance (<0.6mi). style="font-weight: bold;">Our Hike: We hiked this trail at the peak of summer, and were well prepared with water and hats. It was not as hot as the desert, but there is are only about 2 spots with shade on the trail. Use this map for the hike path and to get to one of these shaded spots for lunch.