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Hike in San Diego County, California

Peñasquitos Canyon from the East
Saturday, August 30, 2008

photograph

We'll be hiking to the Peñasquitos Canyon Falls from the east along mostly level roads and trails, about 6.5 miles in all. A fairly easy hike, and a very popular one. Just right for a hot August day. We've done this hike before, most recently in the summer of 2006.

Leashed dogs are allowed.

For additional information about the preserve, see the San Diego Park & Rec. Web page at www.sandiego.gov/park-and-recreation/parks/penasq.shtml.

Meet at 10:00 AM in the upper parking lot for Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve on Black Mountain Road at the junction with Mercy Road (Thomas 1189 D7). There is a small fee for parking. Mapquest link.

SUGGESTED ROUTE FROM SAN DIEGO: Take Interstate 15 to the Mercy Road and Scripps Poway Parkway exit. Turn west and follow Mercy Road to the Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve entrance on Black Mountain Road.

Directions to Meeting Place

Cheapskates can park free at Canyonside Community Park and walk into the Preserve.

This hike has been cross-posted to the Outdoors Club Web site.

The nominal starting time is 10:00 AM. I will be at the parking area by 9:30, and at 10:15 we will hit the trail.

After the hike, there will be an optional gathering at a local ice cream parlor.

Call 858-675-8706 for the latest weather information or check your favorite weather page on the Internet. (I like www.accuweather.com.) Wear good hiking shoes and suitable clothing and take lunch, water and sun protection. Take a camera if you wish. Call or send E-mail if you have questions.

RAIN? Heavy rain will cancel the hike. If there is only a little rain, we may still hike. In doubtful cases, I will wait at the trailhead. You must decide whether the weather is tolerable and take appropriate protective clothing. If anyone else shows up, we will hike.

CONTACT:

Cell phone coverage here is fairly good, although there may be a dead spot here and there.

Note: We haven't had serious injuries on our hikes, but the insanity of current liability decisions prompts the following: These hikes are not officially sponsored by any group or individual. No one assumes liability for anyone else. So don't tease the rattlesnakes and don't drink from the falls!

SUGGESTION: Check this page a few days before the hike for any last-minute instructions.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky

The July Hike - Scott's Cabin & Boucher Hill

I was the only person who showed up. I waited a little longer than I usually do, and then set out alone.

I saw three deer on the trails, but no other hikers. The weather was fairly warm, but otherwise quite good. I finished about 12:45 PM, even though I took a slight detour through the old apple orchard at the end of the hike.

If any of you who missed this hike want to reschedule it, please contact me by E-mail.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky

Photographs from previous hikes.

List of previous hikes.

Topographic maps from previous hikes, when available, will be archived on the Maps page.

Scanned topographic maps for San Diego, Orange, Imperial and Riverside Counties are available on CD-ROM by request, or by visiting www.efghmaps.com. These are public domain images in GIF format with no restrictions on use. E-mail the Webmaster for details.

Aerial photographs, which are sometimes helpful to hikers, can be downloaded from TerraServer 6.0.

A great deal of information about the Fallbrook area, including a list of hikes in the area, is available on Tom Chester's Web site at www.tchester.org.

Notes

  1. These hikes have been held monthly (with a very few cancellations due to weather or other reasons) since January 10, 1987. I have been leading the hikes since March 1993.
  2. Each hike is usually held on the last Saturday of the month. However, the hike is occasionally moved to another Saturday to avoid conflicts.
  3. Although each hike is listed in the monthly newsletter of the San Diego Libertarian Party, it is not a Libertarian Party event. Independents and members of other political parties are welcome.
  4. These hikes are recreational, not athletic.
  5. We hike only on established trails, mostly in parks, national forests, and nature preserves.
  6. Minors may participate only with the permission of a parent or legal guardian. Most of the hikes are not suitable for small children.
  7. No reservation or prior notice is required. If you want to hike, just show up at the trailhead on time.

-- Philip J. Erdelsky