Loved this hike! Started early-ish and had nice cloud cover for the first quarter of the hike. There are multiple flush toilet bathrooms before you start and a few porta pottys at the beginning of the trail. Even though the sun was in full force, there was a nice breeze to keep us cool. Potato chip is an illusion, but beware -- you still need to jump down from a boulder onto the chip rock and there's still a bit of a fall below the chip itself. To get down, you've got to slide down a very steep rock face, so it's really not as easy for the photo opp as you think. The hike is 95% up the whole way - bring plenty of water! Things to keep in mind: it costs $10 to park and there will always be a line to take your photo. It can go painfully slow with large groups wanting multiple shots and angles, so if you're not prepared to jump and slide, don't waste everyone else's time, please. There's still fantastic photo ops in front of the chip without having to get on it.
5.0
Come early for parking. The trail doesn't have a lot of shade so be prepared! There are a handful of side trails to extend your hike, too. Beautiful views of the reservoir and a few places to picnic complete with tables and benches. Love this hike.
5.0
What a fun hike! Beautiful views, a little difficult towards the end with the elevation but worth it. We took the ski lift to the notch and missed the big crowds. Buy your ticket online to save a few bucks!
5.0
Really cute, super short hike but ridiculously crowded. The line to get through was long and slow. Recommend going during the week on off hours for the best experience.
3.0
What a fun hike! We started at the Bowen Ranch/Juniper Flats area. It leads you down a jeep road before meeting up with the main trail. We went very early and had one of the pools to oursevles. It started to get busy around noon. The way back is strenuous but not as bad as we thought! Overall, amazing spot to relax, have a picnic, etc.
5.0
Easy stroll, no big hills or elevation. Wide path. There sre a few smaller paths off the main route that can make your hike shorter or longer. Despite the traffic noise, I prefer going around the outside of the preserve as theres a bit more shade. Beautifully maintained, this is perfect for a quick mid-week walk.
4.0
What an unassuming loop! Lots of little trails and off shoots, nothing is marked so it was impossible to stay on the white/black route. We backtracked and did a few circles trying to get back onto the route but the GPS arrow would jump us over the route line even if we just took a few steps. Hitting the peak was a nice little workout, but the way down was super steep - go slow! Some of the trails were very overgrown so pants were my friend in keeping my legs from getting scratched up. Will definitely come back to explore more routes.
4.0
Nice change of scenery for a hike! There are multiple trails to take you on a loop, or you can do what we did and head down to the beach. Its very rocky, little sand, so make sure you have good footwear. There are some areas that would have been sharp for bare feet, or a bit too uneven for flip flops. The bathrooms near Trail 6 marker were awful, but there was plenty of parking and 4 other beach trail markers to start at. The breeze was perfect for a hot day. No tree cover, so bring light layers for sun protection!
5.0
Great workout hike! Took a right at the split, which brings you for a loop around the back, but you have the option to go left which brings you up the front.
5.0
There are so many different routes through the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve, and all are well marked. Suggest to grab a map on your way in as not all rover crossings are crossable (unless you dont mind getting wet) Parking is much easier on the "back" end of the preserve on Willow Glen Road.
5.0
Mecca Beach Campgroud: early spring was perfect! Not crowded at all, bathrooms are clean, and showers are free. Limited hot water, but the temps were low 80s so the cold water was refreshing. Can get windy - use sand spikes to hold your tent. The cheap, thin ones slip out easily. Very little to no shade, depending on your spot.
4.0
What a fun hike! There are a few ladders that are secured to the rocks to help you climb in some areas. After going through the canyon, there is a little incline to get to the top for a view down into the canyon. It's beautiful, but not a lot of shade. Used a 4wd vehicle but saw a few sedans that made it in without any issues.
5.0
Short and sweet! The rock formations are really cool to walk through. There are some narrow areas and a ladder to climb at one point, but overall easy. Parking is hard, as its in a residential neighborhood and can get crowded.
4.0
Nice and quiet little loop on Palomar Mountain. There are a few trails you can add to extend your hike. Some tree covering, which is nice in the warmer months.
4.0
Hardest hike in San Diego! Its long, its got a rocky pah, and youre going uphill both ways. It kicked our asses but it felt so good to cross this one off the list! Great for elevation training. Bring lots of snacks.
5.0
This is a very short walk. Great if youre local, but not worth the drive if youre not.
3.0
I loved this hike. It had a few inclines and a beautiful view at the end. There are a few spots to park, which is great. There is a tiny restaurant just a few miles away from the trailhead overlooking the city of Lake Elsinor - highly recommended to stop for a bite after your hike.
5.0
5.0
We used Salkantay Trekking for this 5 day adventure and had the best time! It's hard, but well worth all the effort and aches. The tour group provided guides, porters, and professional chefs -- this is the glamping version of backpacking. The porters brought our big bags to each overnight stop, the chefs provided fresh, 5 star multi-course dining for every meal, and the guides made sure we were safe and edcucated us along the way. 10/10 would do it again, and would love to have this catered experience option in more locations.
5.0
I love this hike! After a series of switchbacks, the views are amazing. If youre afraid of heights, hold on tight to the railing to get up the stairs at the very end. Its worth it!
5.0
This trail is well traveled, so go early! It's a bit of a workout straight off the bat with decent elevation. There are two different paths you can choose from about 1/4 of the way up or so. If you go to the right, it's more scenic. Stay on the path, and I find it to be a bit steeper. There is some tree cover to the right, though not much.
5.0
This is a nice hike with a sneaky workout in the middle! It starts off pretty flat and unassuming, but there is a few steep parts on both the way there and the way back. The loop at the top doesnt really have any "stunning " views, but you can see quite a distance from a few different locations. There is one tiny tiny creek crossing that probably doesn't have much water in the warmer months, with plenty of rocks to step across. Its one of the less popular hikes in the Julian area with a relatively large dedicated parking area. Portapotty, too!
4.0
Beautiful views from the fire lookout. Well maintained trail, some open areas, and some covered areas.
5.0
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