Home ⎜Hikes & Wanderings ⎜California ⎜ Palomar Mountain

Distance: 8 miles

Time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging

Elevation Gain: 1,125 feet

Dog Friendly: Yes, on leash.

Trail Notes: On a sunny Sunday morning, we headed up to San Diego’s Palomar Mountain looking for a fun day hike amidst trees and greenery. As it turns out Palomar Mountain is the perfect green oasis for a day of exploring. The ride to Palomar Mountain itself is scenic and loads of fun as you wind up to the tollhouse along the park road near the top of the mountain. Though there are several gorgeous areas where you’re walking through fairytale forest, a substantial portion of the hike is exposed, so do bring enough water for you and your dog! This is definitely one hike where there is no such thing as too much water.

Trailhead Directions: From I-5, take exit 54A (if coming from the North) or exit 53 (if coming from the South) and turn onto CA-76 East for 29.7 miles. Turn left onto Palomar Mountain Road then go 6.7 miles to eventually make a left onto South Grade Road. Go 246 feet and turn left onto State Park Road and continue to the tollhouse. The parking fee is $8 as of this summer 2016 writing. Park in the lot that is almost directly across the street from the tollhouse (Silvercrest Parking Lot).

Hike Directions: From the parking area, walk toward the park road and make a left, heading downhill on a gentle grade. You’ll soon reach an intersection where you’ll keep left and head uphill on an open path, then soon after veer right onto a narrower path that will take you to the observatory at the top of Palomar Mountain. Once you’ve enjoyed the observatory, return to the road and you’ll find a narrow path heading downhill on the left side of the road (across from the observatory lot road). Veer left here and follow the trail as it descends and winds around the ridge of Palomar Mountain. You’ll pass through thick, green forest, open meadows, groves of trees and exposed roads (bring sunscreen!).  On top of a mountain, surrounded by greenery and canopies, this hike is a true delight as San Diego has very few tree-laden hikes. But after much research I stumbled on this one and it did not disappoint. Up on Palomar Mountain, you’ll feel worlds away from the clamor of city life, worlds away from life itself. We went up there on a Sunday and were surprised to find only maybe three other cars at the trailhead both in the morning and evening.

Scenery: 9/10