Category: San Diego Hikes

A forgotten desert peak

@serafinahikes

Indianhead Peak is a desert peak in every sense of the word. It is a place you go to get away from it all, going off the beaten path, and hopefully not get lost in the process. Lost and forgotten, are themes that re-occur throughout this adventure. What is lost is found. All is not lost. Most importantly, all make it back to the trailhead. There is a reason few people hike to Indianhead Peak. There is not actually even a trail. That is the first part of the story...of 8.4 miles with 3700 feet of gain, with 2700 feet of the gain, over the course of a mile. This one is steep in every sense imaginable.

Coyote Peak in Anza Borrego

@serafinahikes

I drove into Borrego Springs and I made a right through the center of town. I drove around the traffic circle and noticed a farmers market. From here, I drove straight out into what feels like the middle of nowhere. Rego Springs that's one of those places where you feel like you're getting away from it all every sense of the word. Very few stores, homes, or anything here, yet it still hangs on somehow I personally like this little town a lot. I continued onto Sultan seaway. I could see the coyote peak off in the distance illuminated by the morning sun. I wasn't expecting to see an actual coyote, driving up the road to Coyote Canyon. I headed up Rockhouse Canyon Rd. and parked in what looked like a small turnaround, next to a bush. It would be a 6.2 mile hike to Coyote Peak, and there was no trail.

2 Peaks in a day: El Cajon Mountain and El Capitan

@serafinahikes

My hike to El Cajon Mountain (ECM summit) and El Capitan, was a long time coming. I had wanted to hike to these two San Diego foothill peaks for a couple of years. I was waiting for the right opportunity to present itself. The weather and conditions were right, it was the right season, and I was finally feeling up for the challenge, fitness wise.

November Hiking Recap

@serafinahikes

For everything there is a season, especially hiking. When I think about hiking in November, several things come to mind. This is a time of year when the seasons change hands, when the temperatures finally start to cool and the first rain of the season may occur. Nights may dip into the low 50’s and morning dew covers the grass in the morning. I love hiking during this time of the year, watching the leaves begin to turn golden. I managed to get in 22 hikes in November, and hike to 4 peaks. So as far as hiking goes, November delivered!

Stonewall Peak and Cuyamaca Rancho in Fall

@serafinahikes

So this would be my second hike in this beautiful historic wilderness park, and former rancho, with habitation dating back over 9,000 years. It was the home of the Kumeyaay tribe, and seven villages were located here. It would be my second time hiking here. I was coming on a busy weekend in fall. I drove up Hwy-79 and parked at Trout Pond trailhead, not noticing any indication of a need to display a parking pass here. There were about 5 cars parked here, and across the road. I exited my car and was just in awe of the fall colors. It had been unknown to me in planning this hike that the fall colors would be at their peak. I began hiking along the Marty Minshall Trail, heading towards the forest, which was glowing in shades of bright yellow.