Escondido is a city that makes its home in the state of California and its landscape is a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills making it the perfect place for hiking. There are many desirable hiking locations that one can hike in the area. The following are five of the more popular trails.
Palomar Mountain State Park
Palomar Mountain State Park attracts hikers from both near and far. Hikers enjoy breathtaking views from the fire lookout. A a dense shrub covers some areas. There is a very curvy mountain road that leads to the observatory where one can enjoy taking photos. The hiking trails in this area are pretty nice with surrounding picnic areas, campsites, fire-pits, and more.
Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
The reserve provides hikers with two ways to access the hiking trails. Going uphill is one way and the other is crossing over the creek, via large rocks. Even with hiking boots you must take caution because the rocks are quite slippery. Some hiking areas in this reserve are very isolated so it is wise to take a friend along. The Equine Trail provides hikers natural scenic beauty, peacefulness, and serenity. This is the perfect place for nature lovers who love spending hours outdoors.
Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
This beautiful bridge connects two sections of the Lake Hodges hiking trails which allow hikers to access either side of the lake. There is a desolate terrain with a very few houses overlooking the awesome canyon. The area attracts mountain bikers as well as mountain hikers. It is a beautiful place to tour on foot or by bike. This is a beautiful bridge for hikers to gain access to the trails across Lake Hodges.
Daley Ranch
There are a few different trails at Daley Ranch. One of the hiking trails is pretty steep. Daley Ranch has everything a hiker, biker, or runner could ask for. Some trails provide excellent views of Dixon Lake. Dixon Lake will give you immediate shade and a shoreline trail. It is in early March when the wildflowers and California Lilacs are out in full bloom. These are drought tolerant wildflowers. There are many trails in this area that are out in the open with no shade. It is here that mountain bikers tend to fly down the trails so hikers must take caution.
Sikes Adobe Historic Farmstead
This is a historical site located near the highway. The Sikes adobe is a restored house built in the 1880’s. There is a nice dirt trail nearby for biking, hiking, or walking. Nearby there is a farmer’s market. There are a few great trails that extend east and west into the valley. Hikers can head west along Lake Hodges or east through San Pasqual Valley and enjoy nature’s beautiful natural scenic views along the way. There are great horseback riding trails too.
These are a few of the great places a person can enjoy taking a hike in Escondido. If you ever want to enjoy the outdoors and are in the Escondido area, you don’t have to go far to enjoy a great hike. This one of the many reasons that we at Lifetime Smiles love having our home in Escondido.
