50 Best Short Hikes: San Diego. Jerry Schad

sunglasses, wear long-sleeve tops, and apply sunscreen to your exposed skin. The higher the sun is in the sky, the more intense the solar ultraviolet. A broad-brimmed hat is highly recommended, with any head protection (for example, a ball cap or head scarf) better than none. Also, the greater the sun exposure, the greater the danger of dehydration, so fill up those water bottles and drink frequently!

       Don’t forget to charge up and carry a cell phone before you set out on the walk. Still, do not forget that there are occasional dead zones for cell phone signals once you get away from populated places or well-traveled highways. Thus, as with all hiking, it is wise to let someone know where you are headed and when you expect to return.

       Hikers on the more remote trails in this book might want to store a flashlight in their backpacks (if there’s any chance of being caught on the trail after dark); a map; a GPS unit or cell phone map application (for fun, as well as for navigation); a whistle (for signaling); and a first aid kit.

       Here and there, especially on trails following the small streams and through oak woodlands, poison oak growth can be copious. Learn to recognize poison oak’s distinctive three-leafed structure, and avoid touching it with skin or clothing. Poison oak loses its leaves during the winter (usually December–March in San Diego), but don’t let that catch you unawares. The plant still retains some of the toxic oil in its stems, and it can be extra hazardous in winter because it is harder to identify and avoid.

      Valley View Trail at Barnett Ranch

       Rattlesnakes occasionally appear along the nonurban trails featured in this book. Typically, these creatures are as interested in avoiding contact with you as you are with them. But watch carefully where you put your feet, and especially your hands, during the warmer months, as you never want to startle a rattler. Most encounters between rattlesnakes and hikers occur in April and May, when snakes are out and about after a long hibernation period.

       Ticks also are an occasional problem, primarily on—again—the nonurban trails. They cling to the branches of shrubbery and wait for any warm-blooded host to wander by. If you can’t avoid brushing against vegetation along the trail, be sure to check yourself for ticks frequently. Upon finding a host, a tick will usually crawl upward in search of a protected spot, where it will try to attach itself. If you can be aware of the slightest irritation on your body, you’ll usually intercept ticks long before they attempt to latch on. Consider wearing light-colored long pants if you expect to encounter ticks, as it is easier to spot them quickly and flick them off before they find your skin.

       Mountain lion encounters are possible in the San Diego region, but this situation is extremely rare anywhere in San Diego County and especially along the inland-area trails covered in this book. Do, however, keep in mind that you should never run from any predatory animal. Make yourself look large. Gather together any children who are hiking with you. Do not act fearful. Pick up and throw rocks in the unlikely event that a lion doesn’t immediately dash off, as they usually do (not only are mountain lion encounters rare, they typically last only a few seconds). Do anything to convince the animal that you are not its prey.

      LEAVE NO TRACE

      This guidebook’s focus on short hikes within the radius of a major US city does not disregard the importance of preserving the natural environment. Whether you’re walking less than a mile through a city park or on an 8-mile backcountry route, please don’t overlook your responsibility for your surroundings. Aside from common-sense prohibitions that anyone reading this book likely upholds against littering and vandalism, here are a few pointers:

       Never take shortcuts across trail switchbacks. This practice may save you some traveling distance, but it breaks down the trail tread and hastens erosion.

       Collecting minerals, plants, animals, and historic or prehistoric artifacts without a special permit is generally prohibited in most jurisdictions. That means common things too, such as pinecones, wildflowers, and lizards. These should be left for all visitors to enjoy—and for the lizards to continue enjoying in their own habitats.

       Take note of the signs and information kiosks at the beginning of each walk or hike, and heed all rules and precautions.

      COASTAL NORTH COUNTY

      Coastal North County’s signature feature is a 20-mile-long, nearly unbroken strand of beaches and shoreline communities. From north to south, they are Oceanside, Carlsbad, Leucadia, Encinitas, Cardiff, Solana Beach, and Del Mar. Compared to the more densely populated core of San Diego to the south, life is a bit slower in these towns. Here, surfing culture has thrived for decades.

      But it’s not all surfing, all the time. The best hiking opportunities along the North County coastal area center on the immediate coastline, especially along select stretches of sandy beach and also along the margins of several coastal lagoons.

      For casual hikers, these venues nearly always offer easy walking and mild—even cool—weather conditions. On the beach itself, there’s plenty of surfing talent to ogle, and alongside the lagoons a wide variety of birds will capture your attention.

      One caveat: Warm summer weekends may bring throngs of beachgoers to the coastline, making parking a severe challenge. The solution, of course, is to get there early or wait until late afternoon.

      1 Hosp Grove

      Trailhead Location: North Carlsbad, just inland from the coast

      Trail Use: Hiking, running, dog walking

      Distance & Configuration: 1.5-mile loop when including all trailhead spurs

      Elevation Range: From near sea level to 185'

      Facilities: Water, picnic tables, restrooms, and playground structures near the trailhead; The Shoppes at Carlsbad lie 0.5 mile east.

      Highlights: Easy hiking, shade-giving eucalyptus trees, and migrating monarch butterflies

      Buena Vista Lagoon

      DESCRIPTION

      For better or worse, eucalyptus trees from Australia have become a major component of San Diego County’s contemporary urban forest. More than a century ago, entrepreneurs planted tall varieties of eucalyptus all over San Diego County (and in other parts of California) in a misguided effort to produce wood for railroad ties. These trees largely escaped the ax after people discovered that eucalyptus wood cracks and splits too easily for use as lumber. Thus, young and old eucalyptus trees still drape some hillsides just east of I-5 and above Buena Vista Lagoon in Carlsbad, at a place called Hosp Grove. Within Hosp Grove, the city of Carlsbad maintains a small nature park and trail system, providing a patch of serenity in an otherwise busy corner of North County.

      THE ROUTE

      You’ll find the Hosp Grove Trail rising on the slope behind the park’s tot play area. Alternatively, heading west from the small Jefferson Street parking lot (Trailhead 1 sign), you can ascend gradually to a view of Buena Vista Lagoon just above the first switchback. From several spots along this section of trail, you can peer over the tall, obscuring vegetation on the shoreline. Bring along binoculars—or, better yet, a spotting telescope—to observe the birdlife below.

      The