For starters, I wouldn't call this a mountain. It's more like a hill, and at 1150 feet, it is…read morenothing in comparison to some of the Adirondack hikes I've been on late That said, this was a really great hike. I parked at the Piedra Pintada trailhead on the other side of Lake Hodge (which can hardly be called a lake at this point given the drought). I chose this primarily because it was a relatively easy place to park and the distance you have to walk on the bike trail isn't too bad once you reach the bike/pedestrian bridge. This area has a bit of traffic even on a morning mid-week. I arrived around 8:30 and made my way up the main bike trail to the Bernardo Mountain Peak trailhead. The trail is labeled only in two places that I noticed, but it is a well maintained trail and if you've got an app or map, you're not going to get lost. The trail to the summit is mixed with gradual increase in elevation over the entire 3.3 miles from the Piedra Pintada Trailhead parking. If you go in the morning, you're definitely going to get good portions of the trail in shade. The trail is narrow in parts as you get further up, but it wasn't overgrown. The summit is rather smallish - but there are enough spots to sit especially if there's not too many people there. You get really nice 360 views down to Lake Hodges, the neighborhoods surrounding the area, and of course I-15. I would rate this as an easy-moderate hike. It's really manageable, but on those sunny SoCal days (which are plentiful) you still need to prepare by bringing plenty of water to stay hydrated. I hiked with a 2L camelbak and an additional 1K nalgene to drink my hydration pack with. This was plenty for the 6.6mile roundtrip trek today.

This review is for the Bernardo Mountain Summit Via Coast To Crest Trail. Total miles was ~7 miles…read morethat took ~3 hours or so to complete. Small parking lot of maybe 20 cars and possibly some street parking as well. The first ~0.6 miles of the trail involves walking next to the freeway. Trail was mostly dirt and rocky for some areas with some inclines to the top. In addition, the trail was mostly exposed to the sun so be prepared. Overall, nice views of Lake Hodges and the distant landscapes near the summit! For those interested in the video of the hike! https://youtu.be/hkqN8VEalWM

We arrived around 8 AM on a Sunday, and the main lot was already full, but there's an overflow lot…read moreabout 400 feet away where we were able to grab the last spot. The trail itself was pretty quiet. We passed a few people here and there. It's very well maintained, though there aren't any signs or clear directions at certain points, so I'd recommend using AllTrails to stay on track. Also worth noting, there are no trash cans along the route, so plan accordingly. The trail is technically listed as not dog-friendly, but we did see a couple of dogs along the way. We did the 4.5-mile overlook loop. There were a few sections that were a bit steep, but overall it's a fairly easy hike with mostly flat terrain. There's a lot of greenery throughout, and the creek adds a really nice touch. It's a really scenic and peaceful setting. It took us about 1 hour and 45 minutes to complete. We went on a cloudy day, which ended up being perfect for the hike. Overall, it's a beautiful, well-kept trail and definitely worth checking out.

What an incredible trail! The mix of flowing water and those scattered rock formations makes every…read morestep feel like a little adventure. Going around 10 in the morning sounds perfect for soaking in the peaceful vibe without running into many people. It's a relatively easy route with plenty of spots to pause for a picnic, making it the perfect way to connect with nature and start the day surrounded by quiet beauty.

Beautiful day for an easy walk/hike at San Dieguito River Park! There are a few different trails to…read morechoose from. I opted for an easy out-and-back route that was just under 4 miles total with a little over 200 feet of elevation gain. The trail is well maintained and offers some really nice views along the way. Perfect spot if you're looking for something scenic and not too strenuous. Would definitely come back!

Super cool and exciting trails! 10min from Ramona, kinda of…read morea hidden gem (locals know). Room for horses, bikes, dogs on leach and humans. We heard plenty of woodpeckers, saw a few rabbits and enjoyed the peaceful valley! Make sure you bring plenty of water Cell signal really spotty - download the map prior to heading out

Miner's is considered a moderate level trail, but I found it to be quite easy. I still had a great…read moretime!

Nice hike trail. It was approximately 2.5 miles and just under 500 elevation gain. Some sections…read moreare very rocky. Dogs on leashes are allowed. Parking lot is easy to miss.

If you're thinking about hiking Mount Woodson trail aka the famous Potato Chip Rock--just know…read more.. your legs are about to file a formal complaint. This hike is a little over 7 miles (round trip) and definitely on the "hard but worth it" side, with steady climbs, and rocky steps that will have you questioning "who's idea was this?" For trail details, I'd suggest checking out Alltrails before you go. Things to know: the trailhead starts at Lake Poway Recreation Area and there's a $10 entrance fee. Weather can be unpredictable--our hike started wet and ended sunny, so dress smart. Bring plenty of water, good shoes with traction, and a snack to reward yourself at the top (you earned it). The trail is fairly well marked, but pro tip: take pics at each fork unless you enjoy "bonus miles" on the way down. At the summit, expect a line to snap that iconic photo. And yes--you'll need to do a tiny "jump" onto the rock... which suddenly turns very intimidating when it's your turn. Some people bail, but it's totally doable. Challenging, a little chaotic, and 100% one of my favorite hikes. Your calves won't forgive you--but your camera roll will.

I know this trail as potato chip rock!…read more We started the hike at 730am, ended at 11 All incline! There are a couple portable bathrooms along the trail. Beautiful view of the lake. Beautiful view of all SD on a clear day! Once you make it to the top you can take a picture on the chip! It's a little scary, but worth it just to say you did it! There's a 10 dollar parking fee. Bathrooms are clean. It's a very diverse park with lots to do!

A great suspension bridge that spans across Lake Hodges - what more could you ask for?…read more Great place to take pictures and also a fun walk - it connects to great trails around the lake.

Found this as one of the things to do when in Escondido, however... it was a bit of confusing…read moregetting here. Literally when you get off the highway you are at the location to venture across but there is no parking. You venture to the Park area where most everyone was off road biking at. We parked and began our journey back to the beginning of the bridge. It stated on yelp it was closed but it clearly was open. There are signs that say it is monitored 24-7, it appears that if the gate is closed there is a button to push to open it. The unfortunate part, the lake is so dried up that it no longer runs under the bridge. Feel like Google & yelp maps should be updated to reflect that. In the middle of the bridge you can see a faint hint of some water off in the distance but otherwise it is trees and grass and bushes. A bit sad and disappointing. A ton of people biking and utilizing the bridge to cross over and few walkers as well. It was a nice walk nonetheless just not a cool or breath-taking as we were expecting. If you get sea sick or nauseous easily, I do not recommend this bridge. Since it is a suspension bridge, you feel it. Today (9/18/21) was not a windy day. Can only imagine a windy day.

I posted this a week ago and took it down, deciding to give Marc the benefit of the doubt. But a…read moreweek later, he has not responded to any (multiple) communications, so here it is. This Bike Shop has closed (both of them)! First, I have purchased a few High End Bikes from Marc previously and while he's a little prickly, his advice has always been sound, if not a little off-putting. Even years ago it was hard to tell if the shop was going to be open or closed, so you had to call and make arrangements ahead of going there. It was one of those places where advice was good, but customer service was always lacking. Now, if you go to the old website it links to a new site called Seven24 Bicycles. The new website lists some pretty attractive bikes at very good prices, but it fails to mention that these are all old models that he's attempting to move on to clear out his stock from the stores. This presents two issues: - The shop is no longer listed as a dealer for the bikes he sells. Not sure if these bikes come backed by any manufacturers warrantee. I seriously doubt that any of the manufacturers will warrantee a 2021 model first sold in 2026. I'd confirm my suspicions with the owner, but he refuses to answer any calls, emails, or texts. - Marc (the owner) is very difficult to get in touch with, if you call it says to email, if you email he replies saying to text. Took a few attempts, but finally got in touch with him. Made arrangement to meet him at a non-retail facility on a Friday after he said it was the best day to meet up. Friday morning as we were in route, he cancelled on us and said we'd need to meet on Sunday. Sunday morning we drive to his "warehouse" (30+ minutes each way) and he's a NO SHOW! Waited a half hour and called and texted with no response, I have called, texted for a week now, he refuses to respond. We ended up buying one bike from Trek there in San Marcos and one from REI in San Diego. Don't bother with this guy, it's a waste time your time. It's pretty clear he doesn't need customers.

The day prior I was reading over Mark's website. I noticed he was closed according to his store…read morehours in San Marcos as well as Escondido. His website states he'll open on days he is closed per appointment only, so I went ahead and gave him a call requesting an opportunity to visit today Sunday, April 16th at 3pm latest. Sure enough he was there for us. At the end of the visit we ended up purchasing three BMX bikes. Although we went to his Escondido location, I'm certain he has a wide selection in San Marcos. Thank you for the personalized assistance Mark!

The best and ONLY place to go for service and new bikes! Jeff is outstanding, friendly & cool :)…read moreALL SMILES :) Prices are PHENOMENAL :) Thank you Jeff!

I went in for a simpler tune up and then they said my front derailleur needed to be replaced. Took…read moreforever to get my bike because they were out of stock for a derailleur. Took over 4 weeks to get my bike and didn't communicate very well.