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    Del Dios Highlands County Preserve

    4.2 (11 reviews)

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    Jenn S.

    This review is strictly about the steep hill climb. I love it for a quick intense workout. The gates open at 8am which isn't helpful since usually the heat has started around then. If you park across the street just beware that people frequent that lot and break into cars. I would just wait until 8 and leave all valuables at home. The hill is STEEP so unless your pet is used to hikes do not bring them. If you do bring water for both of you. I just go up the hill past the gate to the view of the dam then turn around and run back down. With that don't sprint down. You will probably fall. Its slippery and has loose gravel all over the trail. Anywho if you like hills or just looking for a good workout without the gym this is a great one!

    Olivenhain Dam
    C T.

    Been here three times and I find this trail challenging but very doable. Like the other reviewers have noted, the trail takes you on an immediate incline from the entrance and gradually becomes steeper as you progress along. The steepest part comes right before the summit and really takes some effort. The views are great when you do get to the top, the view of Del Dios reservoir is spectacular. Coming back down the trail is probably my least favorite part of the hike because the gravel is slippery and the decline is sharp. I recommend crisscrossing the trail to prevent falling. All in all, you'll get a nice workout and great views from this trail.

    Black sage is fragrant and plentiful along the trails!
    Meg M.

    This is a great workout trail that connects to the Elfin Forrest Preserve. It is super near my parents house and we line to hike, trail run and explore the area. Depending on the clarity of the view, you can see all the major peaks and the Pacific Ocean! The preserve opens each day around 8 am. If you come before it opens, you can park across the highway. Cars go fast though so be safe! The first mile of the main trail is uphill. However, there is another trail you can take from the parking area! This one is more steep. When you get up the first big incline, there are more trails to explore! It's easy to do a couple of miles but you can also just do a quick up and down. This is a dog friendly trail but they need to be on leashes. Please pick up your dogs waste! Enjoy the views, fresh air and exercise!

    Be careful you can miss the road to parking fairly easily.
    Paul L.

    The Del Dios Preserve connects to other preserves and trails so you can make this a short hike or a long trek. This review is primarily on the Del Dios Highland section which is a 3.0 round trip trail from the parking area to the top of the mountain where you can connect to other trails or return. This is not a hike for the faint of heart it is 1.5 miles of up hill battle some areas are very steep, all are on a good wide dirt trail. If you only want a short trip take the trail for about 1/4 mile and then take a left to the end of the point. Great boulders to sit and have a picnic and over looks the lake. If you are more adventurous continue to the top. Thank the eagle scout who put the bench in about 1/2 way. There is no water on the trail so take plenty in the summer this is a very, very hot area with little or no shade. When you get to the top, on a good day you can see the ocean and all the way up to the mountains past L.A. and you can see Lake Hodges to your east. The hike down is exactly that downhill, watch your footing on the steepest slopes as the dg is loose. I would recommend this hike in the early morning, would make a great sunrise or late afternoon, you can get awesome sunsets.

    Gorgeous views!!
    Pam V.

    I have a love/hate relationship with these trails! I'm kidding, but some of these hikes kick my rear! Seriously though, this area is gorgeous! There is a trail for everyone and all abilities. The lake views are stunning! It's also a great area to bring your dogs for a hike! Enjoy...but watch out for snakes.

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    Review Highlights - Del Dios Highlands County Preserve

    Its slippery and has loose gravel all over the trail.

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    Kumeyaay Trail

    Kumeyaay Trail

    4.0(1 review)
    9.3 mi

    The Kumeyaay Trail is a trail that hugs Lake Wohlford's North shore…read more Parking is free at the Lake Wohlford Ranger Station so just park and walk East to find the trail entrance. Note that the trail isn't marked very well, and you'll have to use trail intuition to find your way in the overgrown areas. The trail is mostly dirt, small boulders, and large flat smooth rocks. Expect mud and sand in some areas next to the lake. Not the best hike if you have bad knees. The actual hike was fun ( early spring after many large rainstorms). You'll walk by several Oak Trees and many wildflowers blooming. This is a birders paradise as many waterfowl make their homes here. It's about 4.5 miles there and back unless you are foolish and decided to walk around the ENTIRE LAKE.. That will make your hike 5.5 total. Note there is NO TRAIL to connect Kumeyaay to the South trails on the other side of the lake. Foolishness - So, once you walk to the end of the Kumeyaay Trail ( there is a private property gate) you might get the harebrained idea to cut through the swamp to get to the south side of the lake.. Okay, we did it ( with three kids).. There are a few things to know before deciding to cut across the mash to the other side.. Much of your hike will be through a large stinging nettle forest. If you're wearing shorts forget about going to the other side of the lake. If you have long pants / jeans you should be okay. Next you'll have to go through various reeds and muck. Then you'll have to cross a small stream about ten feet wide, a few feet deep.. You're going to get your shoes wet unless you're one hell of a long jumper. Finally, you'll have to ascend up a vertical cliff to get up to a road..One you're on the South Side of Lake Wohlford you still have a long way to hike to get back to your car. There is no shortcut and you'll have to walk along the busy Lake Wholford Rd for over a mile. Worth it?? Yeah it was pretty adventurous. - Tips I wouldn't kike this trail in the summer. There are soooo many places for rattlesnakes to hide.

    Photos
    Kumeyaay Trail - River to cross if you want to get to the other side of lake.

    River to cross if you want to get to the other side of lake.

    Kumeyaay Trail
    Kumeyaay Trail

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    Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve - Blue dragonfly

    Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

    4.6(233 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    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.

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    Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve - Dragonfly

    Dragonfly

    Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve
    Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

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    Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge

    Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge

    4.5(20 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
    Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
    Lake Hodges Pedestrian Suspension Bridge

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    Del Dios Gorge Trail

    Del Dios Gorge Trail

    4.1(8 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    A nice section of the Coast to Crest trail system that takes you right next to Lake Hodges Dam…read more - The trail goes mostly along the Del Dios Highway. So be prepared for loud car noises. - Many rattlesnake signs, and even a lookout called rattlesnake viewpoint.. - From the parking lot across from Cielo Rancho Fe, it's about 2 miles to the lookout. A few hills, but any family should be able to make it. Watch out for bikers tho... I challenge you! - It's 20 miles from this trail to the Wild Animal Park in Escondido...Do it in one day! Tip - Check out the website Hidden San Diego and look up the Lake Hodges Dam. Really cool photography (all trespassing mind you).

    You can go east or west on this trail. We went west…read more The first few miles are beside a golf course, so you hear a lot of voices but don't actually see anyone. We didn't go far, but it was a nicely groomed trail, easy to walk side by side for most of it. There were several picturesque bridges and waterways with water, but it's winter so it might be much drier in other months. There's a little hidden pond on the right, you won't see it if you're not looking. We saw more bikers than hikers. They were very courteous and shared the trail. Although there is signage saying dogs must be leashed there were two separate instances of dogs exploding from the brush onto the trail while their owners gave us "yea what are you going to do about it" looks. There was only one abandoned dog poop bag on the trail. Surprisingly I didn't see any doggie doo on the actual trail. This was a nice change of pace. However, the coyotes have not been trained to do their business off trail. I need to speak to their manager. I wished we'd had more time to walk further. And I really want to walk the east side next. Oh, best part is the fruit stand. If they are open, the chocolate covered strawberries were good, but the raspberries were amazing!

    Photos
    Del Dios Gorge Trail
    Del Dios Gorge Trail
    Del Dios Gorge Trail

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    Del Dios Highlands County Preserve - hiking - Updated September 2026

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