Best view yet…..

This trail is not too far from Palomar Mountain’s High Point since they are a few miles from each other on Highway 79. There is a turn off to Los Coyotes Reservation. Note that their web site does offer payment for hiking. However my I-phone browser came up with a web page error. It is best to bring cash and pay the ranger there at $10/person. You then travel to the camp grounds which are well maintained and has ample parking. Note that there is parking near the trail head and that there are two trail heads which can take you to the wooden tower with one being a little longer distance. This is noted by a map at one of the trail heads. The road is wide enough for two vehicles to pass each other and well maintained for a typical sedan to use. Yet, there are locked gates that prevent this from happening.

The greatest challenge is the incline at the start for a couple of miles. Even then, I would consider it modest compared to other trails during this challenge. While  would consider most of the vegetation as high desert chaparral, there are some areas of trees that let you know you are near the Palomar Mountain area.

Seeing the wooden tower is a treat as it appears to no longer be an active lookout. It has aged and is locked up. A posted sign did provide history and pictures of it looked like it had seen better days. The sight of other valleys and peaks from here is magnificent. Being the tallest peak in San Diego County, it offers a 360 view. With foliage at this time of year, the colors would make a great painting. An I-phone picture does not provide any justice. Underneath the tower there is a large boulder that appears to be suspended on top of another pointed boulder and uniquely suspended. It appears as though a slight push would topple it over. I have doubts as I’m sure someone would have attempted this already. We could see Palomar Observatory from this sight and were grateful of the high visibility the weather provided for this day. The slight wind blowing in trees provided tranquility as if being there offered some sort of therapy itself.

The trip back was just as tranquil as going up. So far this has been the best hike of the Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge thus far.