Undercover San Diego: McGinty Mountain

Finally another San Diego Adventure, it has been a while since I did some exploring ( I guess I have been brewing and drinking too much beer). Luckily for me, we are having an unusaully beautiful winter in San Diego. This means it is easier to convince my favorite hiking partner to get out on the trail.

This particular hiking partner (my wife) is pretty specific in the types of hikes she likes. Here are her criteria:

• Must be a mountain - without an elevation change you are walking, not hiking - her words
• Must be within a close drive - over 30 min. and she gets restless
• Must be pretty - meaning trees and flowers, nice view
• Rather it not crowded - she doesn't like people watching her sweat.

This really narrows down our hiking choices, but it is a fun challenge for me because hiking up mountains and living on the coast doesn't work very well. I looked in my trusty Afoot and Afield: San Diego County: A Comprehensive Hiking Guide . I searched for mountain hikes that were as close to Downtown San Diego as possible. And I was pleasantly surprised to find a decent length hike (~5 mi) within a 25 minute drive - McGinty Mountain. Next, I checked one of my new favorite hiking blogs (100 peaks - unfortunately the San Diego hikes will be discontinued since the author moved.) It looked great and he has gone through a lot of effort to detail the hike. He has a great trail map and even a video of McGinty Mtn. So for my post I will just add some commentary and extra pictures of the trail. Enjoy.

The trail-head is easy to find and it has a good sized parking lot. Looking at the map at the trailhead (above) shows that there are actually several ways to hike to the summit, but I recommend staying on the main trail detailed on the sign.

The hike really has a nice mix of terrain and a good flow to the exercise. You start at a low grade, then a few switch-backs to your first peak.

Then you get to rest a bit as you walk along the ridge to the next steep grade. This grade is pretty darn steep, but there are several places to stop and enjoy the view. And during the last push to the summit, I spotted a cave that I will need to come back to when I have a headlamp. And the summit is worth it, great 360 degree views of San Diego County and into Mexico.

 I would recommend this hike to anyone looking for a nice alternative to Cowles Mountain, which is far too crowded for me.

Undercover San Diego: Valley of the Moon

This is not technically a San Diego destination, but it makes a great day trip. It should take an hour to an hour and half to drive there. And the hike can take anywhere from a 4 - 8 hrs depending on how far you drive and how much exploring you want to do. It is pretty easy to get there especially if you have a good map (see below). Drive on 8 East and exit at In-Ko-Pah Park Road. Take 2 quick rights and continue south a few hundred feet on the frontage road to a dirt lot on the left. Once you enter the lot, take an immediate left onto the dirt road. Check out the Interactive map for the Valley of the Moon.


View Valley of the Moon Hike in a larger map
Now, you have a decision to make.
1) If you have a high-clearance vehicle (4WD would be helpful) you should be able to drive the 3 or 4 miles to the Valley of the Moon.
2) If you have a small passenger car or don't feel comfortable with the rough roads (which are rocky, rutted and steep for the first mile) there are a few turnouts to park on the road.

Check out the pictures below and make your decision. We parked at the first big turn-out because we were there to take a hike. (see White Explorer, click to enlarge pictures)

The hike up the hill is pretty steep, but that does mean downhill on the way home. When you make it up to the saddle you will see a spur trail marker on your left. I recommend taking this down to Smuggler's Cave and then walking through the wash to meet up with the Jeep road.


The next big fork in the road you will see a sign "154/155". To the left goes through more rocks on your way to the Valley. To the right leads you to the steep trail up to Elliot's Mine. Trust me GO RIGHT. The steep climb is worth looking through this old Quartz Mine which some maps call an amethyst mine. (click to enlarge pictures)

The mine has 2 entrances the lower goes about 100 ft and after a tight squeeze leads to the other (higher on the mountain) entrance. From here you can easily duck into the main mine. The mine has one large room to the left and then two more dead ends that are worth exploring to the right. Make sure to remember your head-lamps.

From the mine entrance take a right (East) and proceed down the trail and you will get to a great overlook of the Valley of the Moon. We then hiked down the side of the hill till we met up with the Jeep Rd again. You are now in the Valley of the Moon. So get out your lunch or climbing gear or crash pad and enjoy.

We did a bit of wondering through the canyons. The rock formations are truly amazing and are impossible not to climb around on. To get back to your car simply follow any Jeep Rd that is going west or print out the Valley of the Moon Google map.

Here is my Father-in-Law's Travel Pod Photo Album
(With way more pictures of the caves and rock formations)

Undercover San Diego: Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves

I chose to start my backlog of San Diego Adventures with the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves because they are one of my favorite places (I have been back several times) and there are not on any maps. They aren't even on the Anza Borrego State Park map. I found out about them on one of my favorite sites that I also contribute to, Hidden San Diego. If you live in San Diego and are looking for new adventures you will want to subscribe to this site.(cheap). Out of respect for that site, I will go into limited detail but feel free to ask questions through email for more details (description of each cave, map with every cave).


To get there if you are coming from the north part of San Diego then drive toward Borrego Springs before you get there turn right onto S2. If you are coming from the Southern part of San Diego use 8 East and exit on the S2 in Octillo. You can use this address to get directions in google "Stag Horn Rd, Julian, San Diego, California 92036", it will get you close enough. Once on the S2, look for the mile markers, the turnoff is located a Mile 43. You will turn east off S2 into a sandy wash you will see signs for Palm Springs and Vallecito Creek.

You do not need 4WD but it would make the drive more safe and fun. There are plenty of undiscovered caves and slot canyons in this area.(If you know of any please comment). You will want to stay on one of the compacted roads that travels through the wash. Reset your trip odometer as soon as you turn off S2. The turn to enter into the Arroyo Tapiado canyon is around 4.5 miles. About halfway along the wash you will see the mysterious "Hollywood and Vine" signpost on a hill on your left. In another couple miles you should see a sign for Arroyo Tapiado on your left and several roads leading that way. Shortly you will be in the winding former river bed.

 

Try to imagine this as a large flowing river (after a rain), most of caves were created as small spur springs off this river. You will notice how the caves serpentine and this is simply water trying to find the easy way out. By knowing how these caves were created it will be easier for you to find them. Larger caves are near the main road and smaller caves have openings in some of the side slot canyons.

There are around 30 discovered caves in this area, to find out details about all of them you will need to join Hidden San Diego. I will however describe how to get to some of the larger and more obvious ones. Refer to the map below.

Carey's Big Cave is the main attraction. It is named after the guy responsible for charting and studying the area. It is found off the main road about a mile from the start of the twists. You will see a large group of bushes on your left and several trails around the bushes. Behind the bushes will be the entrance to this large mud cave (about a 1/4 mile long). This cave has several off shoots and large rooms, have fun exploring. It ends at a small sky light that is at the bottom of a cave-in.

Chasm Cave is the next largest cave and is just around the corner. Once you exit Carey's Big Cave then walk north or to your left. Go around the corner and then walk another 20 or 30 ft and you will see a well used trail. This is also a very large cave and has several sky lights. It gets tight in sections but is still walkable.

My next favorite cave is hardly a cave but is very neat place to have lunch in the dark. Pool Plunge Cave is a bit more difficult to find. As you leave Chasm Cave follow the main road for another couple hundred feet. You will see the opening for a large slot canyon on your right with broken rock in front. Just before that you will see a slender opening in the wall of the wash. If you follow this skinny cave it will open into an amazingly large room with a skylight.

There is a lot more exploring to be done here and if you have any questions please let me know.

Undercover San Luis Obispo: Cuesta Pass / Ridge

Here is another adventure that is only a few miles out of Downtown San Luis Obispo. My roommates and I really enjoyed going up to Cuesta Pass when we needed to get out for a good half day adventure. It also makes a great place to get take-out and/or hot coco and dessert and watch the sunset over the Pacific. On a clear day you would be shocked by how far you can see from the road.

To get to Cuesta Pass, simply drive to the top of the grade just north of SLO on the 101. When you reach the top (driving north) you will notice a turn out on your left and a small turn out. Take the left and immediately right. You will then follow this rather bumpy road across the entire ridge (about 10 miles). The road is not in great condition but really any car can do the drive. Near the end of the road you do start driving on dirt so your car will be very dusty and dirty.

 Pretty shortly you will be on top of the ridge and will see that the view is worth the bumpy ride.

From the top on a clear day you can see the dunes at Pismo and to the north you can see Morro Rock. I reason I like this adventure is because the view changes depending on the season and time of year.

So back to the ride, around mile 3 you will see the TV towers (namesake of the road). Be careful while driving on this road because it is patrolled by the Utility and there can be some crazy drivers.
So back to the ride, around mile 3 you will see the TV towers (namesake of the road). Be careful while driving on this road because it is patrolled by the Utility and there can be some crazy drivers.

Shortly you will reach the Cuesta Ridge Botanical Area. This area is famous for the Sargent Cypress Trees. When I took the pictures in 2005 it was still recovering from a big fire.

 Now keep going on this road in a couple miles it will turn to dirt. You are going to go a total of 10 miles and you will get to what looks like a dead end. And for us it has been.(more on that later). You will see a large camping area where people have had very large bonfires (illegal without a permit(free from the ranger station)).

 This is where you want to park. Start walking west (the direction you have been driving) you will see a large trail through a Eucalyptus grove. As you walk through the grove you will see a steep Rock Formation to your right. You can climb/scramble up the rock and go into 2 small caves.The caves are not that impressive but make the trip a little more unique. You might as well bring a head lamp or lantern. But if you don't the caves have enough light if you let your eyes adjust.

 

There are a few more trails that go off into the hills. We have hiked around there which is nice especially in spring or late winter when the hills are green and the flowers are out. The best way to get out is to go the way you came.
 
We have tried another way in the past, as soon as you get to the dead end there is a left hand turn down the hill. It is steep and rocky and we made it down in a 4Runner (2WD) but after a mile we were stopped by a large washout in the road. And well we tried making it back up the steep hill and failed, we had to get towed. But this could have changed and it also looks on the map that there is a road to right after the dead end....

Undercover San Luis Obispo: Reservior Canyon

Over my 5 years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo I went on quite a few outdoor adventures. Keep checking back because I will keep posting more as I have time. If you have questions please feel free to ask. We were never bored living in SLO.

So the first place in this series is called "Reservoir Canyon Water Fall and Tunnel". It is one of the easiest places to get to, probably 5 minutes from downtown San Luis Obispo and less than a 2 minute hike. Here is an abbreviated map from the 101.

You will exit off the 101 before you turn the corner to go up the grade. The road will go about .5 mi till the gate and you cannot go any further. Just before that there is some parking to your left. On the weekends there might be a couple cars.

From where you park your car you should hear the waterfall, just walk about 100 ft to the west.

Depending on the time of year the water will be flowing different amounts. But it is always accessible, just scramble across the front of the falls and you will be treated to the entrance of a long tunnel. This is where you hope you brought a head lamp and a few lanterns. It is a bit wet inside so also have shoes on you don't care about. I have heard a few stories about this tunnel. (A boy scout leader we met there said it used to be over a mile long and used like a bomb shelter during WWII)











Not sure what is true but if you make it to the "end", you can tell that it has been poured with cement to close it off. It is still probably a .25 mi (deep). And it is obviously man-made. If you find the real reason for the tunnel please share.




There is also some great hiking past the waterfall. I will post more about this in the future. It was one of our favorite places to go and hunt for Chanterelle mushrooms.