A nature trail to a waterfall hidden in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve
Summary
One of the main attractions of the preserve is the Los Peñasquitos waterfall, which can be reached via various hiking trails. The most popular route is a roughly 3-mile loop trail that starts at the Park Village Park trailhead. The trail is well-maintained and suitable for families and dogs, although visitors should be aware of the presence of ticks, poison oak, and rattlesnakes.
The preserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 500 plant species, more than 175 bird species, and numerous reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. The area also has a rich history, with Native American presence dating back 7,000 years and the remains of two historic adobes from the 19th century.
In addition to hiking, the preserve offers opportunities for mountain biking, with dedicated trails for both hiking and biking to avoid congestion. The County and City of San Diego jointly manage the preserve, and park rangers offer interpretive walks and programs. Volunteers are welcome to help with maintenance and operation of the park.
Find a waterfall hidden in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve - The San Diego Union-Tribune
This roughly 3-mile loop in the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve is a challenging hike leading to a rushing waterfall and surrounding pools.
Located along the Peñasquitos Creek, the waterfall isn’t very large, but it’s special nonetheless, especially situated among the more developed areas of Sorrento Valley and Mira Mesa. The trail is very exposed, so aim to bring a sufficient amount of water — about half a liter of water per hour of hiking — and wear sun protection.
Hikers will find various trails in this area, but this guide is for the Peñasquitos Falls Loop via Carmel Valley as marked by AllTrails, which follows portions of the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Trail on the north and south sides of the creek, marked as North Trail and South Trail.
Note that portions of this trail will be closed from June 5 to 7 from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.; certain oak trees in the preserve are being treated for the goldspotted oak borer, an invasive beetle that burrows into drought-impacted oak trees and can ultimately kill them. Visitors should avoid the treated areas during treatment and until dry.
The Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve, at roughly 4,000 acres, is home to over 500 plant species and more than 175 types of birds. Visitors will also find a variety of habitats on this hike, traveling along riparian streams and grassy hillsides.
There are several routes to reach the waterfall, but I chose to start in Carmel Valley and make my way southeast toward the water.
Park along Evans Wood Way, in a residential neighborhood located off Carmel Mountain Road. The trailhead is at the end of the road. From there, begin walking east to follow the trail that runs parallel to Carmel Mountain Road.
Walk about 500 feet before turning right at the power lines. It’s a little difficult to spot the path, but there is a narrow trail heading south beyond the power lines.
It quickly begins to descend, and there are some extremely steep and rocky sections to navigate. I was glad to have a trekking pole and sturdy hiking boots with good traction, but even with this gear, I was still slipping. Hikers should assess their own ability before embarking on this hike.
Continue down the trail for about half a mile before reaching the North Trail, which is marked with a sign about 500 feet to the east. Hikers will walk east on the North Trail before turning right — or south — at a sign for the Sycamore Crossing.
The trail winds under shady trees in a more marshy habitat before coming to a water crossing over a wooden bridge.
Once across, hikers will head toward a sign marking the South Trail, which they’ll follow east for about 0.6 miles before reaching the turn for the waterfall and the stairs leading to it.
In late May, there was a lot of water rushing across the rocks and down the waterfall on the lefthand side. Instead of attempting to hop over the rocks — which I figured would only result in wet shoes — I took off my boots and waded across the shallow water. It was a practical decision, but the water was also so refreshing.
After leaving the waterfall, head to the North Side Trail and start walking west to intersect with the Two Bridges trail. Take the Two Bridges trail for about 0.3 miles. This trail eventually connects with the North Trail, if hikers want to return the way they came.
But I chose to follow a very steep and rocky path — heading north — up the hillside and toward the power lines where the hike began.
Once at the top, hikers will walk west for about half a mile on the trail that runs parallel to Carmel Mountain Road — the same trail they started on — back to the trailhead.
Los Penasquitos Waterfall via Los Penasquitos Canyon Trailhead
This awesome hike will take about. 1 hour+ with a super easy flat straight path. There's plenty of wildlife to see, it's dog and family friendly and leads to a calm waterfall.
The Los Penasquitos Preserve waterfall is a hidden gem of San Diego and a popular spot for locals within the area. The hike to the waterfall lies within a preserve of approximately 4,000 acres. There are many different trailheads that lead to the waterfall all offering a unique experience. I always start at the Park Village Park trailhead because there is always plenty of parking and it is a fairly short and easy hike from this point.
This is a very easy straight and flat trail. It is very well maintained making it safe for dogs and families. It is important to make note that there are ticks present in this area so upon finishing the trail always check your dogs and children for ticks. There is also poison oak and rattlesnakes among this trail to be aware of.
The waterfall is hard to miss as you will continuously see signs leading you to it. Once arrived at the waterfall the trail begins to get narrow and rocky. There are conveniently stairs that lead down to the top of the waterfall. This is where the water is calm. If you make your way down you will find the actual waterfall. The top of the waterfall is a nice place for you to wade in or just enjoy a nice snack. When you're finished enjoying this spot you can continue hiking further where you'll find yourself under the old freeway. If you decide to turn around and go back you can stop at Carols crossing. Carols crossing is a bridge running through a beautiful array of sycamore trees & the creek underneath. You'll be able to spot fishes and tiny frogs in this creek.
This trail is not limited to just hiking but is also a very popular mountain biking trail as well. There are trails specifically for biking and foot traffic so there is no need to worry about traffic congestions along the way. Definitely a great spot to check out and can occasionally spot wildlife such as deer, bobcat, coyote, rattlesnakes, and a variety of aquatic birds.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve | City of San Diego Official Website
A Resource Based Park
PLEASE NOTE: Trails may be closed due to flooding or damage. For up-to-date trail status call the Park Ranger Office at (858) 538-8066.
Los Peñasquitos (meaning little cliffs) Canyon Preserve lies between Rancho Peñasquitos and Sorrento Hills to the north and Mira Mesa to the south. It stretches approximately 7 miles from the Interstates 5 and 805 merge to just east of Interstate 15. It encompasses some 4,000 acres of both Peñasquitos and Lopez Canyons. The Preserve is jointly owned and administered by the City and County of San Diego.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve attracts people with its natural beauty and abundant natural resources -- both today and in the past. Native American history within the Preserve dates back as far as 7,000 years ago.
Remains of the prehistoric culture can still be found. More recently the area was part of the first Mexican land grant in San Diego County. The historic Santa Maria de Los Peñasquitos Adobe (ca. 1823) operated by the County of San Diego (located at the east end of the Preserve off Black Mountain Road on Canyonside Park Driveway), has been restored and tours are available for school groups and the public.
For more information, please call the County Park Rangers at (858) 484-7504.
The ruins of another Adobe, the El Cuervo (ca. 1857), sit at the west end of the Preserve.
Los Peñasquitos Canyon and its tributary, Lopez Canyon, are characterized by varied natural resources. Evidence of the rich biodiversity of the canyon include over 500 plant species, more than 175 types of birds, and a great variety of reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Many of these species are rare or endangered and are protected within the Preserve.
For safety and the protection of the park's resources, please adhere to Park Rules & Regulations.
Many different geologic formations and soil types make up the steep slopes, riparian stream corridors, flat mesa tops and grassy hillsides of the Preserve. The varying terrains and soil types, in conjunction with continually flowing water, form more than 14 habitat types and support a diverse collection of flora and fauna.
The scenery of the canyon includes:
- a waterfall cascading through volcanic rock;
- a streamside forest of giant California live oaks;
- groves of majestic sycamore trees;
- a year-round stream populated by Pacific tree frogs, crayfish and largemouth bass;
- a freshwater marsh hosting a variety of aquatic birds including great blue herons, egrets, mallard ducks and more;
- mule deer, bobcat, coyote and raccoon are just a few of the mammals that can be observed throughout the Preserve.
Volunteers are always welcome to help with the maintenance and operation of the park. Park Rangers offer interpretive walks and programs.
To report suspected illegal activity including transient encampments, encroachment onto City property or other maintenance needs, please call (858) 538-8066. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.
For general Parks & Recreation information, see the Frequently Asked Questions or use the My Park web comment form.
Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve
12020 Black Mountain Road, San Diego, CA 92129
Park:
(858) 484-7504
Hours: 8 a.m. – sunset, daily
Pedestrian access is available from sunrise to sunset, daily.
No public vehicle access or restroom availability on December 25. The
staging area at Black Mountain Road is open to both vehicle and
equestrian parking.
Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve is beautiful year-round, with an ecosystem unlike any other in San Diego County. Managed jointly by the County and City of San Diego, trails sit on either side of a bubbling creek feeding a dense grove of riparian plants and trees. Fields of native chaparral sit outside the groves, butting up against suburban development – an oasis frequently visited by local hikers, cyclists and equestrians. Trail users can take single track trails near the creek with near constant shade, or venture out to a wider, sunnier trail and access road. Visitors in the spring may be lucky to see a flowing waterfall at the west end of the preserve where the paths meet.
There are approximately 12 miles of trails in this 3,700-acre preserve which also connects to an historic adobe ranch house featuring a museum, community garden and small collection of farm animals, making it a perfect spot for weddings and special events.
Support restoration efforts by following the signs and staying on designated paths.
Follow us on
Instagram!
Visit the News & Events page for park events,
updates and closures.
View Development Projects.
Comments
Post a Comment