Month: May 2021

Torrey Pines State Reserve-San Diego 4/17/21

May 31, 2021 / clarenwanders

Hike and beach in one, let’s go! Find this combo @ Torrey Pines State Reserve. Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego has several hiking trails one can chose to venture to, one of them will lead you a gorgeous beach, with an epic backdrop of sculpted badlands.

Torrey Pines State Reserve got its name from one of North America’s rarest tree, the Torrey Pine. The Torrey pine, Pinus torreyana, is the rarest pine species in the United States, an endangered species growing along the coast of San Diego County and on two of the Channel Islands. The species name torreyana is named for John Torrey, an American botanist, after whom the coniferous genus Torreya is also named.

We hiked in total about 2.5-3.5 miles, branching to lookouts whenever we encounter them. Start early, this is a popular hiking area to beat the crowd and get parking.

How to get there

We drove from Moreno Valley for 1 1/2 hours to 12600 N. Torrey Pines Road, San Diego, California 92037. There’s a 20$ entrance fee/car. Or flash your California Explorer Annual Pass. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1049

Drive all the way up to the hill for the visitor center parking. If you’re up for an extra walk, park roadside next to the beach for free. But walk an extra 2 mile up the hill, before the actual trails. FYI- Pets are not allowed on the trails. No drones are permitted.

Bring water. Drinking fountains when we went were closed due to the pandemic. Bathrooms/Portalet are available at the entrance, visitor center, and razor point trailhead.

Be prepared to see crowded parking lots, cyclists and joggers, families, and beachgoers all trying to enjoy the same 8 miles of trails and additional paved roads and beaches.

The Trails

This state park is made up of six trails, which vary on length and intensity. This makes choosing a trail quite like ordering at Starbucks, personable and customizable.

Note: during this time, the stairs to the beach access was taken down for repair. People still went down to the beach anyway, by scrambling the rocks. Once done with water, sand and sun, they walk back to the parking area from the beach.

1. GUY FLEMING TRAIL

⅔ mile loop
This is an easy loop that takes you to 2 incredible look out points. You make your way to the cliffs that overlook the ocean and then walk north, parallel to the coastline.

2. RAZOR POINT TRAIL

⅔ mile
This trail is exciting because it breaks off into several additional trials. Veering off to take these paths is a fun, subtle way to add to your workout. It lands you at a incredibly large rock area that’s an ultimate lookout point for ocean views and photos.

Yucca Point Trail is one of the small breakaway trails. This small garden loop is a delightful spot to stroll and take in ocean views. We highly recommend taking the short time to branch off onto it. It’s also accessible via the Beach Trail.

Short clip

3. BEACH TRAIL – No beach access this time (04/2021)

¾ mile
Start high up on the cliffs and weave your way down. It’s more important to have good-gripping shoes on this trail than some of the flatter loops. This is because you’ll be carefully working your way downhill. When you make it down the final steps, you’ll step (or leap!) onto the sand. Making it to a beach has never been so triumphant. We accessed Razor Point Lookout and further down Yucca Point Lookout from this trail. Also made our way past The Red Butte.

After taking in the seaside, you can make your way back up the trail for a fantastic uphill workout or head back to where you (likely) parked by simply walking the beach back north. You can also branch off to Razor Point or make your way back up by the Broken Hill Trail.

We opted to go down to the beach access just to see but not actually going down. It is quite steep without the stairs. Took the Broken Hill Trail going up.

4. BROKEN HILL TRAIL

Access to beach via 2 paths, one 1.2 miles & one 1.3 miles– North Fork Trail and South Fork Trail. North being the shorter version.
The Broken Hill Trail has some serious uphill climbing. The Broken Hill Overlook, which rewards you with sand stone badlands view, and South Fork Overlook, you realize your heightened elevation and know you worked hard for that view!

5. PARRY GROVE

½ miles
This half-mile hike takes you through the wildflower-filled Whitaker garden. It leads downwards to a lovely ocean view, an ideal spot for resting before turning to hike back up the trail.

6. HIGH POINT TRAIL

0.1 mile hike
This short path gives you a complete 360 degree view of La Jolla and the surrounding San Diego area. If you’re a visitor wanting to get a better feel for the area or a native who has never experienced the entirety of this area’s beauty, it’s worth checking out.

Hiking Bane Canyon Trail-Chino Hills State Park 4/9/2021

May 12, 2021 / clarenwanders

Mustard spring flowers with rolling hills background

Mustard springing right here in Southern California. If you have come across wild yellow flowers on the hills during your drive, upgrade that to the Nth level and you’ll get Chino Hills State Park during spring.

I had the time of my life hiking this very picturesque, 3.4 mile short loop named Bane Canyon Trail/Sidewinder/Bane Ridge Trail. Link to my you tube video –https://youtu.be/cAizC9Z6Qoc

They call it black mustard but it’s no black at all. In fact, it’s as sunflowery yellow as it can be. Blanketing the rolling hills of Chino Hills State Park, it’s a delight to the eyesight. If my memory serves me right, this hills of yellow was one of the popular screensaver of windows back in the 80’s. Imagine yourself in that screensaver! How cool is that?!:)

How to get there:

Chino Hills State Park Chino Hills State Park is an open-space near Riverside. It’s proximity to urban areas and its tranquil setting provides a great escape for hiking, walking, horseback riding, and bicycling. Rattlesnakes are common in the park so use caution while hiking.

Address: 4721 Sapphire Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709

Come early as this is a popular hiking area. It is in the middle of a neighborhood. Park on the streets for free but hike 1-2 miles up to the trail head. Otherwise, you can drive up to the ample parking space and pay 5$, exact change, CASH only. It has kiosk if the booth is closed. Also, toilets located there. Be sure to finish your business before trekking to the fields as there are none there.

We arrived past 8 on a Friday, got lucky to still find parking space. From the parking area, we hiked back to the Sidewinder/Bane Ridge trail, which is the right when your coming from the streets below. The left trail is the east ridge trail, lesser popular but as beautiful. This was about half a mile.

The hike:

For a quarter mile you will pass wider, not so flower-densed area. When you get to a bend, the road becomes narrower and the flowers are taller and denser. It starts to incline moderately. Be mindful of your surroundings as bikers also share the trail. Bring walking stick, lots of rattlesnakes in the area. Not recommended to hike in the dark.

After about half a mile, you get to a fork, the right gets you the sidewinder trail that descends down to outlook of yellow rolling hills. You can continue this trail to loop to the Bane Canyon Trail. After enjoying the lookout, we chose to hike back up and continue walking for another half a mile, all this time enjoying the yellows and chirping birds surrounding us.

hiking happy!

When you get to one of the highest point of the hills, you’ll realize that you were hiking the ridge. At this point, you’ll be able to view the street down below. Continue hiking down and up again for another half a mile, with the streets disappearing when you descend down the hill and be engulfed by the flowers, and the road reemerges upon reaching the hilltop again.

Mid way of the trail

Follow this trail until you see a tower up at a distance. Be mindful as bikers do pass this trail even on a single person, narrow path. I would advise to talk or have you radio on while walking to keep the rattlesnakes at bay.

For a quarter of a mile before reaching the towers, the streets again emerges in your view. Appreciate how high the elevation gain you’ve conquered.

narrow path, flowers taller than me

Once you reach the towers, the right path brings you to another trail. You can continue straight pass the towers or take the left descending down. We opted to take the left as we already hiked 2.5 miles as per my watch, and it’s beginning to be hot and sunny.

From the junction we hike another half a mile to a lookout/parking area. Flowers patches of lavender and whites abound in this trail. Be sure to stop and take in the view and a few snaps shots maybe. We saw other hikers that started out this way, hiked reverse from where we came. I personally liked the way we took.

We reached the lookout/parking area, after about 2 1/2 hrs of hike. We shared a tune sandwich and had something to drink and walked half a mile more to the parking area.

Thing to know before you go

Check the weather. Some of the trails may close due to inclement weather. Come during spring to witness the mustard bloom blanketing the hills.

Bring cash for parking. If you intend to park up 5$ fee is required.

Bring snacks and plenty of water. Although the park is in the middle of a neighborhood, you will be up the hills and deep into the park. It will take hours before you walk back and reach the food or water source. Hopefully just before you faint of dehydration. So be prepared.

Do your business in the parking area bathrooms. Absolutely none on the trails.

Bring bug spray or spray ahead. The flowers are tall and the path can be narrow, that bugs will be abundant. You may wan to bring allergy medication.

Hike with a buddy. It’s a rattle snake area, not that they will charge into you but it is better to hike and appreciate the outdoors with someone. Plus you get to have someone take your photos.:)

Research ahead where you want to hike. There are a lot of hiking trails. Bring a map or screenshot. No map was given on the parking area. Visit their website for more info. Link to Bane Canyon Trail from ALL Trails –https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/bane-canyon-loop-trail?ref=result-card