| California has a lot to offer in the way of | | | | The Cuyamaca Mountains offer some of the best |
| beaches, entertainment and such. Many people fail | | | | trails in California. A personal favorite is the |
| to realize there are tremendous hiking | | | | Oakzanita Peak Trail. It doesn't look like much |
| opportunities, particularly in the south. | | | | from the base, but it blossoms as you go through |
| Hiking Down South In California | | | | the Oak Trees and Manzanitas until you hit the |
| When discussing hiking in California, it is important | | | | peak with amazing views. The trail is 8.2 miles |
| to get a caveat out of the way. You can go | | | | round trip and takes about four hours if it is cool. |
| hiking on any of the beaches and walk for days. | | | | If it is hot, add another hour for breaks. Total |
| It is a good time since you can people watch and | | | | elevation gain is about 1,200 feet. To get there, |
| there are also plenty of places to stop for food | | | | you need to get on highway 79 and find mile |
| and grog. That being said, I am not going to | | | | marker 3.7. There is a turnout where you can |
| include beaches in this list of hiking trails. If you | | | | park. The trail head is at the turnout. |
| want to hike them, you already know where they | | | | Joshua Tree National Park is the legendary location |
| are. | | | | of some of the best trails in California. Eureka |
| The trails in Torrey Pines State Reserve make | | | | Peak is a popular trail since it summits at one of |
| for good day hikes. Although very close to the | | | | the best spots to take in the park. The trail is |
| ocean, they are located about 300 feet up on a | | | | great because the first few miles run through a |
| bluff overlooking the north end of La Jolla. This is | | | | Joshua tree forest before you start heading up |
| one of the only places in the world where the | | | | 1,500 feet to the peak. The total length there and |
| Torrey Pine grows, thus the name. There are | | | | back is about 10 miles and the trip takes 5 hours |
| three loop trails known by the names Parry | | | | in total. The trail is easy to find. Just go to the |
| Grove Trail, Guy Fleming Trail and Broken Hill Trail. | | | | Black Rock Canyon Campground and ask for |
| They total about a mile and a half, which isn't | | | | directions. The trail starts in the campground. |
| particularly long. That being said, you will be | | | | If you know where to look, you can work out |
| stopping all the time to take in the views and a | | | | those boots pretty easily in California. This is only |
| mass of birds. To get to the entrance of the | | | | a sampling of the possibilities, so get out there |
| park, just take the only exit on Highway 101 | | | | and explore. |
| between Del Mar and La Jolla. | | | | |