Sept 30 – Hike Palomar State Park & Observatory
Palomar State Park Hike
and optional Observatory visit
Saturday, September 30, 2023, 9:30 AM
GPS: 33.32870, -116.89962
Come hike through the Palomar State Park forest visiting the Boucher Hill Fire Outlook station and Doane & French Valley trails and see the huge Pine and Oak trees. Afterward, we can drive up to the telescope for a visit. Kids are welcome but Dogs are not allowed on trails. For the longer drive carpooling is advised so ask around. Bring a little money for park entrance car fee split or Mothers’s Kitchen restaurant later. The Observatory visitor center and telescope are free to the public.
The Hike: We will park just outside the State Park boundary, free parking there, then gather up in cars to pay (split) the $10/car Park fee and drive down to Doane Pond and start from there. Bathroom break then. Hike is 4 miles in 2 hours and fairly level with a few small stream crossings on rocks. We will hike the Nature trail to the giant Oaks in French Valley and the Weir House trail. Then drive up to and visit the Fire Lookout station on Boucher Hill.
When and Where: Meet at 9:30 AM at the parking area just outside the park by the big Palomar State Park sign on S7 road. The meet area is along west S7, ~2.5 miles from Mothers Kitchen which is the intersections of S6 & S7 roads.
Directions: Allow ~1 hour drive time from NCC Vista. example.
From Escondido; Follow East Valley Parkway (S6) through Rincon till it meets Hwy 76 at the roundabout. Go right, eastwards, on Hwy 76.
From O’side-Vista; Follow Hwy 76 Eastbound past Pala and Rincon. Heading eastwards on Hwy 76.
ALL: Past the Rincon roundabout, going east on Hwy 76, look for S6, S. Grade Rd, Palomar Mnt turn off on the left and follow up the mountain.
At the top, S6 intersects with S7, turn left and shortly another left onto S7 as you pass by the Mothers Kitchen parking area that is on S6 which heads up to the Observatory. 2.5 miles down on S7 you will see the Palomar parking area just outside the park boundary. Park there.
Info call/text Vinnie R. 858-231-7722