Bernardo Mountain

This review pertains to the entire hike from San Dieguito River Park off Via Rancho Parkway to the top of Bernardo Mountain and back. Total distance was just under 8 miles, and bear in mind I did this in mid-​December when the weather is cool even at midday.
For starters: the San Dieguito River Park Rangers are pretty awesome. I got into a long conversation with Brian, a Ranger before I set out and he explained the entire breadth of the watershed especially the Coast to Crest Trail and how far along the SDRP had come in establishing the trail officially. He was even able help me identify the un-​named yet beflagged peninsula that juts out into the Lake Hodges Reservoir (It’s Fletcher Point, or Flag point colloquially). Anyway, hats off to the Rangers, and Brian especially.
The hike itself is typical San Diego: hilly, shrubby, boulder-​y, you get my drift. Passing under the 15 was interesting but unspectacular. I do reccomend veering off trail about a mile and a half in to peruse the work of Escondido’s local graffiti artists. An embankment with a grey boulder of immense size can be seen from the trail against the edge of a neighborhood. The grey boulder has been utterly destroyed, no doubt by the community developer many years ago. The pit is now filled with a rusty bicycle and shards of hundreds of beer bottles, all of which is surrounded by fairly extravagant graffiti. They’ve been using alot more than just spraypaint here. Take some time and take a look. If that kind of thing bothers you, ask yourself who’s done more damage; the developer or the beer guzzling artisits?
Moving up the trail a small bridge erected by «Team Trailbuilders» will take you over an absolutely lovely little creek to the Bernardo Summitt Trailhead. As you follow the north side of the mountain keep an eye out below, as that creek’s source is in full view most of the way. It’s an exceptionally pretty valley with tall Palm and Eucalyptus trees, and I believe it houses multiple murders of crows, at least it seemed to on my way down.
Bernardo Mountain will not be necessarily easy. I reccomend bringing trekking poles to make sure you don’t slip on the way back down, but most hikers won’t need them. The peak itself has great views of Lake Hodges all the way out to the ocean, and during the summer would be an incredible spot to watch the sunset. I’m giving it 5 stars because it includes so much and because of the SDRP Rangers. Don’t miss this hike. It’s worth it.
Happy Hiking

I saw the Bernardo Mountain trailhead sign while hiking along the Coast-​to-​Crest Trail in Escondido. Bernardo Mountain is listed at 1150 ft. in elevation and about a 1.9 mile hike to the top. It’s probably not something to hike on the spur of the moment. The trail itself has various hiking patters but there are switchbacks, dirt trails, rock trails, and some steep sections. The top consists of small bolder like rocks and a good vantage point for panoramic pictures. Going down is a breeze, but remember which trail you came up on. I almost missed my trail turn off half way down.
— If it’s hot, there’s no relief on the way up. Hat + lots of water + sunscreen.
— Annoying swarming wasps at the top of the mountain.
— Ammo box with a log book, a book of Mormon, various other items.
— Not recommended for small kids.
— 92 outside and still made it up. (Needed a water break a few times though).