Sorrento Valley Parking Pull-Out Area #2

Big lot with lots of parking. When you’re going east on Calle Cristobal make sure you don’t miss the turn! You pass the industrial area and then about half mile up is a road that you may miss that turns into the parking lot.
We didn’t read the prior reviews so when we saw the trail split into 2, we went right — assuming that the waterfall was east. We ventured on the trail until we saw another 2 trails that veered off to the right (uphill) or continued on a small path. We opted to veer right and go uphill. We ended up at some businesses by Mira Mesa Road. We went along the path and decided to take a shortcut down one of the hills. It looked like a trail straight down and it was. I advise not to take the steep way down unless you are not fearful of falling or tumbling down dirt and dry brush. I actually ate it and stumped my shoulder.
We continued on down the narrow path and went through nature/​trees and a riverbed full of rocks. The sun was beating on us and decided to turn back once we knew we weren’t even close to a waterfall. FAIL!
We walked back to the 1^st trail split and saw an invisible arrow for the waterfall going the opposite direction. WHAT?! Where did that freakin’ arrow come from?!
Well our adventure didn’t turn out to be oh so bad. We did see some squash, pretty flowers and a deer!
Next time, however, we will definitely take the left trail towards the waterfall. Total mileage 4.5 roundtrip.

Well the parking lot is bigger now and has a Biffy there too. It is a great place to ride or hike out of however, keep in mind when you head out on the trail, make sure to take a left at the first T intersection to get into the main part of PQ Preserve. Otherwise you will end up in a dried up rock river bed. That was not fun. Starting here in my opinion is the harder route to take in the park. None the less, it is still a great place to Mtn Bike or hike, I would even bring my horse here and ride out from here as well.

Would have been 4 stars but the parking at this location is tiny. Three stalls and one handicapped one.
This is a pull out along Sorrento Valley Blvd. where you can park and eat lunch or take a short hike up the hill and get a great view of the Los Penasquitos Valley below.
No official access to the Los Penasquitos Preserve from this location but plenty of well-​worn ruts down into the valley.
Try something different for lunch if you work nearby and get out of the office for that hour.