Some hikes start at trailheads. This one started on a train.
Photo: Coaster Train Along the San Diego Coast
I was up in North County, so my Seven Bridges adventure began on the Coaster, rolling down the coast to Old Town. From there, a quick transfer to the Blue Line trolley took me a couple stops to Middletown. It’s a short but very San Diego walk—palm trees, old homes, and a slow incline—toward the corner of West Laurel and Union.
Let me start by saying this: El Cajon Mountain does not mess around. This isn’t one of those “wow, what a nice stroll through nature” kind of hikes. This is more like “why am I going uphill again?” with a side of “my quads might never forgive me.” And yet — I’d absolutely do it again.
This is an ~11-mile out-and-back with over 3,500 feet of elevation gain, and it earns every bit of its reputation. Short on paper, relentless on the trail — the kind of hike that doesn’t just test your legs, but your patience.
Some hikes impress you with views.
Others surprise you with stories.
Hiking Lake Hodges did both — quietly and unexpectedly. What began as a straightforward out-and-back turned into a walk through early water engineering, subtle trail art, wildfire reminders, and one lingering mystery that stuck with me long after I left the trail.
I parked across from Hernandez Hideaway, crossed the road, and headed south toward the dam. From the first steps, this hike felt like more than just mileage.
Catching up on some hikes from 2024, I found myself at Daley Ranch Park, a 3,201-acre conservation area in Escondido, California. I really didn’t know what to expect. I figured I’d get some miles in, gain a little elevation, and—hopefully—avoid the kind of crowded trails that tend to attract hikers lacking any semblance of trail etiquette. Normally, when I pull into a packed parking lot, my first instinct is to turn around and head somewhere quieter. But I stuck with my plan, and outside of a close encounter with a rattlesnake, Daley Ranch exceeded my expectations.
Confession time: I’m a closeted Wheel of Fortune fan. And when I found out they were hosting their first live auditions since the pandemic—with Ryan Seacrest as the new host, no less—I knew I had to go.
The audition was happening at Sycuan Casino in San Diego. So I set my alarm early, fueled up with coffee, and made the hour-long drive southeast.
I’ve logged a lot of miles on Double Peak over the years. It’s one of those hikes I keep coming back to—reliable, familiar, and somehow still surprising.
Recently, though, I started pushing beyond my usual routine. I added side trails, longer spurs, and eventually… yes, the San Elijo Hills 10K Loop, which I once swore I’d never hike.
Never say never, I guess.
You’ll find those updates toward the end of this post. But first, let’s rewind to why Double Peak keeps pulling me back.
It didn’t start out as anything more than a single hike.
On February 23, 2024, my sister Vicki and I went up Cowles Mountain—one of those San Diego classics that feels almost too easy to take for granted until you’re standing at the top, wind in your face, looking out at a city that suddenly feels smaller.
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