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| Hiking | 5.34 Miles |
1,345 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.34 Miles | 2 Hrs 4 Mns | | 2.58 mph |
| 1,345 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The trailhead is approximately 2+ miles north of Julian, CA. To get there, enter Julian from the east on CA Hwy. 78. Go through town until you hit the 4-way stop. Go straight on Farmer Rd. for 2+ miles until you hit Wynola Rd. You'll see signs for Menghini Winery and Volcan Mountain Winery. Turn right and then make a quick left on the continuation of Farmer Rd. Park along Farmer Rd. The trailhead is actually a gravel road that leads off Farmer Rd. to the gate that starts the trail.
The first 1.4 miles is uphill through oaks, manzanita and grassland. It's a steady climb. You'll get good views of the surrounding area as you climb. At .35 miles you'll see the Five Oaks Trail, a 1.2 mile offshoot trail that's more shaded and a more gradual climb. The path continues until the Five Oaks Trail intersects at the 1.4 mile mark. From here it's a more open, gradual climb through grassy hills. At 2.1 miles there's an overlook to the west with a telescope. Another .4 miles leads you to the summit at 2.5 miles. There's also a lookout with views to the east of the Salton Sea, Mt. San Jacinto, the Pacific Crest Trail and Granite Mountain.
I arrived around 7:30am, cool, clear but comfortable conditions. About 60 degrees to start. I left my fleece and long pants in the car, knowing it would get warmer as I hiked. Reasonably clear for a SoCal day, so I had decent views of the area. I took the Summit trail going up, a steady, uphill climb. The trail is a good path, used both by hikers and bikers, fairly wide. Took me about an hour to reach the summit. There's a small tower at the summit surrounded by a fence. On the way down I took the Five Oaks Trail just to see what it was like in comparison. More shaded, a more gradual descent. It's a hiking-only trail. Lots of birds and lizards. I returned to the trailhead a few minutes after 10am.
An added bonus...Menghini and Volcan Mountain Wineries located very close to the trailhead. Tasting rooms open at 11am. Makes for a relaxing post-hike stop. The staff at both wineries was very friendly. Another worthwhile break is Mom's Pie House in both Julian and Wynola. Their bumbleberry (blueberry, blackberry and boysenberry) crumb pie is wonderful. |
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