|
|
|
** Use at Your Own Risk **
31D |
Palomar Mountain |
6140' |
Location: San Diego County, about 22 miles northeast of Escondido, 131 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | San Diego County |
| Forest Service | Cleveland National Forest |
| USGS Topo | Palomar Observatory 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps | TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| Viewable JPG file - Approximately 960K | |
| GPX file or Google Earth KML file to download to GPS units and other map software (How to use GPX and KML files) | |
| Routes as shown on CalTopo using the above files (How to use CalTopo) |
ROUTE 1
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 1 mile round trip
- Gain: 200'
- Time: 1/2 hour
- Rating: Drive-up
Original: Carleton Shay, April 1997
DRIVING ROUTE 1
- Take I-15 south to Temecula.
- Take the South SR 79 exit. This is the second of two SR 79 exits. It says 79 South. Please make sure you have enough gas. There are plenty of gas stations along SR 79 for the next 2 miles or so.
- Go east on SR 79 to its intersection with SR 371 in Aguanga. Reset your odometer.
- Continue southeast on SR 79 for 13.4 miles to dirt road 9S07 on the right. Reset your odometer and turn right.
- At 11.4 miles, a fork. Go right (though left road rejoins shortly).
- At 11.6 miles, an intersection with a plethora of signs. This is the junction of 9S07 and 9S09. Bear left on 9S07, the Palomar Divide Road.
- At 12.1, fork. Go left.
- At 12.6, fork and gate. The gate is often closed at this point, and the hiking statistics above reflect that closure. In your car (if you can) or afoot, go left and continue up to the summit, 13.1 miles.
ROUTE 2
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)- Distance: 1 mile round trip
- Gain: 200'
- Time: 1/2 hour
- Rating: Drive-up (high clearance required)
Original: Al Campbell, 1974
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- Take I-15 south to Temecula.
- Take the South SR 79 exit. This is the second of two SR 79 exits. It says 79 South. Please make sure you have enough gas. There are plenty of gas stations along SR 79 for the next 2 miles or so.
- Go east on SR 79 to its intersection with SR 371 in Aguanga. Reset your odometer.
- Continue southeast on SR 79 for 0.3 mile to the Palomar Divide Truck Trail on the right. There is now a sign that says Rancho California RV Resort. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
- At 0.4 mile, fork. Go left.
- At 1.0 mile, fork. Go left.
- At 3.1 miles, seasonal gate.
- At 5.4 miles, saddle. This is the Cutca Valley trailhead and the parking area for Route 1 to Eagle Crag.
- At 7.1 miles, fork. Go left.
- At 7.8 miles, fork. Go right.
- At 11.4 miles, fork. Go right.
- At 11.6 miles, fork. Go left.
- At 12.1 miles, fork. Go left.
- At 12.6 miles, fork with a sign "High Point". There may be a locked gate here. Hiking statistics above assume the gate is locked. In your car (if you can), or on foot, go left.
- At 13.2 miles, a lookout tower. This is the summit.
NOTE
The gate at 3.1 miles may be locked. To determine its status, check with the Oak Grove Ranger Station by calling (951) 767-9144.
NOTE
Route 1 is a better road for 2WD vehicles and is not closed as often.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
There is no public access from the Palomar Observatory area.
History of Summit Signature
Climbing Archives
Please report any corrections or changes to the Mountain Records Chair.