USE AT YOUR OWN RISK
Location: San Diego County, 13 miles southeast of Temecula, 112 miles from Los Angeles
Maps
| Auto Club | San Diego County |
| Forest Service | Cleveland National Forest |
| USGS Topos | Vail Lake 7½, Boucher Hill 7½, Aguanga 7½ |
| Official HPS Maps |
TPO file - Save to your computer then open with National Geographic TOPO! |
| | Viewable PDF file - Approximately 2.5 megs |
| | 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 2
(USFS Adventure Pass may be required)
- Distance: 26 miles round trip on trail, road, and cross-country
- Gain: 4900' total, 4200' out plus 700' on return
- Time: 11-12 hours round trip
- Rating: Class 1, very strenuous
- Navigation: Intermediate
- Leader Rating: "I", normal conditions
Original: Alan Coles, February 1994
DRIVING ROUTE 2
- Take I-15 south to Temecula.
- Go east on SR 79 (this is the second SR 79 exit) for about 10 miles,
cross a narrow bridge and turn
right to Dripping Springs Campground. Park in the lot on the right near the
entrance (no fee) or in a campsite ($7 a day).
HIKING ROUTE 2
- Walk to the south end of the campground where a sign and trail register
are located. Sign the register, then proceed across a seasonal stream
(flooded after heavy rains). Just past the "Agua Tibia Wilderness"
sign, the trail
reaches a trail junction with the Wild Horse Trail on the left and the
Dripping Springs Trail on the right.
- Turn left and go 7 long miles as the
trail contours 200' above Arroyo Seco then ascends the east shoulder of
Wild Horse Peak passing through the saddle west of Agua BM, and then descends to
a former dirt road.
- Turn left and descend about 1/4 mile to a switchback
on the right, which leads to a seasonal stream. Cross the stream and a very
distinct cow trail and ascend the south side to a road at 2800'.
From here to Crosley Saddle the trail is likely to be very vague and difficult to follow.
- Cross the road (private property in both directions) and pass through a
gate. Continue 3 miles on the former Crosley Truck Trail (now a trail) to
Crosley Saddle (3931') and a signed junction with the former Palomar-Magee
Truck Trail (now a trail). The right fork leads to Agua Tibia Mountain and
the Dripping Springs Trail.
- Turn left and go 1.5 miles (1/4 mile past
the saddle at 4468') to a small gully on the right sometimes marked
by a duck. Continue up this gully as in Route 1.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
The Forest Service is planning a seasonal closure of the Dripping
Springs Campground because of the endangered green toad. This may prevent
the use of Routes 2 and 3 during closure periods. Please contact the
Palomar Ranger District Office
at 760-788-0250 for current closure information.