Penasquitos Canyon Trail Article by Fred F. Photos by Fred F. & Bobby G. We gathered for our hike Saturday morning, May 3d at 8:30 for our weekly hike. The agreed hike for the week was the trail thru the Penasquitos Canyon Preserve to the water falls & back. After a short commute to the parking area at the preserve, we were ready to hit the trail by about 9:00am.
Sherri, John, Bobby G, Fritz, Mary, Fred, Mike & Melissa
The trail took us across a foot bridge over Penasquitos creek and we headed west along the trail.
We passed the grave of John Joseph Eichar, buried here in 1882.
Penasquitos Canyon Trail winds thru alternating areas of shady glens of oak & sycamore trees and grassy meadows.
The terrain is fairly even & the walk is an easy one.
I noticed in almost every shaded area along the creek bottom there was poison oak growing in abundance.
In some cases it sent up trailers to the top of live oak & sycamore trees.
The wide path invites use by hikers, mountain bikers, joggers & equestrian, dog walkers & dog runners and we were happy to share the trail with all of them that day.
Our hike coincided with a training exercise by the San Diego Search & Rescue volunteers of the sheriffs department so we knew beyond a doubt that if we had a problem on the trail we were going to be helped.
At just past the 3 mile mark we came to the trail cut off for the waterfall.
It was better than I remember it from 25 years ago.
Meka the wonder dog cooling off
The pictures speak for themselves.
After a break for water & a good breather we headed back to the cars & home to Poway.
As we often do we made it just in time for the noon meeting.
Next weeks hike? Who knows where sobriety will bring us.
