Crossing the meadow

Cedar Grove Campground

Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.

Palomar Mountain State Park/Boucher Lookout

• Location:  North of Pala, in northeastern San Diego County.  From I-15 at Fallbrook, take highway 76 east for 21 miles, and take a left on county road S6.  Follow it for 6 1/2 miles and take a left on S7 (signed for the park).  Drive 3 miles and enter the park, where a $8 per day fee is charged.  Follow the signs for the Boucher lookout.
• Agency: Palomar Mountain State Park
• Distance: 3.8 miles
• Elevation gain: 800 feet
• Difficulty Rating: PG
• Suggested time: 2 hours
• Best season: All year (hot in  the summer, snowy in the winter – call the park to check the conditions)
• USGS topo map:  ”Palomar Mountain”; “Boucher Hill”
• More information: here
• Rating: 8

This trail is probably no more than five miles as the crow flies from the more famous Observatory Trail, but the scenery is very different.  While the Observatory Trail is a great hike–one you can bet your sweet you know what will soon appear on this blog–this one has a lot to offer too.  There are several different routes you can take that visit the highlights of the park, the lookout and the Cedar Grove campground.  The one I’m going to describe bypasses a section of the Boucher Trail that has become very overgrown, and uses the Nate Harrison Grade road instead (although almost half of this route is on pavement, don’t let that deter you–the views are great).

After parking in the lookout parking lot, and enjoying the views, head southeast on the trail signed for Silver Crest.  Here you will have great views of the valley on your right and mountains on your left, under the shade of oaks and conifers.  After 0.7 miles, arrive at the road, take a left and descend for 0.8 miles to the Cedar Grove campground.  On your left will be views of a meadow below, with other area peaks distant.

Take a left into the campground, stay left and at the end of the road, just before a parking gate, take a left and pick up a trail leading into the meadow.   After crossing through the flats, the trail climbs through more woodland and arrives at the Nate Harrison road.  Take a left, follow the road (which goes back and forth between pavement and dirt) for a mile, back to the intersection, and take a hard right and pick up the Boucher Trail, retracing your steps back up to the lookout.