Bernardo Mountain in San Dieguito River Park, CA

Hike Bernardo Mountain San Dieguito River Park, CA

Class 1 3.8 miles 900 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Apr 19, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bernardo Mountain GPX Track

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Bernardo Mountain, located near Escondido in northern San Diego County, is part of the San Dieguito River Park and includes a well-maintained trail to its summit via the Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail, a spur from the Coast to Crest Trail. Local preservation efforts have been important for protecting the mountain from development to ensure the mountain remains accessible to the public, while also maintaining the health of the San Dieguito River watershed.

For some reason I decided to just spend the day hiking little lumps around the San Diego County suburbs. Bernardo Mountain was the best of them, and I'm writing up a trip report for it mostly as a reminder to my future self to not spend my hiking days booping around city bumps. The summit normally seems to be reached as part of a longer hike using the Coast to Crest Trail farther below, but starting there required following a highway for a bit from the trailhead. Deterred since I just wanted to be a bit disconnected from the city, I decided to start a bit higher up from a residential access point off La Calma Road. In hindsight I think I should have just done the full hike so I could hike along the San Dieguito River a bit, as well as extend the hike a bit, and I would recommend checking out the various trails in the area if you're a local.

I hiked past a locked gate and followed the many signs warning not to leave the public easement, until a singletrack trail led down into a forested creek drainage and then up to the San Bernardo Summit Trail. I shared the trail with a bunch of other hikers/bikers along the way as it ascended the north side of San Bernardo Mountain. I passed a fenced-in cylindrical storage tank shortly before the summit switchbacks. Generally the views were just of suburbia, but the summit had a nice overlook toward Lake Hodges below.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bernardo Mountain
1150 ft
430 rise

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Bernardo Mountain seen above from where I parked from a neighborhood access point.
Bernardo Mountain seen above from where I parked from a neighborhood access point.
After following the easement, a trail sign pointed into the forest.
After following the easement, a trail sign pointed into the forest.
A makeshift bridge over a creek.
A makeshift bridge over a creek.
Along the Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail.
Along the Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail.
It's a nice plot of greenery amongst suburbia.
It's a nice plot of greenery amongst suburbia.
Along the meandering Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail.
Along the meandering Bernardo Mountain Summit Trail.
Bernardo Mountain seen ahead, complete with a clear sign.
Bernardo Mountain seen ahead, complete with a clear sign.
Ascending a lengthy switchback up the slope.
Ascending a lengthy switchback up the slope.
Passing a cylindrical container.
Passing a cylindrical container.
Lake Hodges below.
Lake Hodges below.
Final bit to the summit.
Final bit to the summit.
Bernardo Mountain summit, view south.
Bernardo Mountain summit, view south.
Bernardo Mountain summit, view west toward Lake Hodges.
Bernardo Mountain summit, view west toward Lake Hodges.
Lake Hodges.
Lake Hodges.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!