Lake Hodges/Mule Hill & San Pasqual Valley Trail - #LakeHodges/MuleHill&SanPasqualValleyTrail

Socal - San Diego County - Escondido NickNames: #LakeHodges/MuleHill&SanPasqualValleyTrail sometimes referred to as 'east lake hodges'

If you have been avoiding Lake Hodges because you feel it doesn't offer much of a challenge or excitement you should explore the San Pasqual Valley trail just east of the lake. Exit I-15 at Via Rancho Parkway, go right(east) off the ramp, turn right on Sunset, park at the end of cul-de-sac or park in the dirt lot behind the gas station. Head east on the Mule Hill trail past the historic Sikes Adobe Farmhouse. Follow that trail behind the Hodges Golf Improvement Center and then alongside Via Rancho Parkway continuing east for a short distance. Pick up the San Pasqual Valley trail heading south. The trail is pretty uneventful as you travel along side a creek on your right and farmland on your left for a couple of miles. Pass the San Dieguito River crossing and head north. About another mile you will be on a sweet 700ft singletrack climb to the Raptor Ridge lookout and then back down the other side. Cross a bridge, pass a dairy, until you reach the HWY 78/Brandy Canyon trailhead then head back.

5 Review(s)18 Photo(s)Login

• Trail UpdateGreat Getaway On A Nice Trail-Nothing too technical on this trail, but what a great way to escape it all. The trail is mostly doubletrack and very easy until you hit the edge of Raptor Ridge, then singletrack up that with varying degrees of aerobic difficulty (not too steep, but a long grind). Great views of the San Pasqual Valley, interpretive signage, a well maintained trail thanks to the San Dieguito River Park folks. For a long ride, start at the Santa Fe trailhead off Del Dios Highway and do the Del Dios Gorge, North Lake Hodges, and Mule Hill/San Pasqual trails all together. Hydrate well and bring plenty with you.

  Warning - there are a lot of sandy patches where the trail runs along the agricultural fields. Keep up your speed and you should be OK.
  FirstSarnt a 60 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a Jamis Dakar XCR Comp from Encinitas

  Posted:08/16/2011

• Trail UpdateMule Hill & San Pasqual Valley T-For some reason I had a premonission that this trail was going to be hard to follow - why I don't know... Actually, it's pretty hard to stray off the beaten path. Extremely easy for about 20-30 minutes, then a nice, relatively short climb that has no technical aspect but gets a little steep in a couple of spots. Good views from the lookout into an area not often seen from the outside. Anyone know if there is a way to keep going to the top of the mountain from the lookout, or is that all closed off?
  Seaclasper a 99.9 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Old Gray Mare from Whine Country

  Posted:07/04/2005

• Trail UpdateGreat Ride!-Yesterday we got a chance to head back to the San Pasqual "East Lake Hodges" trail for the first times since the big rains. The trail is in great shape and it was good to see other riders and hikers enjoying it. The beginning is flat until you take the Raptor Ridge singletrack to the top. This is a fun climb with a great lookout place at the top for you to catch your breath. We rode the way down the back side which is now so overgrown that it is all singletrack! We doubled back at the dairy and made our way back. Watch out for goatheads somewhere along the way we caught a couple but the ride was a fun workout and easy on the eyes! If you ride the Lake Hodges trails and haven't been on this trail you really need to plan on making the detour on your next ride!
  ICPAYDIRT a 32 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Santa Cruz Superlight from Pacific Beach

  Posted:06/26/2005

• Trail UpdateEasier On The Way Back!-this one's about 20 miles long (10 miles out, 10 miles back). it is long, scenic, and flat in the beginning and gets pretty steepy and fun about half way out. you get away from it all pretty quick to booney world after the first few miles!! saw a couple of snakes, and a taranchula, which was a trip. bring lots to drink and eat if you wanna finish the whole trail... one of my favorites adventurewise.
  cyclesurf a 30 year old Die-hard Enthusiast riding a specialized hardrock from cardiff, ca

  Posted:04/19/2005

• Trail UpdateSan Dieguito River Flowing-It's been raining all weekend so we weren't expecting much but thought we'd give it a shot anyway. The trail was a bit muddy but rideable up to the river crossing. I'm sure it will be good after a couple of days dry weather. The 'river' was high enough that we decided not to try to go through the crossing. It was an interesting trip none-the-less because we came across about a dozen shoeless mexican guys wade fishing in the river, what a suprise! Also, we rode by a couple of vultures sitting on the fence along the farmland. As we approached on our bikes they waited until we got about 8'ft away before they spread their huge wings and then flew right by us! Seeing their bright red bald heads was a trip! Anyway, that's it for now, we'll give it another try when it hasn't been raining.
  Ride rating: Intermediate
  Ride distance: 20 miles to HWY 78 and back Elevation change: 1000ft
  Singletrack=40% Dirt Road=45% Paved Path=15%
  ICPAYDIRT a 31 year old Cross-Country Rider riding a Santa Cruz Superlight from Pacific Beach URL: San Dieguito River Park Website www.sdrp.org

  Posted:02/20/2005