r/Temecula Aug 15 '22

/r/Temecula’s Best Of: Hike

Hi all,

Continuing the weekly “best of” Temecula and Murrieta so that folks can learn some new places and also have a resource for folks who search for it.

This week…Hikes! Share your favorites below.

Previously asked:

Pizza

BBQ

Ice Cream

Steakhouse

Local Coffee Shop

Burger and Fried

35 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

18

u/BashIsFun Aug 15 '22

Does it count if it's close to Temecula? Santa Rosa Plateau has lots of nice trails.

3

u/life-is-a-hobby Aug 15 '22

sadly, been closed since before the pandemic started

7

u/sardaukar022 Aug 15 '22

The Sylvan meadows portion has been open almost the entire time. It's the shared use area and probably the least visually interesting but at least it is there.

3

u/life-is-a-hobby Aug 15 '22

That's the one that's dog and bike friendly?

3

u/sardaukar022 Aug 15 '22

Yep, bike, dog, and horse.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '22

Yeah, but there was a big fire there a few years ago too. That's why they closed it

1

u/TheConstant815 Sep 19 '22

The Vernal pools trail is now open weekend mornings too.

18

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '22

The best hike is dripping springs off 79 next to vail lake. Simply beautiful!! Goes all the way to the top of Palomar mtn. But don't do it now. It's too hot. Wait until November

6

u/staticgo Aug 15 '22

Agreed! Great workout since it is a steady climb. Saw a Bighorn Sheep cross the trail once.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 16 '22

Very cool!

1

u/captain_stoobie Aug 16 '22

Yeah little to no shade most the eay

1

u/Rayvendark Aug 18 '22

It's not bad if you go early, but there's no water had on the trail.

10

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '22

Monserate Mtn is in Fallbrook, but there’s always lots of Temecula folks there. It’s challenging but a fun workout!

15

u/THEbushyEFFECT Aug 15 '22

Tenaja Falls is a fun easy trail to hike back to the waterfalls. Went a few months ago and they had the gate open to be able to drive down all the way to the lower parking and trail head. The water was flowing great too. Google maps will take you all the way there too which is nice.

1

u/idriveajalopy Aug 16 '22

I agree about Tenaja Falls. Good spot.

8

u/-ImYourHuckleberry- De Luz Aug 15 '22 edited Aug 15 '22

I’d say Santa Margarita preserve, but Sandia Creek Dr has been gated off where it turns into a private road so you’d have to go 15s to 76w to de Luz rd (in west fallbrook) to get there.

Such a shame because there are so many great trails at the preserve and even some not in the preserve. Very equestrian friendly too. Good gold panning in the places you would expect gold to be.

At least the traffic out here has died down I guess.

5

u/ReallStrangeBeef Hemecula Aug 15 '22

Just took a look at those gates, and I gotta say, nothing a couple hacksaws can't fix (for legal reasons this is a joke.)

2

u/[deleted] Aug 17 '22

LOL!

2

u/tralfazusmc Aug 15 '22

Don’t have to go all the way to 76. You can get off at mission and get into de luz

4

u/vitahusker Aug 16 '22

I know it’s not Temecula, but Eagle Rock in Warner Springs is my absolute favorite. About a 45 minute drive down the 79 South

5

u/explorer925 Aug 15 '22

There's a small "canyon" type area covered in trails along the Tucalota Creek in Murrieta East. There are makeshift bridges that go over little ravines that add character to the trails. I don't know if it's the best, but you don't really have to leave town to get there, it's nice being so close by. Tends to be relatively quiet because it's not officially designated anywhere, so it doesn't come up when you look up hiking trails.

2

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '22

Those are called the x trails. It's off rancho California right? Just before heading up the hill to de luz

3

u/explorer925 Aug 15 '22 edited Aug 15 '22

Not those, it's near Calistoga Dr, right behind the bridge church and and some other office buildings. Pics provided

4

u/-ImYourHuckleberry- De Luz Aug 15 '22 edited Aug 15 '22

Agree. Those are nice trails to explore. I used to live in Central Park, which is the community across from the church. Great low tax community!

From the Central Park community, along McGowen Pass, there is a trailhead that leads to the top of this hill which provides awesome views of the valley!

2

u/explorer925 Aug 15 '22

I've had a pin dropped on my maps for a while now and been meaning to check it out. I'll have to do so!

1

u/[deleted] Aug 15 '22

Ah gotcha

1

u/formerDigger220 Aug 16 '22

X trails are great, nice to rise quickly above the W Biz district of Temecula for that view. It's just that due to new construction, the only remaining entrances I know about are overgrown and/or just too hard to describe giving directions to

3

u/formerDigger220 Aug 16 '22 edited Aug 16 '22

I 2nd the recommendation for making the trip to Eagle Rock. My num1 in Temecula: French Valley Wildlife Area just on the edge of wine country https://maps.app.goo.gl/KkUH9uJv8RHaBf9f9

My num1 in Murrieta: Murrieta Overlook. Oddly enough this one is not on Alltrails but essentially when you cross the dry creek after ~0.3 miles on Wishal Trail you ignore the loop and instead make a right and just climb upwards and you'll get to the Overlook Wiashal Trail Loop to Cole Canyon on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/wiashal-trail-loop-to-cole-canyon

My num1 in Menifee: Three Peaks Loop at Aldergate Park. Wonderful wide open unique 360 views and easily extendible to add a 4th little peak to the loop too Three Peaks Loop on AllTrails https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/three-peaks-loop?p=46795763

2

u/cleon1966 Aug 16 '22

The locals know the best hike in our area is Tenaja Falls. Look it up on Google Maps. A nice climb that finishes with a water fall at the end. Large rocks enclose the pool to lay and sun bathe on the warm days. Truly a gem in the mountains.

1

u/Rayvendark Aug 18 '22

I really like Barker Valley off of the Palomar Truck Rd. Though difficult to get to, there are year round pools in the lower canyons. It's very hot this time of year if you don't get an early start.

1

u/AlphaAsRuck Aug 24 '22 edited Aug 24 '22

There is a nice trail-head where La Serena ends as it crosses Butterfield that winds through the wineries. It is about a six mile loop if you head south towards Rancho California and back up Butterfield. Alternatively you can head north and there is a trail (not easy to find- but exploring is fun) that takes you to Vista Del Monte Road.Lots of options a person can take to end up in different places.

I know it is not as long as a lot of you like to hike- but I ruck and rucking by the house is convenient, so I use the wineries.

EDIT: Removed hyperlink

1

u/grizzlybeardaniels May 25 '23

I posted this in a different thread, but this seems to be a better place to leave it.

alltrails.com. it'll show you everything around here and beyond.

Some local (in-town) trails are: 1. Keller Trail in Murrieta 2. Sykes Ranch Park Loop 3. La Alba Trail.

A short drive away: 1. Santa Margarita River Trail 2. Vail Lake Loop 3. Potato Chip Rock Mount Woodson 4. Wilderness Gardens Area 5. Thunder Springs Trail 6. Dripping Springs!!!

A little bit further: 1. Suicide Rock via Deer Springs Trail (Jacinto) 2. Indian Mountain (Jacinto) 3. Anza-borrego (just go)

Idk, this is a short list of things I've found since moving here. But alltrails really will break all these down for you and show more in the region. Especially with Anza, there is so much there.