Hellhole Canyon Preserve
Valley Center, CA
Free
By Simir Shah
★★★★★4.6(216 Google reviews)
What parents say
AI summary of 5 Google reviews — not a first-hand visit. How we write these
Free, with a gravel lot, restrooms, drinking water and maps at the trailhead. The trails roll up and down constantly with almost no shade except the flume trail, so it suits older, willing walkers. The climb back up to the car at the end catches people out. Rattlesnakes are mentioned, so keep to the path.
A county preserve with about thirteen miles of trails through chaparral, oak and seasonal creek beds. It gets brutally hot May through September — this is a cool-season hike, and the shorter loops near the trailhead are the realistic option with kids.
Happening near here
- San Diego Zoo Safari Park Autumn FestivalEscondido · 12 mi
- Gather on Grand / Escondido Street FestivalEscondido · 13 miFree
- Welk Resort Certified Farmers' MarketEscondido · 13 mi · 3pm–7pmFree
- Escondido Certified Farmers' MarketEscondido · 13 mi · 2:30pm–sunsetFree
19324 Santee Ln, Valley Center, CA 92082, USA
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What visitors say
- Colt A. Cierley★★★★★
I love this place. Hands down pne of my favorite spots to visit. Now keep in mind this place is not for everyone and is in many ways correctly named. However it is that base natire of the place that lends to its overall beauty. One you get on the trail aside from the first few feet of rake marks its all coastal california desert complete with rattlesnakes, coyotes, and mountain lions! Something else worth mentioning is the crystals you find sitting around the area are amazing, looks like ice sitting on the ground, the natural beauty just excreting itself from the ground. Alright ive plugged this place enough, so after your done at the local casinos get over here and get outside for a few minutes. (PS also a great spot to smoke before and after casino time) ;-P Be safe y'all. --Colt C.
6 months ago
- Craig Bellavance★★★★★
All the footprints in the dirt say the trails at Hellhole Canyon County Preserve are popular. Fortunately for me, a trip to the preserve on a weekday morning was the right time to hike without the crowd – I encountered only one other person during my 3-hour walk. I hiked five of the preserve’s six named trails deciding to save the toughest, Paradise Mountain Trail, for another day. Of the trails I hiked, only the Historic Flume Trail had trees (and rocks) large enough to provide shade. All the trails were up and down and up and down again – a change from climbing to the top and then back down after getting there. (There’s probably a difference of opinion if Paradise Mountain Trail is on the agenda). Trail signs are good although a map certainly helps. The trails are clean, but horses leave their mark. The parking lot/staging area is a gravel lot with enough space for cars, SUVs, trucks with horse trailers, etc. The staging area has hitching posts. The staging area also has restrooms, potable water, and a kiosk that is (when I was there) stocked with the preserve’s maps. The preserve does not charge a fee.
a year ago
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