TWO Palomar State Park Hikes!
October 25 and 26

Greetings! 

I love going up to Palomar Mountain, especially this time of year. I'm leading TWO hikes up there the weekend of Oct 25-26: one hike for folks who want to come up for an afternoon (perhaps sunset??) hike on Saturday, and a second hike for the early birds who want to enjoy a little longer morning hike on Sunday morning. 

Contact me for more information or with any questions.  RSVP is not required, but I also do not have cell service one I get into the state park, so if I don't know you're coming, I won't know to watch for you.  

I can't wait to spend some time on the mountain with you!  Hike descriptions below. 

Happy Trails -
Hannah

Multi-Level Hike at Palomar State Park
Saturday, October 25, 2025
3:00PM

WHAT: Please join Valley Center Trails Association for a hike at Palomar State Park.  There will be 2 options for this evening hike:

  • Option A will be an out-and-back hike, approximately 2 miles roundtrip.  Expect about 300 feet elevation gain from the Silvercrest parking lot to Boucher Lookout, which is the turnaround point.

  • Option B is a 3.5-4 mile loop hike that splits off from the Option A hike at the Boucher Lookout.  Instead of turning around at Boucher, this hike will take us down the Boucher trail, across Nate Harrison Grade, through the group campground, and back up to the Silvercrest Parking Lot via Scott’s Cabin Trail.

  • Both options start and end at Silvercrest Parking lot.  We will all start together, and then hikers will have the option to elect Option A or B at Boucher Lookout.  Plan to spend a little time at Boucher enjoying the late afternoon view of San Diego County!

WHO: All ages are welcome. RSVP not required, but if you have any questions or wish to receive email notifications in the event of cancellation due to weather, contact Hannah at infovcta@gmail.com.  Per the park’s regulations, dogs are not allowed at this trail.  
 
WHERE:  Meet at the Silvercrest Parking Lot:19952 State Park Rd, Palomar Mountain 92060. There is a day use fee of $10.  Contact Hannah at infovcta@gmail.com in advance to arrange for VCTrails to cover the fee. 
 
PREPARE:  Bring plenty of water, layers, and a snack or small picnic.  This is a late afternoon/evening hike in October, when temps could get chilly.  There is a gorgeous viewing point for a snack a break at the turn-around and also a picnic area near the parking lot.  There will be opportunities for water and snack breaks, so come prepared!  Please meet at 3:00PM, and the hike will start at approximately 3:15PM.
 
MAP:  A trail map can be found HERE. 
 

Hike at Palomar State Park
Sunday, October 26, 2025
8:30AM

WHAT: Please join Valley Center Trails Association for a hike at Palomar State Park. The hike will start at the Cedar Grove Group Campground to the French Valley loop via Baptist Trail.  There are various options for return routes back to Cedar Grove, including the Weir Historic Site, and we will choose the route depending on group preference that day.  Expect 4-6 miles total.
 
WHO:  All are welcome.  Be prepared to hike for more than 2 hours.  RSVP not required, but if you have any questions or wish to receive email notifications in the event of cancellation due to weather, contact Hannah Engholm at infovcta@gmail.com.  Per the park’s regulations, dogs are not allowed at this trail. 
 
WHERE:  Park at the Cedar Grove Group Campground.  Enter at the Palomar Mountain State Park Headquarters (near 19952 State Park Rd, Palomar Mountain 92060).
There is a day use fee of $10; contact Hannah at infovcta@gmail.com in advance to arrange for VCTrails to cover the fee. 
 
PREPARE:  Bring plenty of water, layers, and a snack.  This is morning hike in October, when temps could start out chilly.  There will be opportunities for water and snack breaks, so come prepared!  Please meet at 8:30AM, and the hike will start at approximately 8:45AM.
 
MAP:  A trail map can be found HERE. 
 

Save the Date: Next Butterfield Trails Open House Nov. 29, 2025
27765 Valley Center Rd., Valley Center
Details to follow. Thank you!

Past Events at Butterfield Trails County Park

Arbor Day Video at Butterfield Trails County Park April 26, 2025

Celebrates Butterfield Trails County Park at an Open House
November 16, 2024

Watch: Video of Butterfield Trails County Park:

Celebration Picnic in the Park 2023

Thanks to the help of our local community and our friends throughout the San Diego area who supported the efforts of Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve and the Valley Center Trails Association, we have added 959 acres of park and preserve land in Valley Center. Butterfield Trails Ranch, and Rancho Lilac Preserve when developed and open to the public will have multi-use trails. This celebration is to thank everyone involved for supporting these projects, including Supervisor Jim Desmond and his staff. It takes a community effort: Thank You!

To view photo from this event, click here!

Celebration Picnic in the Park is made possible by Friends of Hellhole Canyon Open Space Preserve & Valley Center Trails Association – Your local open space and public trails advocates.

Valley Center Trails Past Events!

Valley Center Trails 5k & Kids 1/2-mile Fun Run
before the Western Days Parade

VCTrails 5K @ Western Days 2024

Palomar Observatory Tour Photo 2023

Picnic in the Park October 8, 2022

Our Picnic in the Park was a very successful community event to support Butterfield Trails Ranch becoming a San Diego County Park. We had over 600 people attend the event and gave out over 400 Ice Cream Treats. More importantly we raised support for Butterfield Trails Ranch becoming a San Diego County Park.
Butterfield Trails Ranch a key element of our vision for more recreational open space in the Valley Center area. Valley Center needs a large, beautiful Park for picnics, family outings, easy walking trails, and the preservation of natural beauty in the middle of our town. Together, we were able to show our community support for this parkland purchase to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

Click to see photos from our Picnic in the Park 2022!

We have many great Parks and Preserves in San Diego County. Here are a few you many want to check out.

Daley Ranch
Los Penasquitos Canyon County Preserve
Ramona Grasslands County Preserve
Santa Ysabel Open Space Preserve
San Dieguito River Park
San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve
Santa Margarita County Preserve
San Diego County Parks

Follow us on Facebook at Valley Center Trails Association
Valley Center Trails Association is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to the creation of non-motorized trails and pathways in Valley Center.

Membership in the Valley Center Trails Association is open to all individuals/households and businesses in the community. A modest membership fee is charged. Please support our efforts with your Membership or Donation. Thank you!

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