Lessons Learned on Unique Hikes in Southern California
Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge
Lesson #1: Flat doesn’t mean easy.
This hike is really long but really epic! The trailhead for Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge is about an hour away from San Diego in the middle of the desert. After following deserted train tracks for 8 miles, past graffitied abandoned rail cars, and through long dark tunnels, you eventually arrive at the main attraction, and it is totally worth it!
The first thing to note is that this hike is on private land, but we didn’t encounter any issues. Getting to the trailhead very early is important to snag one of the few parking spots under the dilapidated billboard. Otherwise, you can pay a few bucks to park at the nude resort down the road (yes, you read that correctly). From the parking area, find the train tracks and head west.
After about a mile of walking on the tracks, through the desert, alongside cholla cacti, you will encounter the first set of graffitied old train cars, making a great first stop for a photo opportunity. From here, you will come across the first tunnel (#5), but unfortunately, it is closed, so forge a path over it. It seems that people go in all different directions here because we had a bit of a hard time finding a solid trail and ended up doing a bit of scrambling.
The rest of the trail is easy to follow, is mostly flat, but is never boring. You’ll hit a run-down mini trestle, a tunnel or two, and more abandoned rail cars in the next stretch. Tunnel number 8 is also closed, but the path around the mountain is clear, albeit a bit of a hike. Once around the detour, you will pass through 7 more tunnels, including a VERY long one, and you will have made it to the Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge!
The Goat Canyon Trestle Bridge was built in 1933 (after one of the original tunnels collapsed) and was used until 2008. It was terrifying (for Erica) to walk across! If you are afraid of heights, this may not be the hike for you. Erica took it step, by baby step. She was so slow that Andrew had his whole lunch before she even made it across the bridge.
From there, head back the way you came. We were exhausted by the time we hiked the 8 miles back to the car but were happy to have had such a unique experience.
Our tips: Bring a headlamp or flashlight because you are in long dark tunnels for a good portion of the trek! Lastly, wear comfy shoes, and bring plenty of water and snacks. 16 miles in the desert is no joke!
Viejas Mountain
Lesson #2: Venture out for a hike even when the weather is bad
This hike was so unexpected and so fun! We made a goal to hike at least once a week in 2021 and ventured out on a January Sunday, even when the weather wasn’t cooperating.
After being cooped up for almost a whole week, we seized an opportunity to climb Viejas Mountain during a break in the rain. It was a steep, rocky, muddy, foggy climb to the top. As we reached the summit, the fog cleared, and a bit of blue sky peeked out from behind fluffy white clouds. We had a bit of a snowball fight at the top before descending!
We didn’t expect much more than exercise on this hike, but the surprising view blew us away. Be sure the travel all the way to the top where there is a rock formation; there are several false summits along the way. The three miles went by quickly, but the mountain made a lasting impression.
Our tip: Wear shoes with sturdy support on this hike. There are loose rocks, so you’ll want that ankle support.
Potato Chip Rock
Lesson #3: If there are a lot of reviews of a trail, go earlier than early.
Potato Chip Rock may be a tourist attraction is not for the faint of heart. The 7-mile hike is mostly uphill to the famed rock, but the odd-shaped boulders make for an interesting hike the whole time.
On another January Sunday, we hiked up Mt. Woodson to work up a sweat before relaxing at the beach. We started a bit before 9 am and wished we had gotten an earlier start. The trail was a bit more populated than we would have preferred, so we masked up and passed a bunch of folks. It was a beautiful and decently strenuous climb.
Just before the summit is a unique rock that is popular to take a picture on, so we were glad to have beat some people to the queue. Getting on the rock was more challenging than expected, so be willing to leap! Also, be nice to people in line, offer to take their photo, so someone will offer to take yours.
Our tip: Bring plenty of water. This unique landscape is unforgiving and has almost no shade. A to-go coffee isn’t going to get you to the top.
Cedar Creek Falls
Lesson #4: Waterfalls in southern California are dry in the winter
Our first waterfall of 2021 was more of a water trickle…
Andrew got us a permit to check out Cedar Creek Falls. It was an easy 3-mile hike down to a beautiful pool. Once there, we understood why the number of people allowed is limited- it is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. But since it was winter, the waterfall was barely flowing, and we certainly weren’t swimming. Being from the east coast and never really dealing with water shortages, we didn’t realize that the water may not be flowing.
Nevertheless, we enjoyed the tranquility of the walk. We could think, talk, and plan without worrying about running into many other people on the trail. The 3-mile hike back up to the trailhead wasn’t too bad in January, but we could imagine that it would wipe you out in the heat of summer.
Our tip: You must get a permit if you plan on visiting, especially in the busy season. Follow all rules and pack out what you pack in to keep this place beautiful.