The most famous mountain in San Diego County, Palomar Mountain is located 35 miles east of Oceanside off highway 76. County Road S6 leads to the Observatory and County Road S7 leads to Palomar Mountain State Park.

Mountain springs keep the area green well into summer. The lush landscape includes bracken ferns and ponderosa pines.

Palomar mountain stands isolated from the rest of the Agua Tibia Mountain Range. It's location is such that it intercepts many storms coming from the coast making it one of the wettest locations in Southern California. In 1993 a record 97 inches of rain was recorded. And at 6,126 feet elevation, it is high enough to get a good dosage of snowfall every year.

Wildlife native to the mountain include mountain lions, bobcats, mule deer and even a subspecies of banana slug.

Sightseeing
Bring a pair of binoculars or a telescope to enjoy the might vistas on a clear day. The best time for is the day or two immediately after a major storm that has blown out all the haze and smog. You can see the Coronado Islands (Mexico) 65 miles to the south and also maybe San Clemente Island 90 miles due west across the ocean.

Exciting Bike Routes

The County Roads on Palomar Mountain provide excellent downhill runs leading all the way to Pauma Valley.

Tour Cleveland National Forest

Southern most of protected forest lands in California includes 430,000 acres of San Diego, Orange and Riverside divided into three distinct areas. Comprises of conifer woodlands and chaparral.

Tour Pacific Crest Trail PCT
The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is the jewel in the crown of America’s scenic trails, spanning 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada. Hikers cross the beauty of the desert, glaciated expanses of the Sierra Nevada, and provides commanding vistas of volcanic peaks and glaciers in the Cascade Range. The trail also passes through historic mining sites and evidence of human’s endless quest for natural resources.

Palomar Mountain State Park
PO Box 175, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060; 760-742-3462; Park Website;
Directions: Access park from Highway SR-76 using either County Road S6 (winding, scenic route from Rincom Spirngs) or County Road S7 (longer, heavy vehicle route from Lake Henshaw);

Palomar Mountain State Park features spectacular views of the Pacific, camping, picnicking, hiking, and fishing (trout) in Doane Pond. Coniferous forests cover much of the 1,862 acres, in contrast to the dry lowlands surrounding the mountain. This is one of the few Southern California areas with a Sierra Nevada-like atmosphere.

This park is located on the westside of Palomar Mountain and is highly regarded for its forests of large pine, fir and cedar trees and is beautiful mountain meadows. Elevations with the park averages above 5,000 feet above sea level. This keeps evenings cool during the summertime and collects regular snowfall from passing winter storms.

Park Wildlife
The most commonly seen wildlife includes mule deer, gray squirrels, raccoons and striped skunks. Predators such as gray foxes, coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions are also present.

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association CRSPIA
The CRSPIA supports the mission of California State Parks, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park and Palomar Mountain State Park through education and interpretive activities that enhance the visitor’s experience.

Campsites

The state park has 31 campsites and some of the nicest hiking trails in the area. There are an additional 42 campsites at Observatory Campground. For camping reservations 800-444-7275 or 760-788-0250.

• Cedar Grove Campground
• Doane Valley Campground

USFS Campgrounds - Goose Valley
The US Forest Service operates two campgrounds along County Road S6 just outside the park. (760-788-0250).

Hiking Trails

• Doane Valley Nature Trail - To Doane Valley pond.
• Weir Trail - Visits the mountain glade and pond.
• French Valley Trail - Leads to French Creek.
• Observatory Trail - Starts at Observatory Campground and goes 4.5 miles uphill (750 foot climb) to the Observatory and past scenic Mendenhall Valley overlook.
• Boucher Hill - Historic 1949 fire lookout with views of most of San Diego County, the Coronado Islands. At night it is sometimes possible to see the lights on the Coronado Bay Bridge.

Tour of California Bicycle Race
3rd Week of February - Statewide 8 stage race
This 9-day rolling festival is becoming one of California's largest sporting events. It is an international world-class cycling road race featuring over 100 elite athletes and teams from around the world competing for the highest prize purse in the world. This annual event was first launch in 2006 and expanded in 2009. The race course now showcases 800 miles of scenic California highways.

Rancho Bernardo Courtyard Marriott
11611 Bernardo Plaza Court, Rancho Bernardo, CA 92128;
Location: Near I-15 Exit to Rancho Bernardo Road;
This Courtyard by Marriott hotel borders Scripps Poway & Carmel Mountain Ranch, just North of San Diego. A 100% Non-Smoking hotel offering all the amenities to make your next visit to San Diego exactly what you are envisioning. Guests will enjoy comfortable and well-appointed sleeping rooms with all the amenities to stay productive, including complimentary high speed internet access, both wired and wireless.

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Warner Springs Ranch Resort
The historic Warner Springs Ranch, established in 1844, has been serving up western hospitality to travelers since the days of the old west Butterfield Overland Stage Coach. Resort facilities include equestrian center, golf course, conference rooms, hiking, swimming, tennis, massage & spa, sky sailing and special events center.

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Ramona San Vicente Resort
This fine Ramona Golf and Tennis Resort is located 45 minutes from San Diego and 20 minutes from Wild Animal Park. Extensive Equestrian facilities, walking and hiking trails.

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Palomar Observatory - CalTech
Palomar Public Affairs Office - 760-742-2111; Observatory Website;
Public Tours Open Daily 9AM-4PM;
Palomar Observatory is home to the historic Hale 200-inch telescope. Other facilities on the mountain include the 60-inch, 48-inch, 18-inch and the Snoop telescopes. The 60-inch telescope is home to the Automated Transient Observing System. The 48-inch telescope is home to the Near-Earth Asteroid Tracking and Palomar-QUEST surveys. Instrumentation at Palomar Observatory also includes the Palomar Testbed Interferometer. Located on Palomar Mountain - this research facility is closed to visitors after 4:30PM.

In the 1930's Caltech scientists began their search for a remote location for an observatory in the Southern California and Arizona mountains. They picked Palomar for its clear dry air. The observatory was completed in 1938 but World War II delayed arrival of the giant 14.5 ton - 200 inch Hale Telescope until 1947. When first installed it was the world's largest telescope.

No, you cannot look in the telescope, but you can see it from the gallery and also get an impressive view of the night sky. Located at the 5,500 foot elevation, about 600 feet below the summit, the museum and telescope viewing gallery are open year-round daily 9-4. The gift shop is open every weekend and daily during the summer (July 1st - Aug 31st).

Explore The Stars - Summer / Fall / Public
Program Website;
An exciting amateur astronomy project occurs each summer and fall at Palomar Mountain's Observatory Campground. A group of amateur astronomers from all across Southern California bring the beauty and the awe of the night sky to more than a hundred non-astronomers at a location only two miles from the world renowned Palomar Observatory.