At 7 am. I arrived at the parking lot near the trailhead. Today is the first day that I am officially hiking after three weeks of rest. The destination is Paradise Mountain, located in Hellhole Preserve. Ironically, it is named Heavenly Mountain in the pit of a hellhole.
Paradise Mountain is opened on a seasonal basis. It closes for protection purposes in the summer. It is always well-managed and not as crowded as other famous trails. But the strength of this mountain trail is the pristine bucolic charm of this trail. I become so awestruck when I see nature without alteration.
We started walking slowly with the two newcomers, and soon the party was engulfed into the beauty of the place. The group members engaged in conversation with each other, needing to make up for the 3 weeks that had gone by since our last adventure.
The Loop style trails at this site give hikers a choice. If you turn clockwise, the slope is harsh for the first two hours and makes hiking difficult. However, once you reach the top, you are hit with another picturesque panoramic view as you begin going downhill. On the other hand, hiking counterclockwise allows you to enjoy a less difficult hike along on a well-organized trail.
The Party reached the summit after about three hours of mountain hiking. Everybody was busy taking pictures of the beautiful scenery from the top. The cool weather made me realize that in only a month the season began to change. At last, we couldn’t see the Mountain Lion. But the group fell in love with Paradise Mountain and ended the hike with the promise of visiting again soon.
In addition to hiking, there is a festival night held in the trail parking lot, where movies are shown every month. So if you are planning a fun day with your family, consider visiting.
Trailhead : 19324 Santee Ln, Valley Center, CA 92082
Length/Est/ Difficulty: 8.2 mi (4 h +/-) / 1,860 ft / moderate
Paradise Mountain Loop | AllTrails
Cocktail Hiker
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