Last night, I camped overnight at Dixon Lake Campground. At 5 am, I woke up in the tent. After breathing in the fresh morning air, I woke up another member of my party who was still deep in the dream land, then hurriedly headed to the rally point. Our mission was simple: Today we are going hiking at Stanley Peak.
The Sage Trail is the most relaxing trail out of the many trails at Stanley Peak. You can also use this trail to hike to Daley Ranch. Many people had already finished preparing for the hike and waited for us when we arrived at the parking lot. I gave out a simple COVID temperature check to everyone and then we commenced hiking up the mountain.
Walking along the organized sandy mountain path, I enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery while having conversations with team members that I had not gotten an opportunity to talk to before. After about an hour’s worth of hiking, the Escondido cityscape and Cleveland National Forest came into clear view, covered with a mysterious fog, the clouds creating a Monet painting-like view.
One of the great advantages the Sage Trail has is that the trail traverses across five lakes depending on the course you choose. We chose the intermediate course and were able to see a total of 3 lakes and left by taking commemorative photos of each of them. Even the old water tank near the top of the mountain blended right into the beautiful surroundings. It looks and feels like a work of art.
Then about two hours after our departure, we were able to reach the top. We now had an impressive 360-degree view of everything below, it was awe inspiring. After we broke for lunch, sharing some food, drink and conversation, we headed back downhill.
Another added bonus of the Sage Trail is the Dixon Lake
Campground. It is located right next to the trail and offers camping, fishing,
and boat riding. It also offers 3 to 5 hours worth of scenic hiking courses. I
highly suggest that you and your family make a visit for some great family
bonding.
Trailhead : 3400 Burnet Dr, Escondido, CA 92027
Length/Est/ Difficulty: 7.4 mi (4 h +/-) / 1,364 ft /
moderate
Stanley Peak via Sage Trail | AllTrails
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/stanley-peak-via-sage-trail?u=i
Cocktail Hiker
https://www.cocktailhiker.com/
Hiking | Cocktail | Outdoor | Photography