...or a little paradise nearby.
Trail details
Distance: 6.5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,033 ft
Type: Loop
Approx. time: 2h 55min
Dogs allowed: Yes
Permit required: No
This hike was a big surprise for me. I had only heard about Daley Ranch recently, even though it is only a 30min drive from where we live. It comes up right behind Escondido, not usually an area I am drawn to. But this piece of land is absolutely beautiful and offers all kinds of trails, from quick 4 miles all the way to 10 miles or more.
Despite it being January, it was a beautiful sunny day. We decided to get to the trailhead early, which was certainly smart as the parking lot was already packed around 7.30am. With the big piece of land the people however were quite spread out and we didn't see many. Mostly mountain bikers, which all had bells so we could hear them from far away.
We started with a smaller trail to the right after the gate. From there you can go wherever you feel like. As we had decided to hike to Stanley Peak we tried to stick to the trail though. Despite checking our app on a regular basis we still ended up taking a wrong turn. Thankfully the trail connected again soon after that. With the hills and valleys there is a lot of up and down on this hike, which ends up being a good mix of cardio and relaxing walk.
As we got towards the peak it got much steeper, however certainly doable for someone who hikes once in a while. The 360 views from the top were fun as there are signs that show you what you are looking at on all sides.
On the way back down we looped around on the other side of the mountain, which ended up in much smaller trails and different views. We loved how considerate other hikers and mountain bikers were on the trail.
Even though I have been back since this first hike, I still haven't seen much of Daley Ranch. There are still plenty of trails to explore in the coming weeks and months. I will certainly be back. So if you like a good hiking area nearby with plenty of trails, remember Daley Ranch.
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