Los Penasquitos Canyon Waterfall Letterbox LbNA #2088

Los Penasquitos Canyon Waterfall Letterbox


Los Penasquitos Canyon Waterfall Letterbox is south of Rancho Penasquitos in San Diego, California.

From the I 15 Take Mercy Road west, at Black Mountain Road you will see the entrance to the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve, do not go in. This is not the way we go today, but instead turn North or Right for .8 of a mile Then turn West or Left onto Park Village Drive for 1.7 miles at Camino Ruiz now called Camino Del Sur turn South or Left. Canyonside Community Park on your Left, Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve on your right. Ample parking and a porta potty available.

Trailhead is on the Right by the Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve Sign. The hike is level and even, suitable for children and dogs are permitted. From this trailhead it is about 4 miles round trip. Hot and dusty in mid July, take plenty of water and watch out for poison ivy and snakes. The Preserve is sometimes closed after very heavy rain. The usual disclaimer and waivers apply. The Preserve is the home to over 500 species of native plants. 175 species of birds and approximately 60 mule deer live year round, within the Preserve. The Preserve also has the greatest number of different nesting raptor pairs in San Diego County.

The Los Penasquitos Waterfall is the only such natural waterfall in the City of San Diego.

Follow the slightly sloping path down from Camino Del Sur, once in the preserve your path heads West and is waymarked every 0.5 miles.

When you come to a conspicuous (may not be so conspicuous any more) crossroads your path continues West under the pylons (but these are)still here) and past another porta potty (may be removed in winter) If you wish to see the river at this point, go South, this can be a lovely calm and shady resting place. Return to crossroads and continue west.Look ahead you can see a large rock formation follow the path that leads west towards this. As you walk along, a fence appears on the left. To see the waterfall and explore, follow fence left and right. Note steps hewn into rock leading down to river, stepping rocks across and steps up the other side for Exploration and Adventurous only. For the Letterbox Hunter stay on North side of river, retrace your steps back to westbound path past big boulders on left, smaller boulders on right. After only a short way, take a path to the left marked "View Point" This rock garden sanctuary and rushing torrent (if you are here in spring or fall) is almost exactly at the midpoint of the canyon, three miles in from either the west or east trail heads. Here, the stream course is suddenly squeezed down by a rocky cluster called the Santiago Peak volcanic formation.

OK, who wants to look at the view when there is a Letterbox nearby?! With your back to the water (Added May 1st: There is now a new bench placed here)and the "Keep Out" sign, go almost back to the main path.{The old path is now fenced of)notice a there is a trail that goes south keeping to the west of the large lemonberry bush back towards the cliff You should see 1 small and 3 BIG boulders on the south side of the bush. Box is planted in the corner, between the second and third big boulders. The first boulder is by the path. This is a popular area, please take the usual care not to be seen retrieving or returning the letterbox.

Now you can return the way you came or if you feel confident, on your return take the lower, more narrow path that leads a little closer to the river and, occasionally, under the shade of trees. Remember if you decide to cross the river at the falls and walk back along the South side of the river you will have to get your feet wet at the horse crossing/bridge to return to the Camino Ruiz Parking Lot.

Hope you enjoy this.

Jane & Simon (We are English but have live in America for 11 years. ( 16 years in 2007)
Email address cacher_jane @ hot mail . com (no spaces)If you would like to let us know that you found the letterbox.


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