If you live in San Diego and are looking for a quick, yet quiet foray into the wild, go to Barker Valley. The valley is in the northeast foothills of Palomar Mountain, and because it is not large enough to qualify as a wilderness area, requires no permitting. That's right, just show up and start hiking, no overnight passes or parking stickers required. Very few people pass through the valley, especially in the summer months, so it makes for a perfect short backpacking trip.
Getting there can be a little bit tricky. The best way is to take highway 79. A little less than 7 miles North of Warner Springs, turn onto Palomar Divide Road. The road is barely marked, so drive slow in order to spot it. Only a small part of this road is paved, and the ride can be very bumpy, so a 4WD or off-road vehicle is highly recommended. Drive up Palomar Divide Road until you see the sign pictured below, which marks the trail head.
About three miles in, you will arrive at the valley floor with plenty of wide open spaces that make great campsites. Apparently, further into the valley there are some waterfalls and rivers, but I was not able to search for them while there. In any case, they are likely to be the most full during the winter months. Water can be a little scarce during the summer, so it is always a good idea to pack in your own supply.
We only stayed for one night, and we probably had the whole valley to ourselves. It took us less than an hour to find a good campsite, and we still found the solitude necessary to refresh our peace of mind. In this sense, Barker Valley gave us the most bang for our buck.
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