Wilderness Garden Preserve Weekend Adventure

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This weekends adventure was to a hidden gem in the San Diego backcountry. Wilderness Garden County Preserve is 793 acres of glorious open space. Open space is becoming harder to find in many suburban areas and I had to come see what the preserve had to offer.  

This weekend I had my sidekick Alyssa with me to get some much needed exercise and girl talk.  Wilderness Garden Preserve is located off the highway 76 in the San Luis Rey Watershed. It’s a few miles east of Pala Casino. When we arrived there was a good amount of hikers using the trails but everyone kept their distance! 

Preserve Amenities

The first place you’ll see when you enter is the parking lot. Parking costs $3 and their a self-pay booth near the preserve trail map. We didn’t notice the self-pay parking area until we came back from walking one of the shorter trails. Be sure to grab a pink ticket and put it on your dashboard.

The portable restrooms are easily accessible (next to the parking lot). I don’t remember seeing any drinking fountains so make sure you come with at least a gallon of water per person.

Nearby you’ll easily locate the kisok of the park with important information about the park.

The kiosk gives you information on wildlife in the area (snakes and ticks!) and tips on avoiding heat stroke. 

The preserve has 4 miles of well-manicured trails, an equestrian staging area, picnic tables and a pond. This would be  a lovely place to go on a date  and have a picnic by the pond. but be advised that it is very hot out there!

The Hike

hiking, mountain, climbing mountain

We started our hike at Alice Friers Trail which is an easy .7 mile trail head near the park entrance. 

We then headed down Main Trail which takes you towards The Upper Meadow Trail which is a moderate hike. This particular trail has rocks and stairs at one point that can be challenging if your tired.  

At this point the heat was starting to get to me. We started our hike after 2 p.m. and luckily I had enough sense to bring my water bottle with me. I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath and cool down. I didn’t drink enough water the day before and my body was paying the price. 

The Upper Meadow trail has several areas with benches or shade trees to take a break if you start to get too hot. Towards the end of the trail their are less trees and I was dying! We took another break as soon as we made it to small area of shade. I couldn’t seem to cool myself down and I was starting to get concerned. Alyssa didn’t bring any water with her and she was wearing a long sleeve shirt! I don’t know how she made it through without tearing off her shirt.

At the end of the trail you end up on the main trail and I happily went on the Pond trail.

Pond trail is the most romantic area in the preserve. It has plenty of shade trees, picnic tables, and you can hear frogs singing their frog song. 

We hiked 2 miles and I was drenched in sweat by the time we got to the car. Thankfully I have air condition (thank you Jesus!). I turned the air on full blast and kept it on for 30 minutes. Luckily I had some Powerade in the trunk for Alyssa and some trail mix for me. 

The trials are rated easy to moderate but the real challenge is the heat. On the Parks and Recreations website they mention that they close in August due to the heat. It’s May and I had a hard time staying cool so be advised.

Rookie Hiking Tips

If you plan to visit Wilderness Garden Preserve, here are a few tips to keep your trip happy and safe. 

  • Drink lots of water the day before your hike
  • Bring at least 1 gallon of water( per person) with you on the hike
  • Wear sun protective clothing (hat and sunglasses)
  • Wear sunblock
  • Bring a cellphone to take photos and to call for help if you get hurt
  • Take a break as often as you need
  • Bring lunch and have a picnic! Its gorgeous and serene out there

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