Was able to visit this hiking area during my Thanksgiving vacation, it was actually quite hot…read moreoutside for November. The parking lot for this place is off Honey Springs road, which is right off the main drag of Campo rd. The trailhead has a few notices and a map showing you the canyon with the different paths for trails. The great thing about this canyon hike is the many different ways you can go around it. The pathways are very well maintained and and wide enough to bring your dog with you. This is excellent place to go mountain biking, as it provides lots of grades and hills but I wouldn't come here to run due to the uneven slippery trails some of the way up the canyon side. The trail has only a bit of shady area, so it does get really hot when out in the sun, for November I was cooking out here around noon time. Overall Hollenbeck is a decent trail system out in east county Jamul. You will be treated to lots of great views once going up the canyon hills. There is lots of nature out here along with plenty of peace and quiet since it's not near any major roads. The trail doesn't seem like it ever too busy really, as no one was even there when I came during the day with a friend. This one of the better state maintained wildlife areas in the San Diego county areas, they do a great job at keeping it clean. Great place to come walking with your dog or taking your bike out for a short run.

This was an enjoyable hike that is best to do in the morning. I came with my hubby and a friend who…read morehas done this hike numerous times. The lot has plenty of parking and not crowded at all for being a weekend. There is a porter potty (bring your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer) but no drinking facilities. I could see this hike being miserable on direct heat so do bring plenty of water. I drank about 48 oz on a relatively cool day (when we finished the hike it was 82 degrees). It took us just short of two hours (started at 8 am) to complete the loop. When you see the trail split we ventured to the right of the trail (you'll come back on the other side). After a nice relatively flat walk you'll start to ascend. This is the toughest part of the hike but it doesn't last long. Key is to go slow. The view from the top is fantastic and totally worth it. Then you'll descend and end up going through this abandoned corral. The scenery is very nice. Only a slight incline awaits you before it goes flat again and you branch off to the trail you've started. It's a very nice easy to moderate hike (moderate being the incline). Terrain can be slippery due to loose dirt, rocks, and gravel so wear shoes with good traction. Nice hike overall. I'd definitely do this again. My advice- come early to avoid the heat, bring plenty of water/snacks, shoes with traction, and hand sanitizer and toilet paper in case the toilet is not stocked.

Very nice place for a family photo session. I can not speak to anything else at this location but…read morethe bridge was a last minute go too that was local and free. Walkers were mindful and our pictures came out great!

Very nice, well maintained trails. There are a bunch of different paths to take. Not a lot of tree…read morecover so I would recommend bringing water and a hat. Plenty of parking in the lot outside the trail or in front of the bridge which is also cool to walk across.

Alltrails lists this as 'Horse thief Canyon', then I saw that I had this listing bookmarked on Yelp…read morefor sometime and noticed that they were the same thing! Distance: ~3.3mi., reverse out-and-back (you will be going uphill on the return trip) Difficulty: easy-intermediate-ish (~0.5mi ascent on your way out which can get the heart pumping!) Time: 1.5-2 hours Permit required?: No (according to permit site - https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/r5/passes-permits/?cid=stelprdb5208699&width=full) Sights of Interest: Mini waterfall and pool Parking is in a big dirt lot just off of Japatul Lyons Valley Rd.. Turn in at Forest Rt 16S04. No bathrooms, so bring some T.P.! There are three gates as you approach - two smaller ones and a large one leading to a service road. Take the gate with a sign marking the 'Epinosa Trail to Secret Canyon Trail'. You'll end up on the service road either way. Continue on the service road until you see a sign off to the right that says 'Trail'. This is where you'll begin the descent into Horse thief Canyon. Eventually it evens out into a nice shady area alongside a stream. Lots of vegetation and growth everywhere, so make sure to *bring the bug spray*! There's a stream crossing after which you'll come upon the pool! Lots of great places to hang out on and relax on boulders. Water is pretty clean for swimming too. Awesome place to bring your dogs to cool off after the dusty trail. Just remember to pack your trash out if you plan on picnic-ing down at the pool! Most of your journey is on the Epinosa Trail and supposedly the Secret Canyon Trail is just beyond the pool, but the trail doesn't seem to continue anywhere beyond it. Great trail either way that experiences very little foot traffic so the area is very well preserved and wild! FYI, apparently this area experiences an influx of illegal immigrants and smugglers, but I think that was in earlier years. It was pretty safe when I went and I only had my dog in tow. But, I like to live life on the edge, so if you are wary come with a group!

If you go during the week during normal business hours this trail is dead! It was our 2nd time here…read moreand there was only 1 car in the parking lot and we never even ran into the people. This is nice but also kind of scary especially since it's kind of in the middle of nowhere and you don't have great service but luckily I am alive today to write this review. The first time we went on this hike we missed the path and ended up just heading straight through on a dirt road so pay attention on your right hand side for a sign marked trail. This trail would have gotten more stars if it wasn't for the ridiculous amount of flies. I almost turned back because I couldn't stand them constantly flying in my face and in my ears. Maybe I am not an outdoorsy person if I cant handle that but it was hard to enjoy this hike when I was having to smack flies away the whole time. This is also one of those hikes that is fairly easy on the way down but tough on the way back because you have to go back up. I will say though that it was a really pretty hike and there is a creek at the bottom. We didn't go the whole way but did about a little over 3 miles of it. It's about a mile and a half to see the beginning of the creek. Maybe wearing bug spray might help with the flies?

One of the best parks in Otay hands down. There's so much space, breathtaking views of the lake,…read moremultiple gated playgrounds, etc. Everything is clean, including the public restroom. There are gazebo/pergola's with picnic tables available to rent. See their website. There's also camping spots and hikes nearby. I could go on and on, but check out this hidden gem yourself. There is a parking fee of $5.

We did our daughter's birthday here and it was so nice because of the nice breeze…read more Our gazebo location was #2. - biggest out of all 4. - it is kind of far from the playground though. - secluded. - it oversees the lake. Nice view. - it has a stage for dessert tables. -it has a nice size bbq pit (we didn't use it) -people park by the entrance and can walk up. - it has a secluded benches. -$200 to rent for the whole day. - we didn't have many bugs like other parks I've been to in LA which shows how clean they are. -closest to the restrooms !!!!!! This was my favorite part because I was pretty pregnant lol If I remember more, I'll edit the review.

A great park with an amazing view!! This park is located past Otay Lakes Rd and it's not too far…read morefrom the city. There is parking and restrooms located at this park. The lake at this location is pretty big and it's well kept. You can tell that this is a clean and safe environment. You're able to go on a walk and enjoys natures beauty while smelling fresh air. It wasn't too busy and the playground was clean besides the fact it had rained all weekend

Wow what a view of the mountains while playing sports! Bathroom, seating, parking (street and lot)…read more- it's a bit east but beautiful!

This is a great hike that allows you to enjoy a workout rather it's a run, jog, bike or hike. The…read moreviews are also just as amazing as you are able to truly enjoy the scenery. This is also a wonderful spot to bring the dogs or kids as they can also enjoy. The trail ranges from beginner with flat areas to slightly moderate as you are able to enjoy some steep parts of the trail.

Beautiful view from the top! This trail is a good workout and definitely gets the blood pumping…read more It's 4.4 miles round trip, no shade, and has a rapid elevation change. There are multiple switchbacks and loose gravel. Wear good shoes, otherwise you might roll an ankle on the way down. The trail is open and marked, and easy to follow. There is plenty of free parking and restrooms at the park. It's a good hike for all ages and pet friendly. The trail tends to get busy during the summer, but I haven't seen it too crowded. Make sure to bring water, especially in the hot months. I prefer going in the morning to beat the heat and crowds. There are plenty nice views and an aerial view from the top. Nice photo opportunity from the top of the mountain. Great trail for all levels of experience, easy to get to, and not too crowded. A must try.

Reservoir to fish in, and some cool looking trees coming up out of the water…read more On the other side is a little tunnel with a lot of graffiti and there is a short walk up to the dam where there is plenty of graffiti lining the walls. Not too much else to do or see, but if you want some graffiti this is the spot.

If you're into the not so ordinary; for sure take a ride and visit the abandoned reservoir…read more There's free parking right off the road; so blink and you'll miss it. The bridge is closed off for safety reasons but, you'll find so much beauty in your venture. It's amazing with beautiful graffiti artwork in every nook and cranny with makes for some awesome photos! But, you'll really love the trails or the trails you'll make up as you go along. Bring water and/or a lunch and if you go on a cool day; for sure bring your furry friends.

Native San Diegan, but never been here. From the start this trail is all incline, rocky, dirt, some…read morenative plants/shrubs and yucca but no shade. I saw no animals or even bugs... came December 2020. It's about 1.5 miles uphill with descent elevation and 2.5 down. I had to take a couple breaks due to the elevation I think...as I live near sea level and I'm fairly in shape, but more of a Hiit workout, sprints, weightlifting type, so endurance isn't my strong suite... but the top is worth the struggle. On a clear day you can see the ocean and such a beautiful sunset. Note the top is very windy and cold. I'd say it's great for moderate hiker, and I wouldn't bring a pet but I've seen dogs up there. Pros: - nature!! -free workout -some parking but limited - steep but not crazy difficult - more of a locals only location Cons: - rough dirt/rocky rode to get there -limited parking - no bathroom, trash or water stations

Spectacular views at the summit especially when facing North. Easy to access from Tavern Rd exit on…read morethe I-8. It's about 3 miles RT on red-clay dirt and very loose rocks. Although Alltrails lists it as intermediate, I was breathless climbing this thing. I would describe it as intermediate-difficult. I mean, the doughnut holes in the morning probably didn't help and it was after Christmas Day indulgences, but the terrain was still very rocky and the incline was CONSTANT, making the ascent a little more difficult than normal. It was the ultimate thigh burner! A great workout! I took about 2 hours to finish, but did spend a lot of time at the top. Had the summit all to myself! Breath-taking! Parking is on a truck trail and the trail head is only marked by a simple metal gate. According to Afoot and Afield a **Wilderness Pass is technically required**, however I got away without one (didn't realize I needed one). Again, the terrain is quite rocky on the clay dirt ascent, so do not bring your kids! They'll likely fall flat on their faces trying to navigate over the rocks. As a note-- the truck road is a dirt one, but well graded with some humps every so often to prevent speeding. Parking near the trailhead is still quite secluded and a draw for thieves, so make sure to hide your belongings before you head out!

This is a beautiful place to visit if you happen to be out this way. The trail itself is short…read morehowever there are lots of areas that are not maintained but I still enjoyed climbing small rocks to get through some parts. This is good for bird watching or if you want a little peace and serenity! If you ate looking for more of a hike there are plenty of other trails around that you can take but I truly enjoyed being out here with a little drizzle and the birds.

Like a Vampire at a blood buffet...the water has been sucked out of this reservoir…read more I guess, we are in a drought California and the golfers need their green grass and us tree huggers get the left overs... poor nature....water leftovers in a doggie bag. Park in the dirt lot..there are port-a-crappers in the lot.... hike down the steep trail to the water.... well... very far off to the water, what water... You can still find beauty here... bring some OFF.. bring some bottled water, wear a hat.... bring a fishing pole, pack a picnic lunch with some cold brews... don't bring your dog though... it is a monitored reservoir by cool Park Rangers, don't touch the what's left of it water... you will get ticketed... it may seem like nobody is out there watching.. but be sure if it.. THE HILLS HAVE EYES HERE... Eerie to be walking at the bottom of the lake........