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.

I haven't been out here for a while...Spring flowers are in bloom, everything was GREEN, water…read moreflowing! So beautiful! It was chilly early in the morning, but as you start to leave the valley, you'll feel a warm breeze coming off the mountain. As you ascend towards the mountain side you'll feel the sun beat down on you, so don't forget sunblock and plenty of water! There's plenty of shade down in the valley, but limited on the mountain. Get up and get out!

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?

We booked space #1 for our baby shower and it was the best choice. It allowed up to 100 people with…read morevery minimal restrictions and it cost less than $250 for the whole day! The space overlooks the water and is the first space you'll see driving up. It's a bit secluded from the rest of the park allowing you to have a more private event with your guests. We ended up having just 40 people attend our baby shower, but with the ample space, it allowed us to fully decorate the space and bring separate tables for desserts and welcome table. The stage space was perfect for the photo backdrop and everything came out so beautifully. Highly recommend this space for any events, even a small outdoor wedding. Check-in was super easy and we were allowed music, decors, and even alcohol on site. Some of us came an hour early to start the decorations and stayed an hour later to clean up, but you can access your space anytime between 9-5:30pm. Everything was perfect. Our event was only 4 hours so it was more than enough time to come early to set up and fully clean up after. Restrooms are super clean, park is well maintained with rangers on-site. Parking is $5 all day and plenty of our things for guests to do such as playground for the kids or the open grass area to run around in or nice hiking trails all around for a quick exploring.

My niece has here bridal shower here and it was beautiful out there. The grounds are well kept, it…read moreis about a mile off the main road. You do have to pay $5 to park.

We usually come here in the morning to walk. They have a full size basketball court, a few picnic…read moreareas, great views and several trails. They also have rattlesnakes, rabbits and some big coyotes so watch your step.

Always love this beautiful park where the breeze always feels good on a hot day. They have a splash…read morepad for the kids . Playground. Great place for any event. Or a nice relaxing walk. Always a great day and very spacious. Popular as one trash can was full. But staff on top of it right away. A must especially if you have any small ones. Or visiting guests. Wish I lived closer to enjoy this beautiful park.

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!

Beautiful hidden trail with plenty of parking. You can find all different plants, insects, birds…read moreand native animals. It's a great spot to observe wildlife in their native landscape here in Southern California.

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.