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Year-round camping is available if you just can't get enough of our fresh air and natural environment.
Palomar Mountain State Park offers campsites with flush toilets and hot showers. Group and Family campsites are available .
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Within the State Park is the Doane Valley campsite. This campsite is adjoined by some excellent trails.
This campsite has 31 units, each with a picnic table, fire ring and stand-up barbecue. Ten of the 31 sites are suitable for small trailers. This camp has flush toilets and coin-operated hot showers but no RV camper hookups and no sanitary dump. Drinking water spigots are located throughout the camp, but firewood gathering is prohibited, so bring your own or purchase some at Palomar Mountain General Store. $12 per night, eight people max, two vehicles per site (offsite parking nearby).
For reservations call (800) 444-7275
Online reservations: www.reserveamerica.com
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One of two national forest campsites, Observatory campground has 42 sites, 13 of which can accommodate up to 27-foot RVs, without hook up or dump site. Single and double-family sites are available for $15 and $20 per night, respectively. Single-family sites hold up to eight people and allow two vehicles, while double-family sites hold up to 12 people and allow three vehicles.
Campsites are available on a first come first serve basis.
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Cedar Groves Group Camp is located inside the State Park and is available by reservation only.
Group Camp 1: 25 people 10 cars $96 Per night
Group Camp 2: 15 people 5 cars $60 Per night
Group Camp 3: 15 people 5 cars $60 Per night
For reservations call (800) 444-7275
Online reservations: www.reserveamerica.com
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Walk among the beautiful forests, meadows, wild flowers, and wildlife of Palomar Mountain. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon walk or vigorous day long hikes.
Palomar Mountain General Store has books and maps to help you make your way around the mountain..
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| Distance: |
3.0 Miles |
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| Hiking Time: |
1.5 Hours |
| Map: |
State Park Brochure |
| Difficulty: |
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See the black oaks that are dotted along this trail, which will undergo rapid color changes in both spring and fall. Also along this trail are white fir, douglas fir, and dogwood.
At the Boucher hill lookout you can get a excellent view of
Pauma
Valley
and you can sometimes see the ocean on a clear day.
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| Distance: |
4.0 Miles |
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| Hiking Time: |
2 Hours |
| Map: |
State Park Brochure |
| Difficulty: |
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This trail, which begins at Doane's pond, has the best view of the State park. Enjoy a stream at the edge of a meadaow; walk under a canopy of azaleas (rare in San Diego county); Enjoy a 100 year old apple orchard; and visit an old grave site. This trail will end up at Scott's Cabin.
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| Distance: |
1 Mile |
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| Hiking Time: |
.5 Hours |
| Map: |
State Park Brochure |
| Difficulty: |
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| Palomar Mountain Forest at it's best! Enjoy a leisurly nature walk along a trickling stream. Among the plant life found along this trail are the box elder, creek dogwood, wild strawberry, mountain currant, and sierra gooseberry. Also see an 150 foot tall incense cedar. |
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| Distance: |
2.5 Miles roundtrip |
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| Hiking Time: |
1.5 Hours |
| Map: |
State Park Brochure |
| Difficulty: |
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An excellent early morning hike. This trail will reach doane creek and end at a cement structure that was a small dam and gauging station used in the 1920s.
Lower French valley trail takes you through rolling grasslands dotted with pines, oaks, and conifers.
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| Distance: |
2.2 |
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| Hiking Time: |
1 Hours |
| Map: |
Cleveland National Forest recreation map |
| Difficulty: |
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This trail has an excellent few of Mendenhall Valley from wooden platform. Mendenhall Valley is one of the many meadows on Palomar Mountain.
For an easy downhill hike begin this trail at the upper trial head near the Palomar Observatory entrance gate. The lower end of the trail begins at the Observatory campground.
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| Distance: |
1.5 |
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| Hiking Time: |
1 Hour |
| Map: |
Cleveland National Forest recreation map |
| Difficulty: |
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| A beautiful trail that rounds the head of Fry Creek. You will come upon the "Penny Pines" a coulter pine grove atop a sattle. October and November are the best times to see the black oaks in their autumn glory.
The signed trialhead is just inside the entrance to the Fry Creek campground.
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| Distance: |
1.5 |
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| Hiking Time: |
1.5 Hours |
| Map: |
Cleveland National Forest recreation map |
| Difficulty: |
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This trail is the only connection between Fry Creek campground and the State Park.
This trail begins just inside the Fry Creek Campground. Take the Fry Creek trail to the "Penney Pines" grove, then head west down a narrow ravine. There may be fallen branches and debris in the path depending on how much recent use.
Not far down the path you should see the buildings of the Palomar School Camp. This trail ends at Doanes pond.
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