Bernardo Mountain

Bernardo Mountain ©

12/30/2011, by Joel Hawk

It was a gorgeous day when we awoke for our hike.  We had planned a family day with Chris and our friends, Dustin, Jessica and Tanner (along with their two dogs, Jake and Paco).  We parked at the trailhead across from Sikes Farmhouse by North County Fair Mall.  The first part of the hike is along a paved path running parallel to the I-15 on the Eastern side.  This is the only part of the hike one could really do without.  As we walked South, we could look out over East Lake Hodges and toward the early morning sun as it bathed us in warmth.  There was a slight fog in the air, but this soon cleared up.

We walked under the I-15 through a pedestrian “cross-under” bridge which I never knew existed.  This does make traveling from one side of the freeway to the other very convenient and safe.  The trail is open to hikers, runners, dogs, horses and bicycles so be on the lookout.  As we walked along the bank of Lake Hodges, we began to notice a lot of bird activity and noticed a number of folks had already started their day with a bit of exercise.  Coming upon about ¾ of a mile or so, we saw the pedestrian bridge that spans across Lake Hodges from North to South.  What a beautiful bridge and again, protects pedestrians and cyclists from having to use the freeway to cross over the Lake.

Our goal of the day was to climb Bernardo Mountain.  The mountain is ranked number 100 of 100 peaks of San Diego on www.peakbagger.com.   The trail is clearly marked and in good shape all the way up/down becoming more narrow once we started our ascent.  I would recommend this hike for all the family.

As we rounded the turn, we saw just how beautiful Lake Hodges really is and all the wildlife that lives here right in our own backyard.  This egret was off into the field by itself, but as you may be able to see in the following picture, there were a lot of birds living in/on the lake.  If you are a "Birder", you will enjoy the different species of birds you can identify and is a sight you should go see.  If you're not a "Birder" you will still enjoy seeing all the different kinds of birds that live right here next to us.

We left the trail to start heading up the mountain and was quickly met with a beautiful, easy creek crossing under some majestic, old oak trees.  Everyone navigated the crossing well and looks like Jake had the most fun since he actually got wet.  Paco wanted no part of crossing by himself, so Jessica carried him over.  I was wondering who was going to carry me?  Tanner looked interested at first, but he stayed on that side of the creek.

Although we were just now coming upon a little over a mile into our hike, this bench in the cool shade with the babbling brook just behind it really looked inviting.  Great place for a sandwich and a few stories for the next time though.

Coming up to our turn, we left the trail that goes around the lake to the North to start our ascent.  I continue to appreciate all those who make our hikes and explorations of nature so wonderful and convenient.  Well-marked signs are just another way others have helped us discover and enjoy our surrounding area.

I mentioned to Dustin that I measure the success of my hikes by whether or not I see any hawks.  Within just a few minutes a beautiful red-tailed Hawk flies over the creek and lands in a tree to survey the best opportunities for a quick breakfast.  With wide eyes, Paco stayed close to mom.  I was amazed at all the beautiful birds and signs of wildlife that we saw.  There were the black and white woodpeckers, gnatcatchers, robins, hummers, finches and I’m sure many more that I didn’t see or recognize.  Tanner spotted some deer tracks and a number of animal trails that crossed over our hiking trail. 

As we wound our way around the mountain through the California sage and brush, we could see remnants of the 2007 Cedar fire which ravaged much of San Diego County destroying so much natural habitat, many homes and taking 15 lives.  A very sad, human induced tragedy that only now has the landscape started returning back to the way it once was.

With homes all around us, we were able to take a short stroll and reconnect with the beauty San Diego has to offer – and get a little exercise as well.  This was the hardest part of the trail, but is very doable for the recreational hiker.  Tanner is only 8 years old and climbed the mountain like a well-seasoned hiker.  This stretch of loose rocks is only about 50 - 75 yards long.

Once we climbed through the rocks, we came upon some citrus and sage smells.  Although not very high or dense, one could get a feeling of walking through the brush if only for a short distance.  This certainly offered a sense that one was "getting away" even if for only a little while.

Within only 1 ½ hours, we had reached the summit and enjoyed a nice lunch overlooking some of the wonders we can enjoy in our own backyard.  As we sat there, a number of beautiful flutter-bys joined us bringing us even more smiles.

Sadly, after 20 – 30 minutes, we started our way back down and back to the hustle/bustle of modern society.  These short escapes are among us and are very close by.  Be sure to savor each opportunity as they enrich our lives and ground us with nature.  Chris and I really enjoyed the companionship of our friends and the stories we told.

Be safe, enjoy living and appreciate our lands.   ~ Joel

Latitude/Longitude (WGS84)

33° 3' 50'' N; 117° 5' 17'' W
33.063921, -117.08804 (Dec Deg)
491782E 3658377N Zone 11 (UTM)