Paradise Mountain Trail is a fun trail of moderate difficulty northeast of San Diego in Valley Center. There’s a decent elevation gain and the views of the surrounding area and Palomar Mountain are wonderful. The loop isn’t too long (about 11 miles) and finding the path is easy. I chose to take the loop in a clockwise direction and started the hike off with the steepest section as I rose to about 3000 feet. The staging area has maps, vault toilets, a water fountain, and is very equestrian friendly. If you’re looking for a fun hike that doesn’t take up too much time then Paradise Mountain Trail is a fun route to check out.

The Paradise Mountain Trail is enclosed by the Hellhole Canyon County Preserve. The Preserve is open Friday through Monday during daylight hours and more information may be found here on the San Diego County website. Enjoy the photos and find the rest of them here!