Hiking in the "Moisture". Rediscovering Cuyamaca State Park.

I may be the only person who cracks up every time I hear a San Diego weatherman predicting that "moisture" is moving in. Moisture! What's that? Something between humidity and rain? We don't expect a rainstorm, just moisture? Back were I come from it either rains or it pours, there are no moisture storms!

Well, when we decided to go out for a hike in Cuyamaca State Park this weekend, "moisture" was predicted to move in. Maybe some rain, maybe a thunderstorm, but expect moisture.  I guess that is a storm that drops less than a tenth of an inch on San Diego, moisture. But up in Cuyamaca, we hoped to see real rain, a rare sight for us San Diegans.

After a short drive up through Ramona and Julian we arrived at the Park Visitor Center on Hwy. 79. At noon there was moisture in the air, not really rain, just mist and and occasional rain drops. We also escaped the heat, only 70 at noon, probably 10 degrees cooler than Scripps Ranch.

The visitors center is open on weekends and is staffed by friendly volunteers. We got great recommendations for hikes and made a $10 donation which was greated by a volunteer who said; Wow, thanks, here, take a park photo from my collection'.

Bobbi on the trail.

We decided to just hit the trails that started at the visitor center. The trail began with an interpretive walk that highlighted the Kumeyaay Indians who lived in Cuyamaca way before the Spanish settlers. Great information about how the Kumeyaay lived on this land.

A view of Stonewall Peak

Then we were off on the Cold Creek Trail, to the Hill Trail, to the Harvey Moore Trail and then the East Side Trail. That is about a four mile loop around a valley, across the Sweetwater River (dry) and back to the center. We were stuck by the devastation of the Cedar Fire and the regrowth of nature. Dead blackened trees with thriving manzanita and other growth below. The resilience of nature was clear.

The weather was perfect for our first hike in Cuyamaca since we came here in younger days more than 30 years ago. Our walk was in the moisture and occasional showers with a cool breeze blowing bursts of rain clouds overhead. Perfect.

The Cedar Fire changed this park.

We have rediscovered Cuyamaca. It's filled with many more trails we want to explore.  Climbing Stonewall Peak and Cuyamaca Peak are now on our list! But this weekend, the rain and moisture kept us on the easier lower trails. But we will be back, it's just a one hour drive from home!

Beauty in the rocks.

And, the best part is stopping in Julian for dinner after our hike. We ate at the Julian Grill, a little house just off the Main Street with great steaks and seafood. And next time, we may even stay the night at the Orchard Inn. 

If you like to hike, drive a bit and rediscover Cuyamaca State Park.