Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve — Attraction in San Marcos

The hiking trails that comprise what's known as "Elfin Forest" make up one of the most popular hikes in all of San Diego. The reason for this is twofold: firstly, unlike many trails it's easily accessible from the highway, especially for anyone living in North County, and doesn't require a long drive east or through stretches of twisting two lane highways.

Secondly, the trails offer a variety of natural environments to roam and scenic viewpoints that compare favorably to almost any mountain in San Diego.

Parking is well laid out, and because of its popularity, an overflow lot is available as well. The trailhead has an interpretive center as well as statuary and beautiful educational signage regarding Native American creation myth. I found it interesting to the point of distraction almost.

The trailhead immediately dips you into the dense and forested Escondido River valley, which is well maintained and made to appear very natural. Many hikes in San Diego would reward you for traversing miles of arid boulder-filled landscape with this kind of water feature. That Elfin forest gives up one of its major water features right from the start can be dis-heartening at first: a kind of, "how can it get better from here," mentality may set in. That question would be valid; but only for the next mile and a half before reaching the hike's real water feature: the resevoir.

Crossing the river, the trail begins to switch it's way up to the top plateau and out of the valley. This is the toughest part of the hike, and can tax the legs so be prepared. Once you reach the top plateau the "Way Up" trail levels off and arrives at a four way juction.

The Olivenhein Dam and Reservoir shimmers just ahead, tempting you to photograph it from all angles. At the junction, the east (left) option brings you to the Lake Hodges Overlook Loop trail. This trail offers incomparable views of Lake Hodges, as well as the mountain horizon, from which you can see to Mt. San Gorgonio, Southern California's highest peak.

This trail will be busy, no matter what time of year you attack it, so if you're looking for solitude, this one's not for you. I've also been tipped recently that there is a trail that can take you up to Lake Hodges overlook from the other side of the mountain. It's called the Del Dios trail and is much more steep with a bigger climb. The advantage though, is that you can avoid the crowds at the Elfin Forest trailhead, and start your hiking earlier, as Elfin forest doesn't open until 8am.

Happy...

SAFETY CONCERN : As a newcomer to the beautiful state of California, I recently visited Elfin Forest Recreation Park for a hike. My car tags are from Oregon, which clearly indicates that I am not a local. Upon arriving at the park, I parked my vehicle and set off for my hike. Around 5:00 PM, while on the mountain, I checked my phone to confirm the park's closing time to ensure I wouldn’t be stranded. According to Google, the closing time was listed as 6:00 PM, which gave me the confidence to continue exploring.

I returned to my car at approximately 5:54 PM, only to find a yellow notice on my windshield stating that I had been locked in the park, with a timestamp of 5:46 PM. This was perplexing, as the posted hours indicated a 6:00 PM closing time. I approached the park ranger who had locked the gate and inquired about the situation. To my surprise, he responded with immediate hostility and aggression, raising his voice without cause. Rather than expressing concern for my safety or well-being, he aggressively scolded me for being late, citing that the park closed at 5:30 PM and I should be "thankful" he was letting me out.

I was taken aback by his response and attempted to explain that I had checked the time on my phone while on the trail, which confirmed the 6:00 PM closing time. He admitted that the park’s hours had been updated during my hike, but then told me not to trust the times posted on Google, leaving me confused and unsettled. The situation escalated as he accused me of arguing with him. In an effort to de-escalate, I politely asked for his supervisor’s contact information, as it was growing dark, his behavior was aggressive, and as an out-of-state woman alone, I felt increasingly uncomfortable. Our Conversation ended at 6:02pm and made I made him aware of the time.

The park itself was beautiful, and my hike was initially peaceful and enjoyable. However, the unpleasant interaction with the park ranger left a negative impression on an otherwise lovely experience. I sincerely hope that public officials, especially those tasked with maintaining public safety, can approach their roles with professionalism, courtesy, and respect for all visitors, regardless of their background or location. Park Ranger John Zeller...

It is a bit of a drive from my home, but I really like the trails here. I explored the Olivenhain Reservoir during my first two visits using the Way up Trail. It is a long walk, but rewarding to finally reach a reservoir view. There are several widely spaced areas with picnic tables where you can take a break before heading down. For most of the year the Way-up Trail has a lot of shade because it is on a North facing slope. My most recent trip was mid-June at 10am. I followed the labeled, botanical trail to the left of the entrance first. The early spur to the creek is beautiful. A little farther on, I enjoyed stepping from boulder to boulder to cross the creek, but after the crossing the trail quickly left the creek to climb up to meet the way up trail. I really preferred walking under the oaks and admiring the boulders in the creek so I headed back down and followed the trail to the right at the entrance. This is a beautiful trail that starts with a short spur to get another view of the creek. Then a longer walk to an art installation with a rustic bench built by Eagle Scouts. The river crossing here was a little more of a challenge, but not difficult. I was surprised by the volume of water in the creek during this unprecedented drought. I followed the trail for another half mile or so visiting, but not crossing the creek two more times. I passed a grouping of man-made bat houses and another stone bench. The ivy draped on the trees here is lovely. When the trail emerged from the trees and started to heat up, I headed back. This is a beautiful park with many trails to explore. I am glad that it is protected and will be here for future...