Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve

About an hour outside of San Diego, this dog friendly hike will provide a good workout, views for days, and all the fall vibes you are looking for.

San Diego is a great place to live, but sometimes you crave mountains and the different seasons. My friend Goose and I headed up to Julian a couple weeks ago to check out the Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Julian is about an hour drive from San Diego and has lots of trails all around. I have heard this one is a popular trail, but we went in the afternoon on a week day and we only saw 2 other hikers with their pup.

While it isn't the hardest hike I have ever done, I wouldn't suggest wearing sandals. The trail is well groomed and wide with a nice climb to the top. At about 5 miles with a 1,000 ft + elevation gain, it's the perfect workout. At the top, there are a couple different viewpoints along with some picnic tables to relax. Be careful of the fox tails that are all over the area currently.

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In the summer, I am sure this trail gets pretty warm, but we had a perfect day! Check the weather before you make the drive as the temperatures could vary greatly from the city. This is the perfect hike to social distance, get outside, and get your heart rate up. Let me know what you think if you get a chance to explore!

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