How to Hike in Pala

You will find plenty of casino games to play in Pala, a rural town approximately 60 miles from San Diego, but what about hiking? Pala sits right in the middle of Cleveland National Forest, which contains hiking trails and protected wilderness areas teeming wildlife and conifers. In Pala itself, however, you will only find one place to hike -- the Wilderness Gardens Preserve.

Things You'll Need

  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Hiking shoes
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Instructions

    • 1

      Go to 14209 Highway 76, Pala, the location of the Wilderness Gardens Preserve, which is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday at the time of publication. At the staging area, you will see restrooms, picnic tables and a map of the trails near the ranger station.

    • 2

      Pick a trail on which to hike. The most frequented trail, the Alice Fries trail, runs in a half-mile loop on the north bank of the San Luis Rey River. This trail takes you into the preserve area, as well.

    • 3

      Take the Upper Meadow Trail for a longer, more strenuous hike. From the staging area, cross the river and directly on your left you will see the trailhead for this trail. Follow it up until it rises to the upper meadow where you will find a dried up reservoir and a nice viewpoint of the river down below. Further along you will descend to a pond and you can then take the Camelia Trail to the end of the park on the left, or go around the pound and walk along the River View Trail, running next to the San Luis Rey River. At the end of this trail, you will walk along a dirt road running by the river until you return to the staging area.