Made the drive to finally see the Palomar Observatory. Stopped here first and lucked out. The tower was manned and the volunteer look out allowed us to climb up for a tour and to take in the view. Although not visible today, on a clear day, they can see to the ocean as well as all the way to Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel range.
T. White - Sep 3, 2022 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2022
Drive up
Intense heat wave with haze from the humidity and fire smoke. Monsoon clouds were forming early on over the border, and later over the peninsular ranges. In weather like this, the lookout advised she closes to visitors at around noon.
IronHiker - Aug 2, 2015 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
cab - Jun 13, 2011 11:25 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2011
Drive Up - Almost
Drove up here on the way to the in-laws' house in Fallbrook. I parked at the entrance gate in the "15-minute parking" zone without paying the entrace fee and jogged/walked up to the summit.
The road to the summit was locked where it diverges from Nate Harrison Grade road (only a few hundred yards from the entrance gate) so I would have been pissed if I had paid the entrance fee only to be able to drive another few hundred yards to a locked gate! I'm not sure I made it back in 15 minutes, but was probably close and I didn't get hassled about not paying.
Watch out for crazy motorcyclists riding up the curvy section of the road. I pulled over to let many of them zoom by me - looks like fun!
NavySeabee - Mar 10, 2008 9:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2008
Gate was locked. It was an actual hike!
Drove to where the trail crosses Nate Harrison Grade Road and actually gained about 500+ feet in a little less than a mile. Can't say enough about how devastated the landscape is after last October's fires. Tragic. Views were great and weather was perfect.
Bob Burd - Jun 1, 2007 7:06 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2005
Drive up
Why this peak is on the HPS peak is a bit of a mystery. One merely drives to the flat "summit," then looks around the tower for anything resembling the highest point. It didn't help that it was windy and cold as hell when I visited, with our stay lasting less than a minute. Trip Report
theronmoon - Jun 1, 2007 5:37 pm Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
Nice views!
A stop along a route to visiting the Temecula Wine region with the wife. Cool views and good wine.
johnm - Jul 3, 2023 10:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2023
Drive Up during years first heat waveMade the drive to finally see the Palomar Observatory. Stopped here first and lucked out. The tower was manned and the volunteer look out allowed us to climb up for a tour and to take in the view. Although not visible today, on a clear day, they can see to the ocean as well as all the way to Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel range.
T. White - Sep 3, 2022 5:20 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2022
Drive upIntense heat wave with haze from the humidity and fire smoke. Monsoon clouds were forming early on over the border, and later over the peninsular ranges. In weather like this, the lookout advised she closes to visitors at around noon.
IronHiker - Aug 2, 2015 8:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 6, 2014
Drive upCool lookout tower.
bechtt - Apr 28, 2012 11:47 pm Date Climbed: Apr 22, 2012
Drove itOn the way to San Diego
cab - Jun 13, 2011 11:25 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2011
Drive Up - AlmostDrove up here on the way to the in-laws' house in Fallbrook. I parked at the entrance gate in the "15-minute parking" zone without paying the entrace fee and jogged/walked up to the summit.
The road to the summit was locked where it diverges from Nate Harrison Grade road (only a few hundred yards from the entrance gate) so I would have been pissed if I had paid the entrance fee only to be able to drive another few hundred yards to a locked gate! I'm not sure I made it back in 15 minutes, but was probably close and I didn't get hassled about not paying.
Watch out for crazy motorcyclists riding up the curvy section of the road. I pulled over to let many of them zoom by me - looks like fun!
NavySeabee - Mar 10, 2008 9:50 pm Date Climbed: Mar 10, 2008
Gate was locked. It was an actual hike!Drove to where the trail crosses Nate Harrison Grade Road and actually gained about 500+ feet in a little less than a mile. Can't say enough about how devastated the landscape is after last October's fires. Tragic. Views were great and weather was perfect.
Bob Burd - Jun 1, 2007 7:06 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2005
Drive upWhy this peak is on the HPS peak is a bit of a mystery. One merely drives to the flat "summit," then looks around the tower for anything resembling the highest point. It didn't help that it was windy and cold as hell when I visited, with our stay lasting less than a minute. Trip Report
theronmoon - Jun 1, 2007 5:37 pm Date Climbed: Feb 17, 2007
Nice views!A stop along a route to visiting the Temecula Wine region with the wife. Cool views and good wine.