T. White - Sep 3, 2022 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2022
Drive up (Observatory)
Did this as an add-on from Boucher, which was a good thing as the observatory ended up closed due to the pandemic and the entrance gate was locked. What a bummer.
tMaze05 - Jun 17, 2020 11:04 am Date Climbed: May 9, 2020
High point Palomar Mountain
Nice hike but decently strenuous and a lot of bugs. Did it from Oak Grove
iditarod81 - Nov 2, 2019 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2019
Via Observatory Trail
Fun family hike, enjoyed the SoCal foliage. Our 3-year-old loved the observatory.
StartingOver - Jun 12, 2018 10:52 am Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2018
Long Drive
Drove to the summit using the HPS Section "route 1" on the way to a work retreat, and while experimenting with driving a pickup truck as a possible solution to my dirt-road woes. The drive took nearly 2 hours from bottom to top to bottom, and I'm not exactly an overly-cautious slow driver. To be honest the scenery wasn't that spectacular either. The area around the observatory is much more scenic. So unless one wants to "bag" this peak for list or prominence purposes, I don't think it is worth it, to be honest.
gimpilator - May 5, 2017 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2017
70 Peaks In 30 Days
This was part of a month long solo peakbagging trip in which I hiked every day and got 70 peaks in 30 days. Why is the road closed every time I'm in CA? I hiked the 13 mile route in 3.5 hours round-trip (plus another half hour of non-moving time). There was a fresh burn at the top which looked like a controlled burn.
For numerous photos and brief route descriptions see the trip report.
nannerbots - Oct 25, 2016 10:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2016
Observatory is well-worth it
Heard but never saw any rattlesnakes. The observatory was very cool.
IronHiker - Oct 7, 2015 12:24 am Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2015
Palomar Divide Road
Drove up to the last gate, which was closed, and hiked from there. No one in the lookout tower. Got some great photos at sunrise.
Ted Bauer - Nov 13, 2014 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 1998
Crying Baby
Drove to the top. My youngest son fell on the steps of the observatory and wailed for about 30 minutes and most of the way down.
ericnoel - Nov 9, 2013 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2013
Palomar
Drove to the top.
sauers - Mar 14, 2013 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2012
23 degrees and sleet
Did the hike to High Point from the Oak Grove Fire Station. Nice climb, but we encountered sleet, 40 mph winds and 23 degrees with the wind chill at the tower.
mcmurdosound - Feb 7, 2013 3:33 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2005
Great view
I live in VC with an incredible view of Palomar Mountain. Been to the top many times!
crag - May 20, 2012 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2008
high point from Palomar Divide Road
Knocked around a lot on Palomar, including the short hike to the high point from the Palomar Divide Rd.
wmolland - Feb 11, 2012 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2012
Sequoias!
A nice long hike from the Fire Station at the base. There are Giant Sequoias on top, how awesome is that?!?!
kavak - Nov 30, 2011 10:39 am Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2011
Palomar Divide Road
My wife and I drove to the gated service road just beneath the summit. There was one other car at this location and we hiked with them 200 vertical feet to the summit tower. The road was muddy in spots and would be problematic for a 2wd when wet as it is mostly wide enough for one car.
cab - Apr 4, 2011 10:35 am Date Climbed: Apr 2, 2011
High Point
After climbing Eagle Crag in the morning. Long drive up and back on the dirt road.
Sgonzalez - Mar 22, 2011 8:15 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2011
Palomar
Great hiking opportunities at the top.
Iron Hiker - Feb 2, 2011 4:03 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2011
Hiked up from Oak Grove
Climbed from Oak Grove up the trail to Oak Grove Rd, thence to the Divide Road, then followed to High Point. A coating of snow near the top was very nice to see. Saw nobody the entire day.
HeyItsBen - Nov 22, 2010 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 11, 2010
High Point!
Part of an SDC peak roundup day - drove up Palomar at night after hiking Combs. Loooong dirt road, 2hrs RT driving time from the 79. Insane wind at the top scared me off the tower haha.
Sigouin - Dec 26, 2009 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2007
Nice mountain
Nice mountain, great observatory on top. Nice hikes around.
gfaulkner - Nov 4, 2009 9:23 am Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2009
Beautiful Day
Spent a wonderful afternoon hiking. Did the Boucher hill/Scott's cabin loop. Still a good bit of fall color. Ran in to some mule deer (Not literally). I was not typically San Diego terrain (That's a Good thing). Lots of poison oak! Great hiking/great place!
T. White - Sep 3, 2022 5:28 pm Date Climbed: Sep 3, 2022
Drive up (Observatory)Did this as an add-on from Boucher, which was a good thing as the observatory ended up closed due to the pandemic and the entrance gate was locked. What a bummer.
tMaze05 - Jun 17, 2020 11:04 am Date Climbed: May 9, 2020
High point Palomar MountainNice hike but decently strenuous and a lot of bugs. Did it from Oak Grove
iditarod81 - Nov 2, 2019 9:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 2, 2019
Via Observatory TrailFun family hike, enjoyed the SoCal foliage. Our 3-year-old loved the observatory.
StartingOver - Jun 12, 2018 10:52 am Date Climbed: Jun 8, 2018
Long DriveDrove to the summit using the HPS Section "route 1" on the way to a work retreat, and while experimenting with driving a pickup truck as a possible solution to my dirt-road woes. The drive took nearly 2 hours from bottom to top to bottom, and I'm not exactly an overly-cautious slow driver. To be honest the scenery wasn't that spectacular either. The area around the observatory is much more scenic. So unless one wants to "bag" this peak for list or prominence purposes, I don't think it is worth it, to be honest.
gimpilator - May 5, 2017 1:53 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2017
70 Peaks In 30 DaysThis was part of a month long solo peakbagging trip in which I hiked every day and got 70 peaks in 30 days. Why is the road closed every time I'm in CA? I hiked the 13 mile route in 3.5 hours round-trip (plus another half hour of non-moving time). There was a fresh burn at the top which looked like a controlled burn.
For numerous photos and brief route descriptions see the trip report.
nannerbots - Oct 25, 2016 10:00 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2016
Observatory is well-worth itHeard but never saw any rattlesnakes. The observatory was very cool.
IronHiker - Oct 7, 2015 12:24 am Date Climbed: Oct 2, 2015
Palomar Divide RoadDrove up to the last gate, which was closed, and hiked from there. No one in the lookout tower. Got some great photos at sunrise.
Ted Bauer - Nov 13, 2014 4:17 pm Date Climbed: Nov 1, 1998
Crying BabyDrove to the top. My youngest son fell on the steps of the observatory and wailed for about 30 minutes and most of the way down.
ericnoel - Nov 9, 2013 6:49 pm Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2013
PalomarDrove to the top.
sauers - Mar 14, 2013 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Dec 26, 2012
23 degrees and sleetDid the hike to High Point from the Oak Grove Fire Station. Nice climb, but we encountered sleet, 40 mph winds and 23 degrees with the wind chill at the tower.
mcmurdosound - Feb 7, 2013 3:33 am Date Climbed: Jun 12, 2005
Great viewI live in VC with an incredible view of Palomar Mountain. Been to the top many times!
crag - May 20, 2012 1:02 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2008
high point from Palomar Divide RoadKnocked around a lot on Palomar, including the short hike to the high point from the Palomar Divide Rd.
wmolland - Feb 11, 2012 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2012
Sequoias!A nice long hike from the Fire Station at the base. There are Giant Sequoias on top, how awesome is that?!?!
kavak - Nov 30, 2011 10:39 am Date Climbed: Nov 22, 2011
Palomar Divide RoadMy wife and I drove to the gated service road just beneath the summit. There was one other car at this location and we hiked with them 200 vertical feet to the summit tower. The road was muddy in spots and would be problematic for a 2wd when wet as it is mostly wide enough for one car.
cab - Apr 4, 2011 10:35 am Date Climbed: Apr 2, 2011
High PointAfter climbing Eagle Crag in the morning. Long drive up and back on the dirt road.
Sgonzalez - Mar 22, 2011 8:15 pm Date Climbed: Feb 3, 2011
PalomarGreat hiking opportunities at the top.
Iron Hiker - Feb 2, 2011 4:03 am Date Climbed: Feb 1, 2011
Hiked up from Oak GroveClimbed from Oak Grove up the trail to Oak Grove Rd, thence to the Divide Road, then followed to High Point. A coating of snow near the top was very nice to see. Saw nobody the entire day.
HeyItsBen - Nov 22, 2010 6:23 pm Date Climbed: Nov 11, 2010
High Point!Part of an SDC peak roundup day - drove up Palomar at night after hiking Combs. Loooong dirt road, 2hrs RT driving time from the 79. Insane wind at the top scared me off the tower haha.
Sigouin - Dec 26, 2009 10:45 pm Date Climbed: Feb 25, 2007
Nice mountainNice mountain, great observatory on top. Nice hikes around.
gfaulkner - Nov 4, 2009 9:23 am Date Climbed: Nov 1, 2009
Beautiful DaySpent a wonderful afternoon hiking. Did the Boucher hill/Scott's cabin loop. Still a good bit of fall color. Ran in to some mule deer (Not literally). I was not typically San Diego terrain (That's a Good thing). Lots of poison oak! Great hiking/great place!